It was while driving through Missouri that Derek Van Lynn came upon the town of Peculiar and decided to name his next band the Odds. To join him in the endeavor he solicited the help of former Star Sutra guitarist Tim Patterson. Keith Hollingshead, former drummer for Breathing Water, soon signed on, and was followed by bassist Severino Myers, who is currently a member of Bob Kramer Incident as well as the Odds. When Patterson bailed, former Short Bus guitarist Matt Perrine took his place on lead guitar, and dragging not far behind came Shindig Shop founder - percussionist Rick Erke. How do you like the Odds so far? They are all veterans of the local music scene right from the gate.

The Odds are currently finishing their first CD at Darren Ingram’s Empire Studios. Although it isn’t a live CD, most of the rhythm section was recorded at the same time to give it a more congealed feeling. The music is written often as a band but Van Lynn is the lyricist. He says, “crappy modern poetry makes good lyrics. Usually I find a solid phrase in the lyric and then build a song around it.”

Van Lynn continues, “We are getting a good response to our originals, too. People can be seen singing along. They haven’t heard these songs before but by the chorus they are singing along.”

Matt Perrine, guitarist, was quiet during most of the interview but he mentioned, “the band has veto power over the songs Derek brings in for us to try.”

All of the Odds were pumped about performing at Bikes Blues & Barbecue this year, where they opened for the Fabulous Thunderbirds, and opening for Jimmy Vaughn which they did just last Friday night at Dave’s.

Although the band has been performing as The Odds for only a year or so, some long musical allegiances are included. Severino Myers and Keith Hollingshead first played music together in 1978 in high school band. Rick

Erke and Derek Van Lynn were together in Thomas Jefferson and the UFO Revolution. All the guys had learned from and respected OMA lifetime achievement recipient Alvin Matlock.

Asked to describe the sound of the Odds, leader Van Lynn says, “We are a rock-n-roll supergroup. We had 15 songs written before we even had a bass player,” he continued.

About half the repertoire of the Odds is original songs, the rest are cover songs. The groups covered include the Rolling Stones, Steely Dan, Talking Heads, Little Feat, Elton John, Warren Zevon. The Odds also do arrangements blending some of their original songs with cover songs, and arranging two cover songs together such as the Linus & Lucy theme goes into L.A. Woman, so they call it L. A. Lucy. They endeavor to make performances showy – passing out toy sunglasses during Z.Z. Top’s Arrested for Driving While Blind.

“We were going to have a limbo contest during Werewolves of London,” continued Van Lynn. “But what would the prize be?” chimed in Myers.

“I don’t know, maybe a pack of disposable razors,” responded Van Lynn.

Van Lynn is clearly the spokesman for the group but they were all involved in the interview.

“Most of our songs are about girls, but some are about women,” explained Van Lynn.

“And seeing as how none of us are married, we’re all experts on that subject right?” chided Myers.

“Another one of our songs is called Big Man. It is about George W, and Saddam Hussein, all these world leaders; it is about how all the big men should be spanked,” Van Lynn philosophized.

Myers offered, “Yeah, the nice thing about this band is we’ll be in the studio working on a riff and Derek will have a verse, chorus, turnaround and a coda. Keith and I put the rhythm under it and the next thing you know we have a song... Lyrics fall out of Derek like water.”

Guitarist Matt Perrine was quiet, and when I observed how different that is from the stereotype of guitarists, Myers responded, “Matt lets his guitar do the talking.”

Van Lynn adds, “He’s an excellent soloist. His style is like a combination of Duane Allman and Frank Zappa.”

Perrine explains, “In Short Bus I might get to play eight bars for a solo but this band lets me play.”

Rick Erke, “Yeah, we like to let him loose, we like to let him loose.” To which Myers adds, “We like to let Matt run loose and there is no reining Ricky in.”

The sense of camaraderie among the band seems genuine and they seem to be a team instead of a bunch of guys out to attract attention to themselves individually. They want attention as a band. They support each other’s talents within the context of the band and love it when they bring out the best in each other.

The first album by the Odds is called “Stick It in your Pocket.” It will be released early in 2004 and look for a review at that time. The Odds had high praise for the experience of working with Darren Ingram at Empire

Studios, where they are recording and mastering their album.

To submit your Studio News please email Fritzie at fritziecathmeier@cox-internet.com or call 442-9027. To submit a CD for review drop it off at the office for All About Town at Meadow and College, in the building with Gail Segers Law Office.

Odds Photo by Jon Willet, art by Keith Hollingshead