30 years in, founder Dave Cerrone says The Refrigerators are still a fun ‘party band’

Q: How did the whole lot begin with the Fridges?

A: I ended taking part in trumpet after I was in school, and I wished to concentrate on faculty and I used to be doing soccer. My final yr in school, I subbed with some marriage ceremony band and I instantly acquired the bug. I assumed, “I’ve acquired to start out a band.” Given I play trumpet, there’s acquired to be a horn part. Anyhow, that’s the impetus of all of it. I had a keyboard participant of mine, with a sequencing keyboard to get prerecorded bass and drum tracks. We sang and had horn and keys. It was beginning to take some form. However I wished the total band factor, so we put out adverts for horn gamers. On the identical time, there was one other group beginning up with a drummer, a guitarist. We acquired in contact and we put all of it collectively. We began practising.

One of many guys, his mates owned a bar and mentioned we might play a gig, so we wished some posters up, however we did not have a reputation. We have been on the bass participant’s home that week, and determined we might have a pair beers and speak about it. The beers begin going, we begin speaking. The bass participant was going round the home and mentioned, “Oh, the Cinder Blocks, oh, the Bricks,” and stored going. He walked into the kitchen and mentioned “The Fridges.” And we mentioned, “Hey, that would work.”

Q: And when did that every one begin?

A: I’ve a tattoo on my shoulder with the yr, 1992. Thirty years. Had it not been for the pandemic atmosphere, we have been going to have a 30 yr anniversary bash. The 20-year present we began with the unique seven members, after which performed songs with them, after which we invited the subsequent period of the band and we performed. Among the proceeds went to charity. So it was fairly cool. On the time after I began speaking to venues about having this massive factor for the thirtieth anniversary, it simply wasn’t the suitable time. 

Q: A number of reside music was canceled when COVID hit. How are the Fridges bouncing again?

A: On the finish of 2019, we have been trying on the 2020 calendar and we had a terrific yr, an outstanding yr, deliberate. It acquired blown up. 2020 was nearly nothing, just a few venues have been permitting something to occur, and we had a pair personal gigs. Then mid-late 2020 it began to select up a bit. It’s nearly regular now. It’s feeling fairly regular. I feel numerous venues are nonetheless hurting with their backside line. We’re nonetheless working with them loads on the pay. One in all my mottos for years has been, “It’s acquired to be a win-win.” It may well’t solely be good for the band and it will probably’t solely be good for the venue.

One of many songs I lead is “Let’s Get It Began” (by the Black Eyed Peas). I’ll come out and take a look at to try this with individuals sitting down and with masks. I’ll let you know the primary marriage ceremony the place the venue was permitting them to not put on masks, I used to be emceeing that one, and my opener was, “What do you consider not carrying masks?” The place roared. 

Q: You began the band as all-male, however that modified finally.

A: Once I began the band we have been all younger males. It was an all-male band for 23 years and, you understand, we by no means acquired a feminine member. One evening in Saratoga we have been strolling the streets throughout a break, getting some air. We heard this phenomenal feminine singer — wow that sounds nice. Nudged my male mates and mentioned, “If we ever rent a woman, we’ll rent this woman.” Quick ahead a number of years, I used to be on break and checked in to my cellphone on social media. She had left her different band. I despatched her a fast e mail and the subsequent morning — she emailed again. Three years into it, Amelia pulled me apart and mentioned, “Me and my husband are shifting to New Orleans.” Oh my god, I am pondering, how am I ever going to exchange her? However God works in mysterious methods. We began the audition course of, and by no means heard of our present feminine vocalist earlier than. We’re blessed to have Beth Tranka.  

Q: What is the course of if you’re bringing in a brand new band mate?

A: I’ve had different band leaders ask me, “What have you ever accomplished to maintain the band at this stage for this a few years?” It’s a requirements factor. There are two or three issues to consider within the audition course of. And I, once more, I feel what we do rather well, is as members of the band, we deal with one another like household, and that’s not by mistake.

Our audition course of, at any time when we’ve had a brand new member, a part of it’s can they play? So we’ll choose the songs we predict present totally different elements of bass gamers, if we’re auditioning bass gamers, so we have now an apples-to-apples comparability. When all is alleged and accomplished, there’s the primary go. If we wish to see them once more, we convey again for a second run. Are they constant – did they play the identical as they did the primary time? And what’s their interplay (with the opposite individuals within the band)? I’ve individuals inform me this on break. That’s a part of it. If we’re up there smiling, giving one another fist bumps, that’s coming off the stage. We’ve all the time been a high-energy band.

Q: In your thirtieth yr, what do you anticipate this yr?

A: We meet up yearly to see how we might describe ourselves now, and what we are able to enhance on. By way of what we talked about final time — a collective factor and it’s not patting ourselves on the again, we at the moment described us as excessive vitality, as enjoyable, a celebration band, musically numerous, a household, and interactive with the gang.

By way of the issues to be described extra as: Extra present. We don’t wish to be outdated. Generally, our set record generally is a little predictable, however we wish extra of a shock. We predict we’re musically tight, however we don’t hear that language on the market (from listeners). The final one is exclusive perhaps one thing nonetheless a little bit totally different. I suppose in any “enterprise,” you all the time wish to be totally different with others. In abstract, we wish to keep how we’re considered at present however evolve. 

I imply, by way of our calendar this yr, we’re feeling good about issues thus far. Being a pair years into (the pandemic) perhaps we’re cautiously optimistic. Nevertheless it feels good proper now, and hoping it stays that manner. As we begin trying, we’re additionally saying, it doesn’t matter if it’s 31 years, 32 years, we’re planning (an anniversary) present sooner or later. For the 20-year, it wasn’t simply having everybody again and elevating cash on the time for the Albany youngsters’s hospital. So we’re pondering of, what’s the suitable factor for the neighborhood and the atmosphere now? It is not lip-service, we have now to seek out methods to offer again to the neighborhood — the one method to keep in the neighborhood is to serve the neighborhood. We do attempt to discover methods to offer again.