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theDiligents…A Working Band

~by nathaniel dolan, November 2001

 Getting to the interview with the boys in the band was no small undertaking…

Okay.  So I don’t know Orlando very well…not even the neighborhood I’ve been living in for the last year.  So?  What?  I’ve been busy.  Were it not for Jimmy’s GPS-like sense of direction and military precision, to say nothing of his Job-like patience (if you’re saying, “huh?”…Job…pronounced Jobe…is a character from the bible) while guiding me via my cell phone, this interview might never have taken place.  This would have been regrettable.  Getting to know these guys was worth the effort. 

Finally pulling into the driveway (mumbling under my breath, disgusted that I was a mere half-mile from my own home and had such a hard time finding the place…I guess the politically correct nomenclature here is “directionally challenged”?), I fumbled through the glove box for a pen, stepped out of the car into the night, and with tape recorder and note pad under my arm, moved toward the flashing bedroom light that Jimmy was toggling as a beacon for my lost ass. 

Stepping through the door into the living room, I found myself in the midst of what looked remarkably like a staging area for the roadies on a concert tour.  Guitars, amps, tour cases, PA’s, suitcases, you name it…everything you might expect to find in the possession of a touring band was in evidence.  “Clearly, this is a working band”, I remarked to myself.  I noted a pro quality to the carnage, in that all of this gear was so neatly stacked to allow ample living space while remaining at the ready for the next trip out the door and on to the next show.   I was offered a seat on the unusually large sofa and the first of several dark brews of some sort which, of course, I graciously accepted and immediately began to relieve of its commitment to this earth.  I took my seat and made note of the family cat bounding from top to bottom of the unusually large, floor-to-ceiling scratching/climbing post (“unusually large” seems to be a common thread in this apartment…”I bet they super size it, too”, I think to myself).  What ensued then is best served by leaving it in the form of the Q & A.  I’d be doing these characters a great disservice by summarizing their conversations with my own particular brand of wit and satire…these guys have enough of their own.  

The band is the brainchild of life-long friends and musical collaborators, lead vocalist/rhythm guitarist, Gene Samero, and guitarist extraordinaire, Jimmy Orfe.  This is their home. 

 With all theDiligents present and accounted for (sort of), so began our full round-robin conversation…it follows here… 

ND:  So guys…let’s start with the light obvious stuff.  How did you guys come together?

Gene: Jim and I have had a working relationship for almost 10 years now.  Prior to that we had lived in the same small town in NJ and attended the same grade school.

Jim:  Well, stretching a little further back, our parents had gone to the same High School…you could say that Gene and I have known each other for a spell.

ND:  Tell me a little about the band’s evolution. 

 Jim: I have yet to evolve.

Gene:  Some of the early recordings were our most honest works, albeit immature…and we’ve gone through some of the typical personnel changes over the years looking for the right mix of personality, talent, and inspiration.  These days, we feel that our craft has evolved into a finely tuned, well-oiled machine. Evolving is a ceaseless process; we do it on a daily basis by paying constant attention to our music and song writing, whether it’s through listening, performing or just hanging around each other.  We’re pretty proud of the progress we’ve made. 

ND:  What inspired the name and the over all concept for the band? 

Gene:  The concept is more of a crusade to change the way the industry presents music to the masses.  We want to release music that has a message that people can relate to in a positive way.  The name “theDiligents”, in its purest form defines our persistence and dedication to our craft, regardless of the adversities we’ve encountered along the way…and there have been a few.  In short, we’re in for the long haul.

 Jim:  And unlike “Wolf Nibble Chips” (an old pseudonym for the band), I can say it with a straight face!!

 ND: Who have been your musical influences over the years?   

Everybody’s chiming in now:  Beatles, Dylan, Doors, Stones, Zeppelin, theWho, Springsteen, Neil Diamond, U2, Live, Willie Nelson, Goo Goo Dolls, Third Eye Blind, Nirvana, Tori Amos.  We forget anybody?

 Gene:  Like many artists, we take our life experiences combined with what we’ve learned from these artists, and create something that truly is uniquely ours.  Like I said…we’re pretty proud of it. 

 (And well they should be, readers…wait ‘til you catch theDiligents show…yes…I’m a fan) 

ND:  Let’s expand the “influences” question a bit…Who were some of your childhood heroes? 

Gene:  My Pop-Pop and Grandmom.  I learned most of my early life lessons from them. 

Jim:  My Dad and Luke Skywalker…in that order. 

ND:  Who are your biggest fans?

 Everyone agrees:  Our families…and each other, of course.

