Personnel: Stephen Dawson, vocals, guitar; Diane Christiansen, vocals;
Brian Dunn, lead guitar; Dave Gay, bass (standup and electric); Leslie Santos, drums; Davyd Johnson augments the live lineup on saxophone.
Formed: Dawson, a native of Hailey, Idaho, came to Chicago via Boston three years ago. ”I ended up in Chicago because I was listening to a lot of blues and gospel music, and the history of both of those are concentrated here.” He met a fiddle player (who would later drop out), then Christiansen, and the three of them called themselves Stump the Host 2 1/2 years ago.
Current lineup together since: May 1989.
Sound: With Dawson`s and Christiansen`s voices intertwining in the foreground, the band plays a country rock tinged with gospel, blues and rhythm & blues. ”We got pigeonholed as being a country band for a long time,”
Dawson says. ”And then about two weeks ago I went back and listened to some old George Jones records, and I decided that wasn`t such a bad thing to be called.”
Influences: Dawson cites Hank Williams, George Jones, Otis Redding, Van Morrison and such gospel greats as the Swan Silvertones and the Staple Singers. ”That stuff`s just incredible,” Dawson says. ”It makes our skin tingle all over. It`s just so true.”
Songwriting: Dawson is the chief songwriter, but he often collaborates with Christiansen, whom he calls his ”editor.” They will also call each other husband and wife as of Oct. 7.
In-concert cover versions: Bob Dylan`s ”Abandoned Love,” Redding`s
”Home in Your Heart,” Buck Owens` ”Cryin` Time,” Dave Alvin`s ”4th of July” (at the proper time of year) and the old jazz standard ”You Belong to Me,” which Christiansen sings solo.
Namesake: ”The only reason we came up with a name was so we could start a mailing list,” Dawson says. ”It was a silly thing, and once we started getting more serious we thought we`d get a better name, but all the ones we kept coming up with were as silly as Stump the Host. It kind of works because what we`re playing is very eclectic.”
Turf: The band likes to play Fitzgerald`s in Berwyn as well as various North Side clubs.
Recordings: The band sells a four-song tape that it recorded last November with Timothy Powell at Metro Mobile in Glenview. They returned to Powell`s studio last month and are just completing a five-song tape to shop to labels.
Philosophy: ”We`re a roots-oriented band; we`re very much in love with old records as compared to new records,” Dawson said. ”Spontaneity is very important in what we do.” He adds that the songs reflect ”a wonderment of the absurdity of just living.”
Goals: ”Right now our biggest goal is to make a record that`s going to get heard,” Dawson says. ”I think the time is right, we`re playing well and we`re really fresh. Long-term goals are to keep doing what we`re doing and write the best songs possible and play as well as we can.”
Next appearance: Sept. 29, Elbo Room.
