62
Wednesday, august 22, 1979
daily nebraskan
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.ackberry Winter waits for big'ltoFeaK
! By Kathy Chenault w
A Lincoln-based rock, band has traveled a rough road
during its eight-year existence, , . t 1 ,
Fred Bettgefjead guitarist and spokesman for Black
berry Winter contends, however, that Hlt' Just a matter of
time and luck until we get our break."
'Performing life" has been like a roller coaster ride for
the members of thegroup,he said. "It'abeen full of highs
and lows.
: "We've weathered a lot of bad times and we're still
playing. That must say something for us."
Bettge said the group is a unique local band because it
performs primarily original material and
has tried to keep up with national music trends.
' "We're a creative bunch of people, Although you hear
It all the time, I think that if we could just get that one
break. " he said, sighing and taking a long pull off his
cigarette,
Bad experiences croup members have faced include a
highway, mishap in Colorado just when they were making
a name for themselves through radio airing of a
single'
"We ran our bus off a mountain in between gigs a
few. years ago, We were just getting going and wham, all of
a sudden, we're hurting money wise and are forced to keep
plugging away at small stuff," Bettge said.
The band was performing 250 to 300 times a year for
the past three or four years. That much touring limits a
group, he said.
"When you're playing on the road all the time, you
have to stay commercial-play what people are already
hearing," he said.
"That's why we're concentrating now on doing our
own material so we can be identifiable and hopefully land
a recording contract."
Besides Bettge, group members include Luis Cusido,
keyboards; Rich Lane, keyboards; Randy Sharp, bass;
Elaine Donaldson, vocals; and Murray Kahler on drums.
But the group's membership has changed over the years.
"Aoubt SO people in all have probably played with us
at one time or another, but now we're pretty solid and
the sound is good," he said.
"We're just kinda working on our recording so we. can
get a contract sometime within the next couple of years.
"We have to be identifiable, so we need a lot of studio
work. You can't get anything done playing those gigs all
over the country like we did."
The band operates out of a house in southeast Lincoln.
Members have remodeled the basement and installed
equipment valued at more than $15,000 so they can
devote energy and time to studio work. '
MSlnt mnnv ornim have tet-UDS like this." UettRC said,
gesturing to the electronic equipment around the
room. . .
Tjilck insulation on the ceiling and shag carpet on the
floor and walls muffle sound and provide proper acoustics
for playing.
Bettge fiddles with the mass of electronic equipment
and soon the group's taped music fills the room.
Selections are diverse.
A hint of blues, a cut with a Latin-American flavor and
another that teases with Jazz threading through a rock
core as sound wafts through the air.
rum fAim't memheri have heard the tones tima and
time again, but Bettge and keyboard player Cusido seem
mesmerized by the music. ?t',
Bettge taps his foot and nods his head to the music.
Cusido thumps out his part on an imaginary keyboard.
"We do this different than when we do It live,' Bettge
explains.
MYeah, it's slow," Cusido responds.
"Yeah slow."
After several selections of taped music, Bettge switches
off the speakers and confidently says, "Yeah, we'll make
it. It's Just a matter ofUme."
Mm- $ht ion
Blackberry Winter
Photo by M. Billingsltty
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