This is actually the newest of projects having only been together since September of 2004.

I first met Rich in 2000 when I moved back from Oregon.  The Beads had reformed and after a brief stint at the Viking Bar on Mondays it was decided to take Tuesday nights at the Terminal Bar.  Our first night back at the Terminal and Rich is the soundman.  This Tuesday night thing turned into a 3 year run.  Approximately 130 to 140 shows, three drummers, a few trips to Winona, and countless A.B.P.’s later, Rich and I became very good friends.  I love him like a brother.  His musical talent is from the gods, and he is truly an inspiration to me! 

We played at Jitters in N.E. Mpls. on Wednesdays for a few months in the summer of 2002.  This I think is where we really got to know each other’s style of playing and also became better friends.  We would sit up all night and play song after song in his kitchen.  It was great -- because he had an upright bass and an acoustic guitar and we didn’t have to plug in or anything. This is probably where 50% of all the rehearsals were done -- in Rich’s kitchen from 3 to 6 in the morning.

In the spring of 2004, New Primitives attempted a run at the Terminal on Tuesdays.  We just couldn’t get people in the door.  The music was great, but our fans were just too used to seeing us at Nye’s on Wednesdays.  I asked the bar if I could make a run at it and they agreed.

I did it by myself for a little while, and just played acoustic and sang.  Well, when it was time to give it a little more, Rich was the obvious choice.  Acoustic guitar and upright Bass, it would be perfect for that sort of cool Bossa Nova, country, singer/songwriter thing.

Months went by and that fall I was doing a solo show at The Five Corners on a Sunday night.  I was last and towards the end of my last set, I was feeling like playing with some other people -- so I asked if anybody from any of the other bands wanted to come up and try to put something together.  Earlier in the night a band called The Foundation had played and, out of at least 15 musicians in the house, only the drummer from The Foundation comes up.  Chris Gray.  Usually, a guitar player gets up to jam -- but not the drummer.  “Hey, I’m Chris.  What should we do?”  I suggested a snare and brushes just to keep it simple; he went and brought them on stage and that was it.  I think we did “Skip to my Luke,” A.B.P.n’, and a few bossas.  It was perfect, and I asked him right afterwards if he wanted to play on Tuesdays.  Ever since then we have been great friends.  Chris has a heart of gold and a great ear for the music.  It so good to meet someone who is so eager and enthusiastic about playing.  

Since then “the Trio,” as I call it, has really made leaps and bounds -- from just a few people every week at the Terminal to an almost sold out show at the Cabooze opening for the White Iron Band CD release party.  It truly has been fun and I can’t wait to see what the future holds.  Because it is mostly acoustic, it can get very intimate at times.  That is what I think the Trio can bring to an audience -- a sense of romance, calmness, and humility that can sometimes be lost with the presence of amplifiers and distortion pedals.  This is where I can play originals and influences and chill so hard doing it.  “This is Rich Casey on upright and Chris Gray on traps!”  Thanks, guys.