Stepping out from Big Sister’s shadow: Gray Reinhard performs with Bruce and Doc

How many musicians can boast of performing with Doc Severinsen and Bruce Springsteen?

Both legends were added recently to the impressive résumé of Gray Reinhard, the other Reinhard in the Blaire Reinhard Band coming to Morristown’s Famished Frog on Jan. 28.

His big sister’s amazing pipes are a major reason why the Frog will be packed on Saturday night. But Gray is emerging as a formidable singer, songwriter, keyboard player and guitarist in his own right.

Over the holidays, the two Morristown High School grads wrote a song with their grandfather, former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen, and performed with him in Minneapolis. The siblings also are collaborating on an album with Clinton Curtis.

Meanwhile, Gray has been playing keys for Garland Jeffreys (Wild in the Streets). . . who was joined onstage at an Asbury Park benefit this month by Bruce Springsteen.

We asked Gray, who turned 28 last week, about Doc, the Boss, Blaire, MHS, Princeton, and his most challenging role so far: Uncle.

Gray Reinhard of the Blaire Reinhard Band. Click icon below for captions.

MorristownGreen.com: What was it like playing with your Grandpa, Doc Severinsen?

Gray Reinhard: I had never had the chance to perform with him live at a formal venue before, let alone with the entire Minnesota Orchestra and Minnesota Chorale behind us, so the entire thing felt really big to me.  The best thing about the weekend was getting the chance to see him do what he does behind the scenes for these shows.  Watching him direct the orchestra and chorale in the few hours of rehearsal time that was scheduled for the show was truly amazing.  I’ve seen him perform at so many similar shows, but never really thought about him pulling the whole thing together with the orchestra in a few hours the day before the show.  He knows exactly what he wants and his way of communicating with the musicians is remarkable.  It’s no wonder so many orchestras love working with him as a conductor.

Did Doc critique your performances?  Any chance you will join him on the rest of his tour?

After the show he said, “Well, thanks for making me look good,” which was really nice to hear.  I think just by asking us to do this show, he must’ve had the confidence that we knew what we were doing, and so I think he just wanted to enjoy the shows and let us do our thing.

I don’t know exactly what will come next with him because he’s about to go on a big midwest tour with his big band.  I’m hoping at the very least though that the songs we wrote for the Christmas show will be recorded and released for next Christmas.

And . . . what was it like playing with the Boss?

My dad brought me to a Giants Stadium Bruce show a few years ago because he kept telling me, “You’ll never understand just how great Bruce is until you see him play in front of a New Jersey crowd.”  Well there is something really hard to describe about the sound of an Asbury Park crowd cheering for Bruce.  When he first walked out on stage during our set and the crowd starting yelling I actually was getting sort of scared for a moment…like “is this room going to get out of control?”  And what’s amazing is that a few songs later Bruce could go into an acoustic version of Thunder Road and you’d be able to hear a guy coughing in the last row. . . Amazing.

How did that come about?  Did you get any hang time with Bruce? What did you learn from him?

Recently I began playing in Garland Jeffreys’ band, and we had a show at the Light of Day benefit at the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park.  Garland had casually mentioned that Bruce might be performing on the bill, but he failed to mention to me that Bruce might be joining us on stage.  When we showed up for soundcheck, there were about 20 tweed Fender guitar cases and just as many acoustic cases backstage . . . I couldn’t help but be optimistic that this must be Bruce’s gear.  He ended up arriving at the show just in time to jump on stage with us for one of Garland’s biggest songs, Wild In the Streets.  You can imagine the intensity of a jam-packed theater in Asbury Park first realizing that they were in for an unannounced night of Bruce Springsteen. . . very awesome.  Bruce also couldn’t have been a nicer and more normal and personable guy backstage and at the after-party (for which he was still partying at when we left at God knows when in the morning).  Amazing that he’s had such a long and successful career yet he doesn’t seem to be even the slightest bit jaded by any of it.

Doc and Bruce have been entertainers for a long time. How would you compare/contrast them as showmen and musicians?

