VIRGINIA -- In 2004, the enormously popular comedy a cappella group Da Vinci's Notebook made the decision to stop touring, thus drastically reducing their performance schedule (read their open letter to their fans). They did not break up, but have instead continued to perform sporadically. As one of the most successful a cappella bands in the US, the quartet garnered a slavishly devoted following of fans dedicated to their unique brand of smart comedy vocals. Lyrically and topically clever in their songwriting, astute and engaging in performance, each DVN show proves both surprising and interactive.
DVN member Richard Hsu recently sat down to talk about the band's future, what the other members are currently doing, and Richard's new business venture. According to Hsu, speaking from his home in Maryland, DVN is still together and gigging occasionally, both corporate and public.
Being on the road is different than you expect and it does different things to different people in terms of affecting your mood and personality. It affected all of us in different ways. Its not like being at home or being on vacation its work." Citing a near 24-hour-a-day schedule on the road, one begins to understand the decision to stop touring so rigorously.
Greg "Storm" DiCostanzo and Paul Sabourin have created an acoustic duo called, appropriately, Paul and Storm, and are performing in some of the same venues that DVN frequented. Bernie Muller-Thym is working on a solo career and getting back to his rock roots. And Richard Hsu is working the business end of the music business and has founded a booking agency called Rock Creek Artists Group. When asked what inspired the booking agency, Hsu responds, "A fit of madness or heavy drinking. Seriously, using all the club contacts I had from Da Vinci's Notebook, I thought could make a decent career of it. It would keep me in music scene and I wouldn't have to travel" (Hsu and his wife have a 6-month old baby boy).
"Every act needs an agent", says Hsu. "The more non-musical tasks that the artist can offload onto someone else, the better they will be. I initially sought out acts that I like, that I thought had a future, that were musically well-respected, and acts that worked. Every one of my clients has completely different needs, even though theyre playing similar venues." Hsu is currently booking Folk-pop trio We're About 9, honky-tonk band The Grandsons, and Sean Altman, among others.
The one current Rock Creek act that has a cappella ties is Sean Altman, founding member of Rockpella. Altman has been steadily working as a solo singer-songwriter, and appearing with several other bands and acts (including Jewish a cappella group Kol Zimra) since his departure from Rockapella several years ago. "Sean is great. Sean is a pro", says Hsu. "I dont think a lot of people understand what that means. He understands the machinery of publicity and promotion and how that drives the machine of opportunities." He cites Altman's willingness to work hard on his part of the business as well as his music, and his understanding that it is not the agency's job to market or promote their acts. Altman and Hsu have been able to successfully divide their respective tasks so as to best keep Sean on the road, which benefits us all!
Luckily, the creation and success of Rock Creek Artists does not mean the dissolution of Da Vinci's Notebook, who remain one of the funnest nights out the a cappella world offers.
Amy Malkoff is a musician, graphic designer and editor living on the north shore of Boston. She has an AB in music from Kenyon College, completed graduate studies in theoretical studies at the New England Conservatory of Music and has a design certificate from Clark University. She is one of the founding members of All About Buford
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