Crime Bison is a psychedelic, groovy, blues-rock band with an authentic and spontaneous sound. They don’t want restrictions on songs they write, play or sing. Each song is honest and original. Crime Bison, which was founded in Bakersfield in the summer of 2011, has played at venues such as Sandrini’s, On the Rocks and The Gate.
The band’s roots began when James and Nicole Dandy, 25-year-old twin brother and sister, were in the sixth grade. With James on bass and Nicole on guitar, they continued playing throughout high school. They have rocked out at Jerry’s Pizza, Stockdale High and Stramler Park. Crime Bison’s keyboard player, John Calanchini, met James and Nicole in high school. He became an official band member in 2011. This is when their sound started to change.
“We had the desire to not have any genre restrictions, to write anything we want. Not have people ask ‘why does it sound like that.’ To say ‘of course it sounds like that. Of course every song sounds different,’” said James.
Crime Bison recorded their first album, available for digital download and physical purchase at sites such as iTunes, Amazon and Spotify, while continuing to play gigs.
The fall of 2013 was their busiest yet. The band was booked almost every weekend.
“It’s really exciting. It’s all momentum-based,” said Nicole. “We’re trying to better ourselves. Come back with a vengeance.”
While James and Nicole are both music majors at CSUB, John graduated with a music degree in Boston two years ago before moving back to Bakersfield.
“I’m basically a musician at large. If I have the ability and skill to do something, I’ll do it,” said John.
James, Nicole and John all write original songs. The process is very collaborative.
“Whoever writes the song usually gets to sing it,” said James. “I’ll bring the words, bare bones, to them. Give them an idea of what I want. Let them build their own part for the song. It’s cool to give them some space. Sometimes they’ll bring something to it I would have never thought of. It’s cool to see how many different ways it can go, can turn out just by bringing it to your band mates.”
Nicole said she owes a lot of her school success to CSUB instructors Jim Scully and Richard Cope. Scully also serves as director of the university’s guitar ensemble. Cope is Nicole’s private lesson instructor on campus.
“The music program has been a great benefit to me and James,” said Nicole. “They’ve really given me a lot of opportunity to play and be taught by accomplished musicians. Other people have to travel, but they throw it at me and whatever guitar students are willing to do it. Thanks to Jim Scully and Roger I’ve had that opportunity. Because of that, I’ve really grown as a musician.”
Nicole said learning classical guitar at school made her hesitant at first, but she’s learned so much that’s helped her play electric guitar in Crime Bison.
Crime Bison plans to work on a music video next and start selling merchandise on their band website, available through reverbnation.com. They are planning a tour this summer, travelling throughout California and Oregon.
“We figure right after the tour would be the best time to record,” said James. “We’ll be super tight and the songs will all be realized. I don’t care how big it gets as long as it gets me by. If it blows up cool, but as long as it gets me by.”
Nicole said their music is fun, catchy and rhythmically driven.
“It’s a balancing act making music that is approachable for all audiences, but complex and interesting enough that music people will be stimulated by it and makes us happy. One of the biggest parts is being happy with it.”
John said there is an art to disguising the cerebral aspects of music within the confines of a catchy song and that he tries to do that sometimes.
“Bring them in with brown sugar, fill them up with meat and potatoes,” he said.
Each band member said they would always see music in their future, teaching, playing and writing songs. They all hope Crime Bison’s success will grow.
“I’m wanting the band to go somewhere. I feel like that would be the best for me. That would be the most fulfilling,” said Nicole.