 ND:  What most inspires you guys most in life?  (Big pause here…Anyone?  Bueller?  Anyone?) 

Gene:   Hmmm…Justice

 Jim:  Nature…both kinds…human & the outdoors. 

ND: Anyone care to share what you find musically inspiring? 

Gene:  Anything with a good hook is inspiring to me…especially if it makes me wish that I wrote it.

 Jim:  Classical music, Celtic tunes, unknown artists…anything I don’t hear on the radio yet still sells well.  Someone was inspired to write it…and they did, regardless of what the music industry machine might do with it.  The fans are the real barometers in this racket…not the label and media execs.

 ND:  As tough and competitive as the music industry can be, what is it that motivates you to take on a career in music?   

Gene:   I know that I can support myself through performing, with or without “assistance” from the “industry” and all it’s machinery.  I do that right now, and that’s not gonna change.  My biggest fear is wasting my talent, and that’s just not an option. 

 Jim:  I just want to leave a tiny but indelible mark on the heel of the stanky shoe that is the music industry…we don’t want to spend our lives doing anything that we don’t want to.  

(Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy…we have to talk) 

 ND: Exactly who are theDiligents and where do see yourselves going?

 Gene:  We are the hardest working band that no one’s ever heard.  We’d like to be recognized and respected for our accomplishments, and we’re working very hard to be embraced on a national level…soon.

 ND:  How are you going to make your mark, and exactly what mark are you planning to make on this industry?  In other words, what will be the legacy of theDiligents? 

 Gene:  Some people that have seen us perform come away feeling inspired to change something about their lives.  We’ve received many letters from people who have been affected deeply by our songs.  We feel extremely responsible for this affect we have on a listening public and this compels us to push forward for more than our own sake. Our legacy will be a body of recorded work representing specific times from each of our lives and, of course, the moments of magic we’ve shared on stage.  People can use this to reflect upon their own life experiences...or not.

 Jim:  Yeah…they could use it for a coaster under a cheesy glass of Chardonnay, too…it’s cool…we still have fun. 

ND:  What's the oddest thing that has ever happened to you as a performer or during a performance?  

Jim:  One time, we actually got everything that we were supposed to get in our contract, prior to our performance…does that count? 

(Jimmy’s tongue is nearly poking through his cheek as he answers…a little smack on the nose of the talent buyers with a newspaper there, Jim?)

 Gene:  Well, we held a peaceful protest in my Jeep once while it was being towed.  I got the pictures to prove it!! Upon our arrival at a venue that shall remain nameless, we encountered a problem with unloading our gear.  In a matter of a few trips up and down the 16 steep stairs, we managed to get most of our gear to the stage.  Then some jackass decides to slap a tow truck to the back of my new ride, while we're in the middle of unloading!!  To make a long story short, we held a "peaceful protest" in the back of my Jeep while, Mr. Tow Truck Driver dragged us around the parking lot until 4 OPD cops showed up. The show must go on, as they say, so after about an hour or so of very animated conversation with the driver's supervisor we were able to perform and did have a great show after all that.   

ND:  What's the coolest thing that has happened to you as a result of being a performer?  

Gene:  Well, we’ve been able to quit our day jobs…now that’s pretty cool.  Most of our friends hate us for, as they say, “not working.” 

Jim:  Recently, we’ve seen a lot of boobies!!  This is a very good thing!! 

ND:  Have you guys ever had any "Brushes with Greatness"?  (Hey…if the question is good enough for David Letterman (back in the day), then it’s good enough for me. ) 

Gene:  Well, let’s see.  Prior to hooking up with Ed, Liberty DeVitto offered to play drums on our record.  We’re still very flattered by that.

 Jim:  I saw the “Family Man” at Taco Bell once.

 (ya just can’t help but love ‘ol Jimmy…ya wanna smack him…but you can’t help but love ‘im) 

ND:  What kind of a role do you feel the Internet is playing in the business today?

 Gene:  We have had tremendous success with our site [www.theDiligents.com].  We are able to keep in touch with our fans, discuss topics, sell merchandise, and post our schedule updates.  It’s like having an infomercial that runs 24/7.  I believe that the Internet has made it possible for bands to experience success without having to sign a deal or compromise their beliefs.  It’s clearly making a positive impact from the artists’ perspective. 

ND:  Okay, guys…we’ll finish up with this for now…what’s the vision for the future of theDiligents?

 Gene:  Pardon my pun but we’ll be “Diligently” writing and recording, and then touring, of course, to support our creative efforts, and you’ll find us playing our hearts out for our current and future fans.

