Summerfest Band Series: Interview with The Sideshow Tramps

Photo By Jon Powers

The Sideshow Tramps are a Houston based band that is anything but ordinary. They are a band that gets you moving and if anyone knows about a Houston crowd, they do. Their advice for making an impression on a Houston audience,”Don’t be an asshole.” Here they have taken the time to be a part of the Summerfest Series….
 
Describe the advantages and disadvantages of having many people and instruments performing in your live shows:

Well, the Sideshow Tramps have four members: Shane Lauder, Geoffery Muller, Scott McNeil, and Craig Kinsey.
We have many artists who play with us often on instruments ranging from accordion to brass. We play numerous instruments but we four exchange them during the show. The benefit is clear: neither we nor the crowd gets bored. We are also able to play a wide variety of styles. It is also fun and isn’t that what it’s about? The only downside is hauling it around.

What do you think has given Sideshow Tramps the staying power in the Houston music scene?

As far as what has given the Tramps staying power in Houston, you would have to ask all the fans. I guess it’s cause  the music is good. The stage show is wild and unpredictable. We are crazy. Also, a picture is worth a thousands words; if you look on our website (sideshowtramps.com) there is a 46 second video of numerous of our shows that includes stage dives, hot girls dancing, and naked back flips. What else need be said?

What is your favorite local venue to play and why?

Well this may seem like a cop our but we really don’t have a favorite venue. We don’t even think in those terms really. It’s about the crowd and how the show went. That is what sticks in our mind. We find it hard to even remember where some things happened. We just recall events that took place in the show and how the crowd was. But to move toward an answer we usually gravitate towards Mango’s, Dan Electros, Continental Club and Warehouse Live.

What advice would you give to a new band whose goal is to make an impression to the Houston audience?

Advice to a new band in Houston? If you want to be cool and hip and have people put you on a pedestal go to Austin or LA. If you want to play in Houston learn your instrument, write good songs, and get the crowd dancing. Get to know your fellow Houston musicians. Oh, and don’t be an asshole.

Who are you looking forward to watching perform at Summerfest 2010?

The bands we are looking forward to seeing? Well of course it’s the bands our members are also in like Scott McNeil’s band “The Maha’s” or Geoffery Muller’s band “I Am Mesmer” or the Robert Ellis Band or Grandfather Child. We also like Buxton and play with them whenever we can. Mostly we are excited about local bands. The only reason the rest of the world may not be as excited about the local acts is that they haven’t heard of them…yet.

See Sideshow Tramps perform live at Summerfest
Day 1
Stage: Dos Equis
@ 3:20