www.thedailytimes.com/article/20071109/ENT/71108028 -
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Published on: 11/9/2007
Last Visited: 11/10/2007
Terry Anderson and the Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team
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If there was an Olympic medal for ass-kicking, Terry Anderson and his motley crew of fellow musicians would be standing on the center platform, waving gold.
Not that Anderson and his band - appropriately named the Olympic Ass-Kickin' Team - want any recognition for their efforts.They just want to keep doing what they do best - climbing on stage each night, plugging in and ripping through song after song of good, old-fashioned rock 'n' roll.
"We get up there, and we don't have a lot of stage banter," Anderson told The Daily Times this week.
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With the songs that make up the band's self-titled debut, it's hard not to award Anderson and his bandmates the gold.There's nothing flashy or mind-blowing about what they do; there's no heart-rendering introspection or guitar-shredding or full-on assault of anger and angst.If nothing else, Anderson and the OAK Team come across as a party band still on their feet when the last keg at the frat party has been drained, peeling off one rock riff after another for the three girls and the couple of nerds who have yet to pass out from too much beer.
They do it with style and panache and an approach that makes it virtually impossible for another band to cover one of their songs.It just wouldn't sound the same to hear someone else try and play a song like "Thunderbird" (sample lyrics: "I bought two quarts this morning / on my way to work / and if I drink them by myself, my head is going to hurt / why don't you come over here, and help me drink this Thunderbird") or "Rehab" ("Won't take no answer / it's a matter of life of death / you're killing yourself and everyone around you / and you're too drunk to know what's best / you've gotta go to rehab ...")
"Sometimes it's just immediate that a song I've written is meant for this band," Anderson said."We have our own thing, and whether people realize it or not, other bands can't do, or maybe don't want to do, what we do.Like ‘Big' Al Anderson (of NRBQ) tells me, ‘Nobody's doing what you're doing, Terry.I mean, nobody.'"
Joining Anderson (who drums as well as sings) is bassist Jack Cornell, a bandmate of Anderson's in one form or fashion since 1978; Dave Bartholomew, a collaborator of Whiskeytown fiddler Caitlin Cary and her band, Tres Chicas, on guitar; former Six String Drag member Scotty Miller, also on guitar; and Cartridge Family member Greg Rice on keyboards.Joining Anderson (who drums as well as sings) is bassist Jack Cornell, a bandmate of Anderson's in one form or fashion since 1978; Dave Bartholomew, a collaborator of Whiskeytown fiddler Caitlin Cary and her band, Tres Chicas, on guitar; former Six String Drag member Scotty Miller, also on guitar; and Cartridge Family member Greg Rice on keyboards.
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"When the four of us get together, it's just chemistry," said Anderson, who also performs with The Yayhoos.
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"It's like that all the time - everywhere we go, we have fun," Anderson said.