They call it ‘Indy rock’
By Beckey Arnold - Argus Observer
Wednesday, March 7, 2007 12:44 PM PST
| |
| submitted photo
Raining Jane (from left) Mai Bloomfield, Chaska Potter, Becky Gebhardt and Mona Tavakoli, will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Weese Building No. 9 at Treasure Valley Community College in Ontario. |
Ontario - What began as an entry in a talent show soon became a well requested band — Raining Jane.
The group, which is based out of Los Angeles, met during Spring Fling, a contest at UCLA that is judged by celebrities, Chaska Potter, vocals and guitar player in the band, said.
“We won best overall,” she said. “No band had ever won (that award).”
After graduation, the group was in high demand and began to perform local shows, Potter said.
“We have been touring (nationally) full time for three years,” she said. “We tour about nine months out of the year.”
There are four members in Raining Jane: Becky Gebhardt, bass guitar and sitar; Mona Tavakoli, vocals, percussion and the Cajun drum; Mai Bloomfield, vocals, guitar and cello; and Potter.
“We describe our music as Indy (independent) rock — in the true sense — and eclectic folk,” Gebhardt said.
Raining Jane plays 99 percent of their shows at colleges, 120 dates a year, Potter said.
“I personally wanted to always be in a band. It all came together.” Gebhardt said. “We are not music majors, but we all have music in our hearts.”
Both Potter and Gebhardt said the band in self managed.
“We do it all,” Potter said. “Becky and I are master packers.”
Tavakoli books the groups shows.
“She does an amazing job,” Potter said. “We get booked in March a lot because we are an all women band and it’s National Women History Month.”
The ladies have no wedding bands but Bloomfield misses her pigeons, Gebhardt said.
“When she is on the road, her boyfriend will send her pictures of the pigeons,” Gebhardt said.
Raining Jane will perform at 7 p.m. Thursday at Treasure Valley Community College in the Weese Building No. 9.
