It’s not surprising to me that Levee Drivers are top performers in our overall poll and winners of the Fans’ Poll this year. I first came across them about two years ago at Millcreek Tavern. I was about to leave after hearing the artist that I came to see, but Levee Drivers stopped me dead in my tracks as I was just about to walk out the door. I ended up staying for their whole set. There are some things that you know are just right. Please check out our interview below with Levee Drivers’ guitarist Jason Schultz. – Q.D. Tran
The Deli: How did you meet, and when did Levee Drivers form as a band?
Jason Schultz: August and I played in a few bands through high school. A year or two later, we asked Jeff to play drums. After a few months of practicing, we started getting some shows around the Philadelphia area at The Fire and The Cherry Pit. This was around the Spring of 2006.
TD: What is the origin of your band name?
JS: “Levee Drivers” came in an article about Hurricane Katrina. The words weren’t next to each other in the article, but I read them together and thought it sounded kind of rock ‘n roll.
TD: What are your biggest musical influences, and what bands (local/national/international) are you currently listening to?
JS: Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Howlin’ Wolf, The Clash and Jack White’s projects have been a pretty significant influence on our sound through the last 3 years. August has been listening to a lot of The Shangri-Las recently. Kyle’s getting into the Boss. Jeff likes The Walkmen. I’ve been listening to Brody Dalle’s new band, Spinnerette.
TD: What’s the first concert you ever attended and/or first album you ever bought?
JS: The first concert and album was The Wallflowers and Beck’s Odelay. Kyle’s first concert was KISS in 1990 because his uncle was in Slaughter, and they opened up the show. The first album he every got was Night at the Opera by Queen. Jeff’s first album he ever got was a Vandals CD. My first album was And Justice for All by Metallica, and I think my first show was a New Jersey hardcore full of class acts.
TD: What’s your take on the Philly music scene?
JS: We don’t get around to that many shows, but we like playing with Machine Gun Joe and The Cobbs because they’re buddies of ours and we like what they do. I think our favorite venues are Johnny Brenda’s and World Cafe Live.
TD: What are your performance and recording plans for 2010?
JS: We’re going to try and get a few shows down south with a friend of ours down in Tennessee during the summer. Trying to convince August to record another EP this year.
TD: What was your most memorable live Levee Drivers show?
JS: The Dewey Beach Music Conference was probably our most memorable show. Everything clicked on stage, the crowd was into us and the weekend was a great learning experience as a band.
TD: If you could pick the next Traveling Wilburys, who would be in the line-up?
JS: Jack White, Josh Homme, Jeff Tweedy and Ryan Adams.
TD: What’s your favorite order at the deli?
JS: Grilled cheese and bacon.