A Marketable Musical Philosophy: Fun

Catherine Dail '85 could have done what countless other Dartmouth students have done and played guitar with fellow undergraduates in a rock band-except that she didn't know how to play guitar. Instead she took the unusual step of founding a Dartmouth-grounded band after graduation (and after learning to play). Jam sessions with College friends in New York segued into gigs at bars and clubs. Last year the group, called Distant Cousins, recorded an album named "Twice Removed," containing 13 funk, reggae, folk, pop, and blues-inspired tunes. The album has been well-received on college radio stations.

Their underlying worldview and musical philosophy (every band needs one, of course): "Funism." The group's album-cover artist coined the term as a joke on all the "isms" of art history. Though the songs touch on such typical moody rock themes as heartbreak, loneliness, and greed, the funky beats, quirky lyrics, and sassy horns exorcise more demons than they conjure. "Don't fax me and I won't fax you," Dail croons in the bluesy "Prayer to Venus." Meditating on the relationship "between your heart and heartache," she sings, "Think about it, baby/Elvis did karate."

Alumni featured on the album along with Dail are Bill Berry '84 (bass), Matt Berardo '86 (piano and production), Jim Doughman '85 (guitar), John Kim '84 (drums), Joe Holland '84 (harmonica), and Fred Gilde '88 (trombone and mixing). Dartmouth Music Professor Hafiz Shabazz provides percussion, and non-alums Jon Diamond and Andrew Goodsight play lead guitar and bass.

The group has played New York's CBGB and the China Club, but Dail still keeps her day options open: she runs her own art-brokerage firm.

distant cousins twice removed