A Big Bag Of Funk: Satchel Grande

Story by Will Sharpe 

| Published Apr 13, 2010

Omaha funk/soul/mustache pop band, Satchel Grande, has been described as "a nine-piece groove machine of succulent magic." And yes, that's 'nine-piece.' Nine grown men, sharing one stage, indulging concertgoers in a hot cup of funk. But how many members is too many members?

Satchel Grande's Chris Klemmensen and Andy Kammerer certainly don't mind all the company.

"I don't think you can ever have too many members as long as they're busy doing the right stuff," Klemmensen said. "But with nine people in the band, it is quite the bitch at the end of the night breaking [the pay] up."

Kammerer added, "We should probably get one more person just so we can have an even, 10-way split. We'll get there."

Satchel Grande translates loosely into "big bag," a near-perfect reference to the funk and soul band's myriad of talents and spirited live performances.

"[The name] is really just a reference to the fact that there are nine of us," said Klemmensen. "I got out of one band in Omaha and kind of leached my way into another band with Andy here and a couple other of our friends. I wanted to get really high-end musicians to play with me so I worked my way into their group and they all kind of joined my group, too."

"I play everything. I'm kind of a lead singer, but I play keyboards, occasional guitar work and if the drummer isn't there, I play drums. We'll switch instruments."

"There's a big bag of tricks from us to pull from."

Tricks aplenty await listeners of Satchel's newest album, "Dial M For Mustache." The album's 13 songs ("Plus bonus tracks," alleged Kammerer), while varied with enough sounds to occupy a large bag, maintain a central groove throughout. But "Dial M" is an album more concerned with feeling the groove than the groove itself.

"'Dial 'M' was recorded mostly in my basement," Kammerer said. "A lot of the guys played on it. The bass player, Bob, and Jeremy Garrett, the sound guy from the Waiting Room, produced. Jeremy, Bob and myself kind of put the whole thing together as far as the production end of it. Actual recording happened over the course of about a year and a half. We're pretty happy with it."

As for the inspiration behind the album's title, Klemmensen says to look no further than the fur above his upper lip.

"Well, I do have a mustache. It's become sort of a trademark so I suppose I can't shave the thing off."

Klemmensen emphasized that Satchel Grande is a band of diverse facial hairstyles and not just limited to mustaches like his.

"We do have some beards. I think there's only one guy with a ponytail in the band."

As for rat tails?

"No rat tails," Kammerer assured. "A lot of working class haircuts. We all go to work during the day. Pretty standard stuff."

With nine members, one mustache, one pony tail and Lord knows how many beards, Satchel Grande is forced to approach each live performance with a certain degree of caution, should a structurally unsound stage cave in beneath the weight of its members.

"We have played some pretty rickety stages before," Klemmensen admitted. "We've had some cracks and creaks, but nobody's pushed through."

The band's April 24 show at the Bourbon Theatre will mark what Kammerer described as "Satchel's first tour date."

"It's a struggle to get the act on the road," said Klemmensen. "There are nine of us so it's a very difficult schedule alignment between everyody. Lincoln's going to be the furthest out of Omaha we've ever played."

Those interested in easing the band's impending homesickness need only to spare $5 come Saturday the 24th. And if you're lucky enough, Chris and Andy may even discuss potential NBA playoff scenarios with you after the show.

"The NBA playoffs? Aren't there like 47 teams to choose from?" asked Klemmensen.

"The Nets," added Kammerer. "They're good, right? Is Luc Longley still playing?"