Ladies and Gentlemen, Steve hester and DeJaVooDoo!
It takes a lot to render me speechless, but on the evening of January 17, 2014, Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo did just that! Powerful drums, mind blowing keys, amazing bass and vocals, these guys had it all. Then throw in fret board master Zach Hawkins on lead guitar, and you're in for a show you'll never forget. They covered everyone from BB King and Buddy Guy to Stevie Ray Vaughan and Clapton and then threw in some amazing original tunes as well. The Zoo Bar in Lincoln, NE is known for getting amazing and often unique bands, but contrary to their name, DeJaVooDoo is like nothing you've ever heard before. Personally, I walked away with a t-shirt, sticker, and 2 copies of their live album, "An Evening at Juanita's Cantina". The cover charge was $8, and I got at least an $80 show. The band tore through BB King's legendary hit "Thrill Is Gone" and in my opinion, they played the song better live than he did back in August when I saw him. That's a major accomplishment I'd say!!!
Here is my exclusive interview with band leader Steve Hester:
1. Please tell me the names of each member of your band and what instrument
they play. (If possible, please name the drummer that played with you on Friday,
I'd like to mention him as well)
Steve Hester- Bass, vocal, harp, Zach Hawkins- Guitar, Chip Goodwin- Keys, Slide, Jason McPheron Drums and Special Guest at The Zoo Bar and Sundance Film Festival Nick Hayes (of Eric Gales Band) on drums!
2. How long have you been playing as a group?
DeJaVooDoo has existed for about 10 years but has been in a dormant stage til recently! Zach has been with me for over 1 year (we met at a Blues Jam), I've known Chip for over 40 years but it's the first time we've played together, and Jason has been with the band for 2 months!
3. Who are your musical influences? (Cite specific examples.)
Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, BB King, Clapton, Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, Buddy
Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Creedence, Chuck Berry, Bob Seger, Jackson Brown,
Stones, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Frampton, Robin Trower and recently Black Keys
4. In hard rock and heavy metal, the fans get to bang their heads. In rap and
hip hop, the fans get to grind and twerk. So why choose a genre where the
audiences are often found in tears? Why blues?
Simple....the Blues stirs my Soul!
5. How did you decide what instrument to play?
I always was drawn to the bass runs on albums and I have never considered
not singing! I also always wanted to play the harp because my Grandfather did!
6. How did you learn your instrument? (by ear, through instructors, reading
books, etc.)
I learned to play first by instructional books (Mel Bay) then by ear and tips
from other players! Also plated trumpet in Marching band by Music!
7. Who is the primary song writer of the group and how do they come across
the ideas?
I am the primary song writer though often I get material from my brother Greg! My ideas come
sometimes from life experience and sometimes from spontaneous sources! For
instance "When the Whistle Blows" came from my 5 year old 3rd cousin who was
ridin' with his dad and I while sitting at a railroad crossing...a train whent
by and blew the horn....little Ian looked up and said "dad every time a train
goes by the whistle blows!
8. Do you have a written ‘band agreement’?
At this time no only a verbal agreement!
9. Why do you want to record and release your own music? (Be very honest.)
Because I want to express my own sound and ideas! I do however want to do a
few choice covers and make them my own!
10. Who is your fan/customer? (Analyze this question thoroughly.)
Our customer/fan is a wide range of people! Every one young or old male or
female who loves soulful hard driving Blues or Southern Rock is a potential FAN!
11.What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Everything from girls to spirituality to everyday life.
12. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
As I said earlier...I write most of the songs. I have a small number that I
have co-written with Doug Adams and Kenny Tucker and a few that my Brother Greg
Hester sent me and I re-arranged or added to! The process sometimes is only a
few hours and sometimes several weeks or months before the song is finished! I
actually have a few that the idea has been in existence for years!
13. How do you describe your music to people? (This is not a short answer.
My music is a mix of Blues, Country Rock, Southern Rock and Classic Rock! It
definitely is based however deeply in the Blues!
14. What image do you think your music conveys?
Wow...that's a tough one...I hope that music is a healer, everyone always
feels better when they listen to music! and though people say the blues are sad,
I don't see that as reality! I think the Blues is a happy Genre that pokes fun
of the downs in life!
15. What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)
I plan to be 100% full time performer with a major Record deal by 2015!
16. What are your long-term career goals?
Play the Blues till I cannot!
17. Do you have any personal contacts in the music business?
Not really!
18. Have you had any previous print or broadcast media exposure or reviews?
I did an interview on NTFO armed forces Radio in 2013!
19. Have you recorded any previous CDs or posted any audio files on the
Internet?
This disc is on ReverbNation some of the songs were previously recorded on a
studio disc!
20. Friday, January 17, 2014 you played at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Ne. How
would you rate your experience at the world famous Zoo Bar? What was it like
playing on a stage that once hosted such blues legends as BB King, Buddy Guy,
etc.?
