interview with Randy Roberts & the Capital Strokes

What´s the name of your band? Randy Roberts & the Capital Strokes

How was the band formed? the band was a cover band formed by the former drummer Gianluca Palmieri

Can you tell about your band? this band is a funk band and, we are entertaining, on porpose, I mean, I’m still thinking that if somebody go to a concert, it means they want to listen to some good music but, mostly, they want to SEE a good concert, There we are!

Where are all band members from?/Who does what in the band? Giuseppe “BIG JOE” D’Ortona is the drummer boy, Ippolito Pingitore on percussion, Andrea “Pumba” Sabatino on bass, Jacopo Barbato and Emanuele “Jorma” Gasperi on guitars, Emiliano Pari on keyboards, Matteo “Skukkia” Vagnarelli on trombone, Simone Alessandrini on saxophone, Anna Fondi and Arianna Alvisi backups. oh, and me Randy “the reverend” Roberts as an entertainer! everybody born and raise in Italy but me, I’m american and italian as well!

What was the ambitions of the band when you started? the band was a cover band but, now we have our own repertoire, a CD with our songs is coming out the 23rd of April so, the ambitions are mostly changed!

Could you explain your music to someone that haven't heard you? well, it’s funk, it’s played to make you have fun, to make you sweat

Where was your first gig? we started as a cover band the 2nd of June 2012

Where was the latest gig? March 21st 2015

Who writes your songs?/ who writes the music who writes lyrics? I write for the most. for sure I write all the lyrics and I have a couple of very talented helper in the band as composers Emanuele “Jorma“ Gasperi and Emiliano Pari but, everybody can…express himself!!!

Who has the best since of humor in the band? that’s a tricky one! maybe Simone Alessandrini (sax player)

What's good/bad with the band?/What genre do you feel you are? we’re a funk, sometimes soul band

Why did you pick that particular style?/What are your songs about? we’re funky guys! Funk chose us! it’s our religion! our songs talk about human senses, bad and good feelings, love, sex and everything about the humanfunkingkind. 

Have you made any albums?/If yes what are they? first album is out the 23rd of April 2015 “CS”

Do you have any clips on YouTube?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTbPh80AxM4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4XKCiHuYBw

How old are you?/What got you started in music? well, my father was a very famous singer in Europe, France and Italy mostly, and I started to go to his gigs since I was three years old! being on stage is my natural status!

At what age did you start playing? at the age of eighteen

What year was the band started? 2012

What places will you be playing in in the imidate future? Genova (Italy) in the Palazzo Ducale and it’s gonna be a great gig because this venue is huuuuuge and awesome, one of the oldest and beautiful place in Italy

Where have you played from then till now? clubs in Italy, clubs and festival around the Europe, private events

Is it always the same songs live? we have songs for 2 hours and a half, that means we have the chance to switch them every time in a different way

How big crowds do you usually play for? 400 people

What are the plans for the rest of the year? to improve ourselves and find more gigs

Where do you usually play? Italy, Switzerland, Austria, France

What are your goals with your music? to share our energy and our devotion for music around the world

When did you decide to go all in for the music? when I was 18

Is it easier to get your inspiration from older bands or from bands more modern? same thing, band who plays good music is a good band to get inspiration

What are your sources of inspiration? a groovy beat or a catchy melody, a guitar lick that makes me move, a rough bass I can feel it in my bones…as I said, good music.

How do you feel about the downloading of music instead of buying albums? well, the answer is easy I mean, no buying albums, no money but, internet helps us to arrive further so, good and bad

What would be your dreams for the band? it’s not a dream, it’s a fact, we’re going to be the most entertaining band of the beginning of the century

Besides your own music, what genres and bands do you listen to? I’d say almost everything except the extreme things, rock, not too heavy, electronic, not too plastic, dance,  not too acid etc.etc.

What would be your greatest fears for the future? no fears, we don’t need ’em!

What do you work with outside of the band and the music? I personally work with some of the most important authors, composers and artists in Italy 

How important are your fans? the most important people, we work for them, we play for them, we compose for them, we get sweat for them!

What's the funniest/most memorable thing a fan has done for you? I can’t answer that.

Name 2 of your own songs you like at the moment? the next 2!

What drives a band that isn't all that famous and renowned to try to make a living on their music and to keep playing? I guess it’s a kind of faith! or maybe insanity

Do you have any webpages? www.capitalstrokes.com

Any pearls of wisdom for all other bands out there? play every gig like it’s gonna be the last one

Describe your show, visually and musically OMG

How do you view the musicindurty of today? I don’t! we have to be the artist, the producers, the art director and bla, bla, bla! that means there’s gonna be more satisfaction for all of us!

What are the biggest obstacles for a band? the band itself.

Tell us about upcomming gigs and why we should be at them? I really can’t tell you why you have to be at our gigs because, if you’re thinking about it, it means you actually don’t know what we’re talking about! you come the first time, you’ll always come.

What was one of the most quarrelsome times for you in the band? funky guys are too smart for that.

Do you have anything to add? Robex, it’s been a pleasure! I hope we’re gonna meet again soon everybody else, just check us out!!!!!!!

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