GILROY
– Some local musicians are putting it all on the line to make a
name for their band.
The members of Interstate have just released a CD called
”
Seventh Street at Midnight,
”
and are in the midst of a tour that will take them around
California and to Las Vegas.
GILROY – Some local musicians are putting it all on the line to make a name for their band.
The members of Interstate have just released a CD called “Seventh Street at Midnight,” and are in the midst of a tour that will take them around California and to Las Vegas.
The band members have all had success in previous careers, and some have left good jobs to dedicate themselves to their music.
Jeff Nunes, 32, originally from San Martin, was a successful lawyer in Phoenix until he quit to pursue music. The band’s leader, Nunes wrote the first songs that created the Interstate sound. He is the lead vocalist, plays acoustic and classical guitar, and the piano.
Scotty Thomas, 28, from Gilroy, who plays several instruments, writes songs and sings, recently resigned from his post as general sales manager for a local business.
The Dixon brothers, Darin “Berle,” 32, and Dan, 35, are from Gilroy. Dan is a successful local real estate professional and Berle recently left Cisco Systems where he was a sales representative.
Dan Dixon plays the drums and Berle Dixon plays the bass guitar and sings. Now Berle Dixon, Thomas and Nunes are pursuing music full-time.
All the band members have years of experience in music. The Dixon brothers performed on stage with their father’s band beginning when they each were 2 years old. Nunes started playing classical guitar at age 6 and writing songs at age 9. All have been playing in clubs since their high school days.
Nunes and the Dixons have been playing music together since high school, and when they decided to get serious about their music, they recruited Thomas, who, as Berle Dixon said, “put wind under our wings.”
Support from family has been key to the group, as some of the members chose to leave six-figure incomes for the band.
“My wife is thrilled that I am finally pursuing my dream,” Nunes said.
His wife Sarah added, “I really believe in him.”
The same is true for Berle Dixon and his wife Tina, who said she backs her husband completely.
“I enjoyed high tech, but I really believe in our music,” Berle Dixon said.
The sentiment is echoed by Chris, Dan’s wife of seven years. Thomas, the only bachelor in the group, said his family has given him full support.
At a recent show at The Claddagh Restaurant in Gilroy, the band played a variety of songs from the heart-felt “This Time Around,” written by Nunes to his wife “after emerging from dark days,” to “Stand” – a song with a political twist. From soulful lyrics to thundering drums, the music compelled audience members to get up and dance.
The audience appreciated the band’s energy.
“I like their attitude, their music,” said Shawn Gordon, an electrician from Hollister.
Nelia Luis of San Jose agreed.
“They are hot!” she said.
The band has a number of shows coming up.
Interstate was one of 10 bands chosen out of 2,000 to play at the New York International Music Festival, a musical counterpart to the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, happening today, and they will be headlining at San Francisco’s The Great American Music Hall Sept. 1.
The band also won honorable mentions for their songs “This Time Around” and “My Shade of Blue” at the SongPrize.com International Songwriting Competition.
And “This Time Around” has been popular on a Minnesota radio station after the station found the band’s Web site and asked for a CD.
The band’s new CD “Seventh Street at Midnight,” is out today and available at Barnes & Noble stores, Amazon.com, cdbaby.com and Town Records.