The Zoo Bar was a great experience...lots of history there...we were well
received and can't wait to go back!
21. If you guys were to describe yourself in simple word choice.. what would
you say?
Just 4 lucky guys getting to do what we love!
22. Do any of you guys have a girlfriend?(As I'm sure you know, there is a
pretty big stereotype for musicians)
Chip has a Girlfriend of several years and Jason is Married with a great
family! Zach and myself are single!
23. Do you guys have any other hobbies besides, obviously, making music?
I fish and hunt also love to ride my Harley! Zach fishes and shoots! Chip
doesn't really have other hobbies and I'm not sure about Jason!
24. What's your most embarrassing experience?
Forgetting the lyrics to one of my own songs!
25. What is your favorite stage experience?
That's an easy one ....Opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd at Magic Springs Park July
of 2013!
26. Have you played with or opened any "big name" bands?
Yes, BB King, Eric Gales, Valerie June, Johnny Winter And Lynyrd
Skynyrd
27. What brand names do you rely on most for your gear? (guitars, strings,
drums, picks, amps, pedals, etc.)
I personally play a Saint Blues Juke Joint Bass and an Ampeg svt pro7 with an
Ampeg Heritage svt 8 x 10" cabinet and Hohner blues Harps! I also sing through a
Sure 55 microphone.
28. What advice would you give to young musicians about the music industry
and performing?
Follow your dreams, don't get distracted, don't let anyone tell you that you
can't!!!!
29. Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo. That's a very odd name, how did you decide
upon it?
I came up with the name Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo after I decided that
another name just didn't fit the band! I wanted something that sounded a little
like New Orleans/South Lousiana and a little heavy Blues so I came up with
DeJaVooDoo...my friend Erin who was booking the bands at Juanita's cantina in
Little rock at the time talked me into adding my name on the front!
30. It's a little off topic but, how informed are you on music theory? Have
you spent a lot of time learning about it?
I studied Music and learned to read in high school band! That's all the
formal music education that I have!
31. Why should people listen to Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo?
If you like Soulful, hard drivin', powerful Blues...Soaked in Southern Rock
and raspy Whiskey drenched vocals...Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo is a must for
your Play List!
32. How did you first come across the blues?
Hank Williams Sr, Jimmy Reed and BB King were albums I used to listen to at
my uncle's house when I was probably 6 or 7. My parents listened to all the
R&B bands of the 50s and I first heard CCR on the 5th grade and The Allman
Brothers and Skynyrd in Jr High!
33. Is there any other information that you'd like to share with me?
Thanks for the chance to share with you! We love our fans! Keep on listening
to live music!!!!!
Want MORE Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo??
Check them out on your favorite social media sites!
www.facebook.com/stevehestermusic101.
Twitter: @Dejavoodoo101
http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/stevehesteranddejavoodoo
http://stevehesterblues.wordpress.com/
Here is my exclusive interview with band leader Steve Hester:
1. Please tell me the names of each member of your band and what instrument
they play. (If possible, please name the drummer that played with you on Friday,
I'd like to mention him as well)
Steve Hester- Bass, vocal, harp, Zach Hawkins- Guitar, Chip Goodwin- Keys, Slide, Jason McPheron Drums and Special Guest at The Zoo Bar and Sundance Film Festival Nick Hayes (of Eric Gales Band) on drums!
2. How long have you been playing as a group?
DeJaVooDoo has existed for about 10 years but has been in a dormant stage til recently! Zach has been with me for over 1 year (we met at a Blues Jam), I've known Chip for over 40 years but it's the first time we've played together, and Jason has been with the band for 2 months!
3. Who are your musical influences? (Cite specific examples.)
Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, BB King, Clapton, Allman Brothers, Skynyrd, Buddy
Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Creedence, Chuck Berry, Bob Seger, Jackson Brown,
Stones, Aerosmith, Fleetwood Mac, Frampton, Robin Trower and recently Black Keys
4. In hard rock and heavy metal, the fans get to bang their heads. In rap and
hip hop, the fans get to grind and twerk. So why choose a genre where the
audiences are often found in tears? Why blues?
Simple....the Blues stirs my Soul!
5. How did you decide what instrument to play?
I always was drawn to the bass runs on albums and I have never considered
not singing! I also always wanted to play the harp because my Grandfather did!
6. How did you learn your instrument? (by ear, through instructors, reading
books, etc.)
I learned to play first by instructional books (Mel Bay) then by ear and tips
from other players! Also plated trumpet in Marching band by Music!
7. Who is the primary song writer of the group and how do they come across
the ideas?
I am the primary song writer though often I get material from my brother Greg! My ideas come
sometimes from life experience and sometimes from spontaneous sources! For
instance "When the Whistle Blows" came from my 5 year old 3rd cousin who was
ridin' with his dad and I while sitting at a railroad crossing...a train whent
by and blew the horn....little Ian looked up and said "dad every time a train
goes by the whistle blows!
