Arbor Creek Interview
Interview Date: 7-8-17
Larry Huff - Lead Guitar
Frank Dvorak - Drums
Alex Ford - Bass
David Drilling - Lead Vocals & Rhythm Guitar
Jared Bebee - Keyboards
It was a Saturday night, and the city lights were shining bright in the Chicago summer haze. It had been four years since seeing Arbor Creek. They are a jam influenced, psychedelic blues rock band from Joliet, IL. I was honored to have the opportunity to rekindle with the members and hear how far they've come. I promised Chris he would be impressed. On the drive up to the city, I told him the story of how I met the band, four years ago, randomly in a tent at a small festival, where lots of talent, good music, and positive vibes were taking place. Chris and I eagerly park in the heart of the city, ready to see Arbor Creek at the Hard Rock Cafe. By the look of the sparkling twilight of the Chicago River, and feel of the sweet lake breeze, I knew it was going to be a cosmic night. With a Canon 6D clutched in one hand and an iPhone in the other, we were ready to cover the event. We marched into the Hard Rock Cafe just in time, and the band was already jamming in high gear. The relaxed atmosphere of the venue, along with Arbor Creek fans filled the space with an edge. I was immediately entranced by Frank's Zeppelin inspired drums beats, captivated by the shredding licks off Larry’s guitar. Alex’s groovy bass scales filled the air with a punch. Then, David’s gravelly voice drilled into the mic, solid and confident. Suddenly, I was thrown into Jared’s keyboards, tying everything together into a zesty, unrestrained harmony.
After the intimidatingly good show, Chris and I go outside to start the interview. We hopped into the band’s tour bus and it went a little something like:
Do you guys have an EP?
Larry: The last EP was released November of 2016. We’re working on a full length album and it should be out by January of 2018.
Who mainly writes the music?
All: We all write the music. We all put our ideas together and test it out.
Where do your lyrics come from?
David: My lyrics come from a lot of different places. Sometimes I think of phrases or words for a song and jot them down throughout the day, or I’ll just sit down and write a whole song. I don't like to write super direct. I try to be more creative and make people think a little bit, about the message. I don't have a method, it's different every time. I treat every song like a brand new adventure.
I wanna be a band that people are afraid to be. We wanna push people to be better
and we’re always pushing ourselves to be better.
- David Drilling
How did you come up with Arbor Creek?
Larry: We used to have band practice in a subdivision called Arbor Creek and all of us jammed back when Jared was the drummer. We would sit and BS in the basement and go down by the creek after practice.
How long have you been playing music?
Larry: Me and Alex are cousins and have been playing together since we were like 12 years old.
Frank: I started playing in the fourth grade, so over 15 years. I played jazz in high school and a bunch of different styles, so pretty well rounded. I joined Arbor Creek about 2.5 years ago.
Alex: I’ve been playing you know for a while. We picked it up around like 11 and I started off strumming a guitar and then I saw a bass… I listened to a lot of Black Sabbath so I started taking it seriously when I was 12, and I'm 20 now, so yeah.
David: I starting playing guitar when I was 13. I first started playing with Alex and then his cousin Larry. Me and Jared went to high school together and thats when we brought him in and it all fell together. I started singing because someone's gotta sing! (laughing) I started practicing more and more, I didn't even consider myself a singer until like a year ago.
Jared: I literally started yesterday (joking). My dad plays guitar and mom plays piano. I’ve fiddled around with instruments since was little on piano, copying melodies, then practicing more in high school.
Who are your influences as a band?
Larry: I would say the top four bands that describe our influences are Led Zeppelin, My Morning Jacket, The Allman Brothers, and Pink Floyd. It’s blues music.
Loud Owl Media: We were definitely feeling southern bluesy rock, a little soul and funk in your sound!
David: We like to say we’re “jam influenced, psychedelic blues rock”.
Who are your personal influences?
Larry: My favorite guitar player? I love Jimmy Page, Buddy Guy, Frank Zappa, David Gilmore. A lot of bluegrass and folk guitar like Doc Watson, and some jazz too.
Frank: I like Steve Jordon alot, he played with John Mayer, and the original Blues Brothers band. John Bonham from Zeppelin, greatest drummer dead or alive.. fight me for it! ;)
Alex: The big ones are Geezer Butler from Black Sabbath, John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, I love Geddy Lee from Rush…who hasn't heard YYZ when your like 10 years old?! (laughing) Motown stuff, good bass lines that carry the song that you can dance to- it just drives the song. Jaco Pestorius- plays jazz fusion, does a lot of stuff no one has ever done on the bass since then.
David: My three favorite singers and vocal influences are Joe Cocker, Jim James from My Morning Jacket, and Susan Tedeski. For guitar I would say Derek Trucks and Hendrix.