 This was enough for one night.  The tow truck story, Jimmy’s tongue in cheek, and 3 beers later it was now

3 a.m. and time for me to make my way back to the ranch.  Based on my performance getting to the interview, I figured I’d better get started.  

 So…what’s the bottom line here with theDiligents?  (and no…if you’ve been thinking that this is a typo…it isn’t …it actually is one word with a small case ‘t’).  

 Look people…I’m a writer.  I write about bands  (a frustrated musician in my own right perhaps…but a better writer).  My task here is simply to listen to the music, talk with the band, and draw my own conclusion to share with the readership while leaving the door open to the room where everybody can draw their own.  I’ve seen theDiligents play.  I’ve listened to their music…a lot.  I’ve met them and learned first hand what’s in their hearts, on their minds, and what constitutes their agendas. 

The bottom line here is that theDiligents are a band…a great American rock band…in the truest sense of the word.  They are great writers.  They play their own brand of great American rock music, and play it well…they play it loud and on vintage gear that any top artist in the nation would be proud to own.  They’ve invested their very lives into the music that they love. They support their poetic lyrics with an acute sense of melody and harmony.  Their musicianship rivals any that you are hearing over the airwaves, purchasing tickets to see, or can find in your own CD racks at home.

 You know that sense of pride that runs through the veins when we experience the music and hear the success stories of the likes of Led Zeppelin, Hootie & the Blowfish, U2, The Doors, The Stones, Dave Matthews, and countless others that you as the reader may care to add?  You know where I’m going with this…and you know what I’m talking about.  Don’t you dare give me the hand!!  Hey!!  Get back here!!  I’m not finished with you!!

 Before bands like these listed above reached levels of national and global notoriety, they would play…in bars, at festivals, frat parties, and band battles...any venue that would let them.  And when they played, people turned around from their flat beers and their idle conversations to see just who it was that was making those sounds and speaking the words that brought memories and reflections, good and bad, suddenly smashing back into the foreground of their minds.

 theDiligents are such a band.  So pay attention.  I’ve been at theDiligents’ shows and watched and heard patrons inquire about them after hearing songs like “Soleil”, “The Blame”, and “Lake Crystal Drive.”  “Who are those guys?”, they say, “can I get their CD somewhere?” 

 I’ve even heard theDiligents cover a song like “Help” by the Beatles (a very unique and respectable homage to The Fab Four I must say) as well as a couple Doors tunes that get impressive ovations.  Look people, if you’ve ever had the good fortune to have heard a band long before they reached a national audience leaving you as one of the lucky few who get to say, “hey…I saw them when…”, then this is your next opportunity for it (I have…I saw Sammy Hagar-The Red Rocker-play an electric dulcimer at a venue in Kansas City before anyone knew what a Red Rocker was…it’s kinda cool).  If you’ve never had the good fortune I’ve mentioned and would like to have it, then mark these words…go hear theDiligents…they are one of those bands that will make you wish you were a musician.

 theDiligents is a collection of simple, funny guys with a gift for music and the guts to play it…their way.  If they occur to you at all from this interview as having a bit of an attitude or perhaps a bit frustrated with some of the talent buyers in power, well then…you’re right…they do…and are…and so am I.  When I can’t walk into some of the so-called “top” rooms in such a musical town like Orlando and hear these guys play, then there may very well be some club owners in this town kicking themselves in the near future because they missed the boat called, “They played here when…and still do from time to time.”  

(Great segue for my last question for theDiligents…I was saving it for a tasty moment)

 ND: One last question for you, Gene… why is it that we haven’t seen theDiligents in more of the top venues around town?

 (A wry smirk befalls Gene’s boyish mug)

 Gene:  I can only say this much…they all know that we’re here.  We’ve met with most of the house booking agents in town, our CD is all over town, we’ve even played the House of Blues for the Songwriters Showcase of America.   I really don’t know, Nathaniel…what I can say is that with all of our exposure it seems that the talent buyers here in Orlando have yet to truly embrace us.  I think I must have insulted someone’s mother and the word has gotten around the ol’ boy network.  Or maybe it’s just that we haven’t been aggressive enough in our efforts…nah…that ain’t it…if we’re anything at all, we’re too aggressive.  Hey!!  Maybe that’s it!!  In all seriousness though, it’s probably just more to do with timing than anything else is.  With our recent performance at Hard Rock Live on October 11^th I expect that we’ll be showing up at everyone’s favorite rooms soon enough.  We had a great turn out from our fans and collected quite a few new ones according to our fan book.  We just can’t thank Cider enough for inviting us to play on their bill.  Ken and the guys are friends of ours and we were just thrilled when they called.  While we’re at it, we want to thank the Hard Rock Live for having us.  They’re real pros over there and they treated us very well.  It was the first big stage that we’ve played in Orlando, and the HRL people really made it an awesome night for us…a genuine pleasure.  We’re really looking forward to our next show with them.