8. Do you have a written ‘band agreement’?
At this time no only a verbal agreement!
9. Why do you want to record and release your own music? (Be very honest.)
Because I want to express my own sound and ideas! I do however want to do a
few choice covers and make them my own!
10. Who is your fan/customer? (Analyze this question thoroughly.)
Our customer/fan is a wide range of people! Every one young or old male or
female who loves soulful hard driving Blues or Southern Rock is a potential FAN!
11.What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)
Everything from girls to spirituality to everyday life.
12. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)
As I said earlier...I write most of the songs. I have a small number that I
have co-written with Doug Adams and Kenny Tucker and a few that my Brother Greg
Hester sent me and I re-arranged or added to! The process sometimes is only a
few hours and sometimes several weeks or months before the song is finished! I
actually have a few that the idea has been in existence for years!
13. How do you describe your music to people? (This is not a short answer.
My music is a mix of Blues, Country Rock, Southern Rock and Classic Rock! It
definitely is based however deeply in the Blues!
14. What image do you think your music conveys?
Wow...that's a tough one...I hope that music is a healer, everyone always
feels better when they listen to music! and though people say the blues are sad,
I don't see that as reality! I think the Blues is a happy Genre that pokes fun
of the downs in life!
15. What are your immediate music career goals? (Next 1 to 3 years.)
I plan to be 100% full time performer with a major Record deal by 2015!
16. What are your long-term career goals?
Play the Blues till I cannot!
17. Do you have any personal contacts in the music business?
Not really!
18. Have you had any previous print or broadcast media exposure or reviews?
I did an interview on NTFO armed forces Radio in 2013!
19. Have you recorded any previous CDs or posted any audio files on the
Internet?
This disc is on ReverbNation some of the songs were previously recorded on a
studio disc!
20. Friday, January 17, 2014 you played at the Zoo Bar in Lincoln, Ne. How
would you rate your experience at the world famous Zoo Bar? What was it like
playing on a stage that once hosted such blues legends as BB King, Buddy Guy,
etc.?
The Zoo Bar was a great experience...lots of history there...we were well
received and can't wait to go back!
21. If you guys were to describe yourself in simple word choice.. what would
you say?
Just 4 lucky guys getting to do what we love!
22. Do any of you guys have a girlfriend?(As I'm sure you know, there is a
pretty big stereotype for musicians)
Chip has a Girlfriend of several years and Jason is Married with a great
family! Zach and myself are single!
23. Do you guys have any other hobbies besides, obviously, making music?
I fish and hunt also love to ride my Harley! Zach fishes and shoots! Chip
doesn't really have other hobbies and I'm not sure about Jason!
24. What's your most embarrassing experience?
Forgetting the lyrics to one of my own songs!
25. What is your favorite stage experience?
That's an easy one ....Opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd at Magic Springs Park July
of 2013!
26. Have you played with or opened any "big name" bands?
Yes, BB King, Eric Gales, Valerie June, Johnny Winter And Lynyrd
Skynyrd
27. What brand names do you rely on most for your gear? (guitars, strings,
drums, picks, amps, pedals, etc.)
I personally play a Saint Blues Juke Joint Bass and an Ampeg svt pro7 with an
Ampeg Heritage svt 8 x 10" cabinet and Hohner blues Harps! I also sing through a
Sure 55 microphone.
28. What advice would you give to young musicians about the music industry
and performing?
Follow your dreams, don't get distracted, don't let anyone tell you that you
can't!!!!
29. Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo. That's a very odd name, how did you decide
upon it?
I came up with the name Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo after I decided that
another name just didn't fit the band! I wanted something that sounded a little
like New Orleans/South Lousiana and a little heavy Blues so I came up with
DeJaVooDoo...my friend Erin who was booking the bands at Juanita's cantina in
Little rock at the time talked me into adding my name on the front!
30. It's a little off topic but, how informed are you on music theory? Have
you spent a lot of time learning about it?
I studied Music and learned to read in high school band! That's all the
formal music education that I have!
31. Why should people listen to Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo?
If you like Soulful, hard drivin', powerful Blues...Soaked in Southern Rock
and raspy Whiskey drenched vocals...Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo is a must for
your Play List!
32. How did you first come across the blues?
Hank Williams Sr, Jimmy Reed and BB King were albums I used to listen to at
my uncle's house when I was probably 6 or 7. My parents listened to all the
R&B bands of the 50s and I first heard CCR on the 5th grade and The Allman
Brothers and Skynyrd in Jr High!
33. Is there any other information that you'd like to share with me?
Thanks for the chance to share with you! We love our fans! Keep on listening
to live music!!!!!
Want MORE Steve Hester and DeJaVooDoo??
Check them out on your favorite social media sites!
www.facebook.com/stevehestermusic101.
Twitter: @Dejavoodoo101
http://www.reverbnation.com/rpk/stevehesteranddejavoodoo
http://stevehesterblues.wordpress.com/
