TRR Photo by Chris Conroy The Freeloaders, formerly known as Ducks and Oranges, are kicking off a summer of performances around the region. (Click for larger image)

Ducks and Oranges no more

By CHRIS CONROY

MONTICELLO — A few members bigger and few years wiser, an up-and-coming area band has changed its name.

Up until a performance at Roark’s Tavern on June 30, the band formerly known as Ducks and Oranges was between names. Playing to a nearly packed house, band members asked the audience what the new name should be. At the end of the night, as the bar cleared, the band announced that it would be known from that point on as the Freeloaders.

“It’s kind of appropriate,” said band member Jeff Quamo. The last big performance, he explained, was at the WRRV Battle of the Bands. “One of the scheduled bands dropped out at the last minute and [the people running the event] asked Souriya [another band member and WRRV DJ] if he knew of any bands that would be able to fill it on short notice.” They were told they didn’t need to bring any of their sound equipment. They were told wrong.

“We got there,” Quamo said, “and had nothing.” The band borrowed amps from Sam Hill, another group playing in the competition.

The core of the band has been together for about seven years, says bass player Tom Volpe, since they were in high school together. “We’d get together and play at parties,” he said.

By the time the band members graduated from high school about four years ago, Ducks and Oranges had already played a handful of shows at local venues. During years in college, they got together only sporadically, until this past year.

“Last summer, we all got back together and added [new members] to the band,” Volpe said. That get together happened at band member Robbie Keesler’s birthday party.

Now, with new and old members working well together, and a new name, the Freeloaders are ready to expand their horizons.

“We’re planning on playing all over this summer,” Quamo said. “By the end of the summer, we’ve got some studio time scheduled to cut our first CD.”

The Freeloaders’ full roster consists of Keesler, Souriya Inthirath, Volpe, Kelly Wagner, Paul German, Kenny Shaw and Quamo.

Playing original songs and covers of everything from The Doors to Pearl Jam to Dave Mathew’s Band, The Freeloaders kept the crowd at Roark’s happy through two long sets.

Anyone interested in booking the Freeloaders should call 845/796-7563.