In the past few years, 61 North has frequently crossed paths with one of Delawares finest jambands, The Mad Sweet Pangs.  The Pangs specialize in interesting arrangements, flavorful grooves, and memorable lyrics that bind together to take their fans on a musical journey through time and space.  Recently, The Pangs embarked on a summer tour behind their new album, “Witness & Wait”.  The Mid-West tour included a stop at the famed Summerfest in Wisconsin where they shared the stage with artists like, Phil Lesh, Tom Petty, and Derek Trucks.  I spoke with guitarist Gordon Lippincott, or as I like to call him, Commissioner Gordon (Batman), to get some insight on the tour, the band, and the man that commands attention with his articulate phrasing and majestic tone.

Gooch: So Commissioner, how are you feeling after several long weeks on the Road?
 Gordon: I’m feeling great! It helps that we’ve been home for a few weeks since the tour.   On the road with the same 5 guys for 3 weeks in a cramped van can take it’s toll, but we got through it all right.   It was my first tour with these guys.   We’re back in Newark now, focusing on new material and just trying to keep this thing going.

Gooch: Overall, how where you received by audiences?
Gordon: Well, anytime you take an original sound out on the road to play to strangers, you’re taking a risk, regardless of the music.   In our genre word of mouth is everything, and you have to spread it anyway you can.   This tour was successful in this regard, and we were well received wherever we could find an audience.   We’ve made some contacts that I anticipate will pay dividends on our next tour.

Gooch: Can you compare and contrast a show like Summerfest with some of the smaller venues you played? 
Gordon: Easily. Summerfest was huge!   About half of this tour consisted of outdoor shows, and those always had better attendance than playing in bars.   The Terrace in Madison, WI and Boston Harborfest are other standouts.   The smaller venues are fun too, but there really isn’t any real substitute for playing in front of a huge crowd of people (not for me, at least).

Gooch: What other acts did you see that you really enjoyed?
Gordon: I got to see and meet Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks in Milwaukee at Summerfest.   Our respective stages were adjacent, which made it easy for me to venture backstage to where they were all hanging out before the show.   Of all my musical influences, Derek ranks among the top, so it was truly an honor to meet him. The show that they put on that night–for me–made the whole trip worthwhile.

Gooch: Can you tell me something positive and something negative you learned that you will apply to your next tour?
Gordon: Strategically planned routes.   With the way we planned this tour, we had to drive out to Wisconsin twice because of the gigs we had booked out there.   Both really good gigs. So we drove out there, played the Terrace, drove back to the east coast to play Boston, New York, and Vermont, then drove back out to Wisconsin to play Summerfest.   The gas prices killed us. You also have to keep in mind why you are out there in the first place, and for me that is the joy of playing our music to new faces, while also searching for new ways to keep the same old songs interesting to me.   It’s all about taking risks. I don’t like to play the same guitar solo over and over, for example and I’m always thinking of new approaches and attacks (with respect to the song, of course).   I’m playing to the audience, but I’m also playing to my band-mates and I think it’s healthy for us to try to impress one another on stage–to show each other that we’re still thinking even after playing the same song a million times.

Gooch: What’s one memory from the tour that really sticks out? 
Gordon: Meeting Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi at Summerfest would be an obvious answer.   For the sake of variety, We had a show booked in Saratoga Springs, NY during our first week on the road.   It was an ideal stop coming from Wisconsin and playing in Vermont the following night. We got a message, however, the day before the gig saying it was canceled and we weren’t given any explanation as to why.   The guy who booked us wouldn’t return our calls. So we had no idea what was going on.   We decided to show up anyway, since we already had a place to crash and it was on our way.   Since we didn’t have a gig anymore, we decided to find one. We heard about an open mic going on at this bar called Daffney’s.   We gave the owner a copy of the CD and he told us to come out that night.   We pulled up with all our gear and played our set and the place went nuts.   They told us to just keep playing, which was great considering the fact that it wasn’t even our gig!

Gooch: What gear do you use to achieve your massive, yet elagent electric guitar tone?
Gordon: My rig is pretty simple, actually.   My main guitar is my Gibson ES-339 that I run out of a Deluxe Reverb ‘65 Reissue.   I also have a ‘57 Reissue Strat that I play slide with on select numbers. My effects chain includes a Fulltone Full-Drive 2, a TS808 Tubescreamer, Keeley Compressor, Line 6 Delay, and Voodoo Lab Analog Chorus.   Most of the time I’m running clean through the amp with a little bit of compression and then I’ll hit the Full-Drive for solos.   It’s more about touch for me than it is effects. I could probably get by with just my guitar running clean, although playing in the Pangs has allowed me to experiment with effects a bit more (at my own risk of course).

Gooch: I know that you are relatively new to the band.  When did you join and what where the circumstances? 
Gordon: I joined the band last October after hearing that they were looking for a new guitarist.   I had seen them several years before, and I remember wishing at the time that I was playing in a band like that.   I picked up a copy of their first album, learned all the songs, auditioned, and got the call.

Gooch: When a new member steps in to an established band, it can be a rough transition.  How did you cope with that, while still finding ways to to assert yourself as an equal member?
Gordon: Rarely do bands maintain the exact same sound upon replacing a guitar player.   I think I have stayed true to the original sound while exploring new influences and introducing some interesting new flavors to the mix.   There was never any form of hazing the new guy if that’s what you’re asking [laughs].   But I also think it was much easier for me than it was for the other guys, who had grown so accustomed to Chris’ (former guitarist) sound.   That’s easy to see now that I’m on the other end.   We’re currently auditioning drummers, since Ross has decided to move on to bigger and better things.   It’s difficult to imagine this band without him. But you have to look at it as a positive.   Could this be a blessing in disguise? I’m trying to put myself in the new guy’s shoes, which is easy to do, considering I was the new guy not too long ago.

Gooch: The song “Dear Ma”, off of your new album “Witness & Wait”, begins with a tasty riff that sounds a lot like Eric Clapton’s song “Got to Get Better in a Little While”.  Was that on purpose, or was it just one of those things? 
Gordon: I knew you would catch that [laughs]! They do sound similar, although the musical context is completely different.   With Dear Ma we had this rockin’ blues fusion groove that needed a rockin’ intro.   That riff came out in rehearsal one time and we all latched onto it.   It was what that song needed, as well as a chance to pay homage to one of my biggest musical influences.

Gooch: You guys will be joining 61 North for a charity show on October 4th to raise money and awarness for spinal cord injury victims.  What are your thoughts on this show and playing for charity in general?
Gordon: I think it’s going to be a blast! I’m really looking forward to it.   It’s a great cause and I know you and Brian have worked hard to put it all together.   Plus, it’s about time our band’s did a show together!

Gooch: Before we’re done, why don’t you give The Pangs a shameless plug and let us know where we can get the album and catch the next show?
Gordon: “Witness & Wait” is available on CD Baby and iTunes.   You can also get it at Rainbow records on Main St. in Newark or at any of our shows.   Check us out at myspace.com/madsweetpangs or at our website madsweetpangs.com. Thanks Gooch.

Written By: Ryan “Gooch” Nelson