 (Gene remarks that he really does avoid insulting mothers when he can, and then dons a seriousness in his tone)

 Gene continues:  Listen, Nathaniel…I never really could fathom why so much stock is put into whether a band has played this venue or that one.  I mean, on one hand I guess I understand…to a point.  Venue owners want to know that a band will bring in business…I get it.  But what about supporting  talent?  Whatever happened to that?  What I mean to say is, just listen to the music and then decide.  It just seems to me that many good performers’ talents are too often being distinguished simply by the rooms they’ve played. 

ND:  To some readers that may sound like a bit o’ sour grapes, Gene.  Like maybe you’re a bit put off because you haven’t nailed down more of those rooms yet…what would you say to them? 

Gene:  Here’s what I would say…anyone that defines a band’s popularity, or talent, or vision…(he pauses thoughtfully here)…or a band’s message by the clubs that they’ve played is blatantly out of line for doing so, and very often misrepresents a band by doing that.   We play for people in rooms all over Central Florida, and we are always well received…The Breakers in New Smyrna Beach, Muldoon’s & Spatz in Winter Park, we do real well at Scruffy’s right here in downtown O-Town, Frank’s Front Row in Daytona, and Meg O’Malley’s in Melbourne…hell, we even play offshore at the U.S. Naval Base on Andros Island in the Bahamas (we’re international now).  We’ve had air play on WJRR, WTKS, WSTW, WKRO, WBZC, and WTRR.  I’m just not sure what’s missing from our resume that keeps us from getting invited to more of the bigger venues.  Again…maybe it’s just timing.  Just so it’s clear, it isn’t for a lack of trying…we really would like to play them.  We’re not stupid.  And it’s not like we have a problem with them or anything.  I just want everyone to be clear on that…I get engaged in that conversation regularly.  I think perhaps because we’ve always done it our own way, and because we’re not afraid to play wherever and whenever we can, some people might pigeon hole us as a class B or C band.  I mean, honestly, we’ll take just about any reasonable paying gig that comes our way just so we can have an opportunity to play…we’re not doing this for fame or fortune necessarily.  That would be great, but we do this because we love it.  We do, of course, have a message that we’d like to get to a wider audience.  The message we try to impart through our music is simply a new way to relate to each other as humans…one that works for everyone.  And when it comes to playing, we’re down right determined…almost ruthless.  We’re gonna play, no matter what.  Someone is going to hear theDiligents.  I think perhaps this attitude of ours may put some people off.  That’s the best theory I’ve got.  Or…maybe it’s just that timing thing.  Ya know what?  I probably have no idea what I’m talking about…let’s move on, shall we?

 (a little more laughter erupts to lighten the mood) 

ND:  Bottom-line it for me, Gene. 

Gene:  We want to play more shows right here in Orlando.  We live here.  We like it here.  So many of our friends are here.  We’re pushing for the college circuit and points beyond Florida. We’re the kind of band that club owners love.  We play hard and try to stay sober during the show.  The real bottom line here is that our perseverance alone will take this band beyond the borders of this region.  Our message will reach the masses.  The question is, when this happens, will we be representing the town from whence we came?  Will Orlando be rooting for their hometown boys when they see us in the big shows around the country?  I dunno…we’ll see.  We sure will love it if they do.  But mark this…we’re not going away and we’re not giving up. 

ND:  Thanks, Gene…I’m thinkin’ I’ll be seeing you around.

 Gene:  Count on it. 

Despite any adversities that these four extraordinary guys have encountered in their career thus far, you, the listening public, can expect to be hearing a lot about theDiligents in the near future, because they are getting noticed.   Are they getting the notice that they truly deserve?  Not really…yet.  But no matter.  theDiligents will not be under wraps much longer if I have anything to say about it (and I obviously do).  Their notoriety and subsequent successes are inevitable as far as this fan is concerned.  The boys are now beginning to make some moves that may add the missing components to the formula.  They announced to me that they are meeting with a local producer for their next project, and are considering taking on some management for development.  Sounds to me like they’re making the right moves. 

A band like theDiligents, is just one of those natural evolutionary phenomena type of things that occurs in the music industry from time to time (thank God).

 So lend an ear, dear readers…and remember that you heard it hear first.  Sit up straight, eat your veggies, call your Mom, and for God’s sake…go catch theDiligents!! 

ND 11/01

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