Rich Fessler, bassist, drummer, singer

bearclawrock.com

mayorforlife.blogspot.com

  

 

How do you stay on top of all of your different projects?

I usually try to have a pretty rigid practice schedule but it doesn't always work out that way because so many people have so many things going on.  Bear Claw is now on hold right now because our drummer Scott moved to Germany for work.  While he's gone Rob and I are going to try to start writing some new songs and then send him what we come up with, we've never done anything like this so it should be interesting if we get the motivation to follow through with that thought. 
Mayor For Life usually practices once a week but we haven't been able to get together yet since I've been back from tour because our drummer Dan is getting ready to record with his other band Sequoia. 
The newer band that some friends and I have started is still in the infant stages and hopefully we'll be playing shows later this summer.  This band I play drums in instead of bass and I'm very excited not only because I've always wanted to play drums in a band but also because I don't have to sing in another band. 
My fourth project is also just forming and will be an ambient/noise project with a Cellist by the name of Bailey Doyle.  We might try to do a few freeform shows soon but I'm hoping to have more structure in the project as things move along.  Both of us are in a lot of bands so we don't have any goals in mind except to have fun with the project.

Would you rather lose your phone or your wallet?

For the most part I hate cell phones and I just recently bought one after being stubborn for years but I think I would rather lose my wallet because I'm usually broke and there's nothing of importance in it.  The phone has more personal stuff, contacts, messages, etc.

What was the best place you slept while on your European tour with Bear Claw? (Question asked by Jason.)

The best place I slept was at my friend Massimo's apartment in Bologna.  It was nice to finally visit the town he lives in and have him share his home.  We split up in two groups that night and the other group slept at Sergio's apartment, they are band-mates in Three Second Kiss.

Name some bands/singers/anything you've been listening to lately.
For the most part I don't listen to much music because after practicing with so many bands and working at a guitar shop, my head just wants peace and quiet.  I usually just play music at work.  I prefer live music over albums, too.