Jared: I’m influenced by a lot of classical music, i guess… I don’t know what the hell I'm talking about. I don’t even know how to play piano (everyone laughs). Definitely love blues piano, Otis Span, Muddy Waters- one of the greatest. I obviously love John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin.
Alex: He handles the bass and the keyboards, this guy! You could play the bass on the keyboard you know, ‘cause you gotta hit the lower registers. But I’m playing bass, so Jared has more freedom melodically.
Frank: Jared's an addition to the rhythm section. That what sets our band apart is having the keyboard player, it’s like having another level and layer.
Larry: I think about it as more of a dual, twin guitar band. David’s my guy and we play off each others melodies. and then the keyboard fills in the gaps. We’re a big band, we throw it all into one big pot and work together to get that universal sound.
We noticed how tight you guys are as a band, especially when you went into that improv at the end! Do You Practice Often?
Larry: Our practice days turned into our recording days so we haven't had time to actually practice. When we're not playing shows we're trying to record new things.
Frank: We improve from every show. We all know our songs pretty well.
How often do you play shows?
Frank: We won the battle of the bands here at Hard Rock in May of this year. After that we went on like a five weekend tour. We went to Iowa two weekends in a row, Wisconsin, and Fort Wayne, IN.
Larry: We were in Nashville a couple months back and we're going on a two week tour next May. We got a lot of work to do!
How do you feel about the new album? What do you envision and what are your goals?
Larry: I want something that’s smoking hot on the ears. I want it to be different. I’m confident in it. I want to really make an impression. We have a lot of new stuff coming up. Our buddy Matt is recording us at St. Francis in Joliet. Once that’s done we're gonna play show after show after show!
Alex: What I want more than anything is for it to capture what we sound like. We sound raw and dirty. When Frank gets on the skins, good song writing, capturing what we do live when we improv. I want some deep tracks, have some curve balls...make what people can sing to.
David: I want it to be an album that people want to listen to over and over. Like when they get into their car on the way to work. Super listenable and inspiring. I wanna make other people be like man that makes me wanna play guitar or do something. I think playing music is one of the best outlets for emotion. You can still do it and in a brand new way. There are no rules.
Larry: I want it to promote itself… like wildfire!
When you feel comfortable with each other and you are feeling good and positive, hangin' out has to do with how tight and close we are on stage, and should be just as important off the stage.
- Larry Huff
What your biggest accomplishment as a band?
Larry: Having being asked to play a two hour set at Hard Rock Cafe’ on a Saturday night was a pretty big deal. Just getting in the van and playing on the road, too. We've been talking about doing this for so long and we're finally starting to make progress, making those footprints. Now we’re starting to have an avalanche effect. We’re at our peak as a band right now!
Overall, Where Do You See The Band Going?
Larry: Within the next two years I wanna be a full time touring musician. This is all of our jobs. I got a taste of it and I love it.
Frank: I wanna keep getting bigger and be someone else's hero.
Larry: I wanna be on the road as much as possible and spread it.
Alex: LIKE JAM.
David: I wanna be a band that people are afraid to be. We wanna push people to be better and we’re always pushing ourselves to be better.
Loud Owl Media: I feel like you guys really do that. I couldn't pinpoint what you sound like. I really feel that harmony and connection between you guys. You're cosmically good.
Is Hanging Out As A Band An Important Aspect In Being In A Solid Band for you?
Larry: I’m over at their house every single day. I gotta be at the band house! (everyone laughs) I always felt like hanging out with the band, in a sense is like practicing. Its huge. When you feel comfortable with each other and you are feeling good and positive, hangin' out has to do with how tight and close we are on stage, and should be just as important off the stage.
Frank: Being actual friends.
David: It's like being family.
Larry: It's not anybody's band, it’s like we all take a place in our sound. The best way to do it is when were all on good terms with each other.
Frank: You feel more open to trying new things live or when practicing. You’re not embarrassed, you’re open. Making mistakes is what makes people better, so what better way to practice than to make mistakes with your band.
Do you always play covers and What's your favorite thing to cover?
David: We’re always gonna play some covers!
Larry: Covers are fun! We like to play songs people know because we like ‘em. We love doing covers because it's cool to hear someone’s take. We’ll have more original material but I don’t think well ever stop playing other people’s music.
Alex: It’s paying respect! We're trying to spread the power of music. Spread the good word!!
Check out Arbor Creek at
Facebook: @arborcreektheband
Instagram: @arborcreek
Twitter: @thearborcreek
Listen To Their Music On:
Spotify, Pandora &
Reverbnation: https://www.reverbnation.com/arborcreektheband
