8 Things You Should Know About Chaser Eight’s New Guitar Player, Max Cappello
At the beginning of spring New Haven-based rock band Chaser Eight were on top of the world. They’d just released their latest EP, Wide Awake, and were booking major shows, including opening for Buckcherry at Wall Street Theater this summer. Then the unthinkable happened – guitarist Pat Walsh, who co-founded the band with frontwoman *AUDRA*, announced he was moving to Georgia.
Suddenly, Chaser Eight – which includes *AUDRA*, Brennan DiLernia (bass/vocals), Ben Kubie (drums), and Jess Wolfer (backing vocals) – were in need of a guitar player.
*AUDRA* even wondered if the band would go on. “I (was) afraid that people were going to be like – ‘Chaser Eight, there’s only one original member left.’ So I did my own Google search of how many bands only have one original member left.”
She found a plethora that had been in the same boat, and as a bonus she learned oftentimes the lone original member left is the lead singer.
She then found a new guitar player in an old friend – Max Cappello.
Cappello has now played half a dozen shows with the band, including the aforementioned show opening for Buckcherry.
Here are eight things you should know about Chaser Eight’s newest addition.
He’s a veteran of the scene
Cappello has been a member of a number of bands that have toured up and down the East Coast. Most notably he’s played alongside his cousin Frank Viele, whom he calls “a modern day Bob Seger,” and he’s one half of the duo Max Matthew with Matt DePaolo.
Previously, he was in the New Haven-based hard rock band Tanuki Suit, which, sonically, is the closest of all his projects to Chaser Eight.
He and *AUDRA* have known each other for over a decade
It was as a member of Tanuki Suit that Cappello first met Chaser Eight.
“We were billmates a lot with Chaser Eight,” he remembers, “so that’s how I know *AUDRA*.”
What struck *AUDRA* most about Cappello, and the rest of Tanuki Suit, when they first met over a decade ago was how they treated her. “They instantly treated me as their peer,” she says, “They’re such all great, talented musicians, but I was instantly their peer, and I got along with all those guys, and we clicked, and I’m still friends with all of them.”
His guitar heroes range from hard rock to blues
Cappello’s influences on guitar include everyone from Eddie Van Halen – who he considers “the king of all guitar players” – to Stevie Ray Vaughn.
“I love all types of guitar,” he says, “right now I’m super into progressive, virtuosic guitar that’s the main focal point of the music. That’s a big thing I’m into right now.”
He also lists some modern players as influences, including John Mayer, and Philip Sayce. He says the latter is “the new truth, as far as I’m concerned, in blues rock.”
He’ll be bringing grooves and blues to the band
When it comes to the musical changes that will happen to Chaser Eight now that he’s a member, Cappello says, “I would say it’s not gonna change much, but I want to lean into our side that grooves a little harder, because I think this band has a really strong sense of groove. It had a really strong sense of groove before I was here, but I think that sense of groove can change immensely now that I’m here. (I want to) bring a little bit of that bluesy element out to the front, because I feel like a lot of the music is steeped in that, but it’s just underneath the surface a little bit, and I want to bring that up a little bit.”
He’s adding his vibe while respecting the vibe of the band
Cappello knows that joining an established band can be a bit tricky, saying, “I think that I want to not step on anyone’s toes when I’m in the rehearsal room, but also give what I think is necessary for the music.”
He continued, adding, “I think that you’re always performing when you’re in rock n roll. Even when you’re off the stage you’re creating a certain vibe to things, an essence of the music. When we get together in the room, the vibe’s gotta be there. When we go on stage, the vibe’s gotta be there. When we go backstage, the vibe’s gotta be there. Pat’s vibe is one way, my vibe is another way, but the band’s vibe is a certain way, and I want to bring my vibe to the band without subtracting anyone else’s vibe, or making anyone else’s voice feel like that’s not the way it’s supposed to be.”
His addition to Chaser Eight has opened up the songwriting considerably
*AUDRA* and Pat had been the songwriters for Chaser Eight since the band’s inception. With Pat leaving the band, and the addition of Cappello, *AUDRA* has noticed everyone stepping up to contribute to the songwriting process.
“Jess send me a song yesterday,” she says excitedly, “That is so cool that people feel that they can do that now. It’s almost like we opened up a songwriting slot. If it’s not made up by Pat, maybe not just one other person makes it up, but three other people make it up, and it’s me and three other people working on this, and that is so cool.”
Fun is a priority
Chaser Eight shows have always been a good time, and Cappello plans on helping to let the good times roll.
“One of my personal philosophies is that when you get on stage the first job is entertainment, and I think that people recognize when you’re having fun, and they have fun through osmosis as a result. I want that to come through a little bit harder in the music. I want people to feel that vibe a little bit.”
*AUDRA* has already seen Cappello’s influence positively impact the band, saying, “I’m seeing the guys do things on stage that I’ve never seen them do before. Brennan is unbuttoning his shirt, and taking his shirt off!”
This has been a revelation the ladies in the audience have been more than OK with.
Pat and *AUDRA* made the transition easy
According to Cappello, Pat helped make the transition into Chaser Eight a smooth process. “I would say, I have to be honest, he was super gracious, and helped me transition into this band extremely well, and I am very grateful for that help.”
*AUDRA* also spent quite a bit of time talking Cappello up to the rest of band. “I went into this telling the rest of the group – listen, this is huge, this is weird that this is happening, and I understand this, but we have to trust Max. I’m telling you, trust in him. It’s gonna be OK. Things are gonna be different.”
She continued, “It was kind of this idea of things are not gonna sound exactly the same, and that’s gonna be OK. Trust him, because I trust him, and I think this is the right move. We had to bring that vibe in.”
For more Chaser Eight, check out chasereight.com.
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