Bumper Crop
Website: http://www.myspace.com/bumpercrop, http://http://www.virb.com/bumpercrop, http://http://www.bumpercropmusic.com
Email: craig.m.smith@hotmail.com
Phone: 563-676-9837
Hometown: Davenport
Musicians: Craig Smith: Vocals/Guitar; Dustin Roelle: Bass; Joe Hale--Drums
Status: Currently playing a full schedule of shows ranging from private parties to headlining at The Redstone room. With a strong 6 song demo in the can Bumper Crop is now looking to recording their first full length album by the spring of 2008.
Copy: With a message of peace and love, a new album called “Sucker Punch” and an Iraq War veteran for a drummer, Bumper Crop appears at first glance to be a little confused. But members of the Quad-City band that combines reggae, swing and rock insist that they just want their music to put people in a good mood. “We want to make people feel better just by simply listening to the music. We want the lyrics to touch base and we want it to hit home with them,” said Craig Smith, who sings and plays guitar for the group. “If we can change people with our music, and if we can reach them and deliver a message of enlightenment, peace and unity, then that’s something we want to do.” Since he’s not a high-profile musician, Smith said he doesn’t make his stance on world affairs known via his music and simply promotes peace in general. But he has drawn on drummer Joe Hale’s experiences as a soldier in Iraq at the beginning of the war for “On the Level.” The song talks about the emotions felt while being part of something that is succeeding and failing at the same time.
History: “We can appeal to a broader base, and we play music people like to dance to, so you’ll see a lot of people dancing and having a good time,” Adam Smith said. “We’re not in your face, we’re just trying to have a good time.” Bumper Crop has been together for about two years, but the group began to pick up speed at the beginning of the year, playing 12 of the first 14 weekends of 2008. Since then, they’ve scaled back to a couple shows a month to keep themselves and their families happy. Cutting back also helped draw in a decent crowd each time they played, which led to bookings at larger, more prominent venues.
Influences: Bob Marley, Jack Johnson, Sublime, all old school reggae and much classic rock like Zeppelin, Floyd,The Doors, The Dead, and so on.
Discography: "Goin' To War" 2007, "Sucker Punch" 2008