Well, they definitely both carry themselves with that self-assured confidence that only comes from a long successful career of performing in front of large crowds.  They both have this similar stage presence that immediately lets the whole audience know, “No matter what happens this is going to be a fantastic night.”  I think a lot of this stems from them both having a great sense of humor up on stage.  You know that even if the power goes out they’ll still be able to make something entertaining out of it.

The biggest difference between them is probably that Bruce wore jeans and a flannel shirt while Doc wore an embroidered velvet red suit. I think that probably sums it up best.

Wild in the Streets

Blaire says the Curtis/Reinhard project stemmed from your playing with Curtis’ band. How did you guys get together?  What excites you about this album collaboration?

Clinton and I were working with the same producer at the time, and I had kept hearing his name and that he had this amazing band, etc., so finally I went and checked him out at a show he was playing in a small bar in the lower east side.  The show totally blew my mind, and to top it off, Norah Jones closed out the night with a couple Tom Petty covers . . . not a bad night of music.  After the show I sat at the bar waiting to talk to Clinton (and staring at Norah Jones from across the bar with my mouth probably wide open) and when he came out we started talking and immediately hit it off.  After a few beers he told me he had a show in a couple days at the Whiskey in Hoboken and that I should come and join them at the show.  I don’t think Clinton even knew what instrument I played when he invited me in, but that was the beginning of it.

What hasn’t excited me about this collaboration?  The musicians we worked with are all incredible, I got to write songs with my absolute favorite two songwriters, we recorded in a fantastic studio, and most importantly, our producer encouraged us to work quickly, not second-guess ourselves for a moment, not try to play things perfectly, and just have fun with it.  My least favorite part of making an album is when you start getting anal about it at the end and pick it apart every which way to find faults in it.  We decided to skip that step with this one.  There was something also really liberating about writing and recording songs for a brand new group that has no restrictions or preconceived notions of what it’s supposed to sound like.  I think that was particularly nice for Blaire and Clinton who have been the front men of their own bands for years.  I really think something special came out of it and I really hope a lot of people get to hear this album.

Do you prefer keyboard or guitar?  Which came first?  Do you have formal training?

Piano came first for me by about 12 years and the only formal music training I’ve had has been for keyboards.  In a lot of ways, however, guitar has become more fun for me to perform with and often easier for me to write a song on.  I think I like moving too much when I play to be stuck behind a keyboard.  At the same time, I don’t think there’s a better sound in rock than a screaming Hammond Organ.

What was the best thing about your time at Morristown High?

I graduated Class of ’02 and my favorite thing about my experience in Morristown High School was the diversity of people I got to grow up with there.  Also my track coach Paul Buccino was an extremely important figure in my life and I’m grateful for that.

What did you study at Princeton?  Were your folks surprised when you pursued a musical career after graduation?

At Princeton I majored in architecture which was, and still is, something that I’m extremely interested in.  Unfortunately, when I began working in both as a profession, it was no longer possible to balance the two.  It was difficult for me to leave architecture for such an unpredictable career as music, but my parents have only ever encouraged me to do what I thought I’d be happiest doing.

You hooked up Blaire and her husband Wade, right?  Why did you think they were the right match?

Ha, I guess I did hook them up.  I was more interested in Wade as the best bassist on campus, than a future brother in law, but I guess it turned out a win-win. [Wade Perrin plays bass in the Blaire Reinhard Band.]  I don’t know why they ended up the right match, but I do know that the fact that Wade’s vocal sweet spot is exactly a third above Blaire’s certainly never hurt them.

Has Blaire returned the favor and hooked you up with anyone?  

Ha no way.  I don’t think older sisters do that.  They only tell you which girls aren’t good enough for you. . . which doesn’t really help the cause at all.

Onstage you and Blaire seem very natural together–no signs of sibling rivalry.  How would you describe your relationship with Blaire?  And how do you approach writing songs together? Are you equal partners?  If so, are you still comfortable calling it the Blaire Reinhard Band?

No, Blaire and I don’t really have the sibling rivalry thing going for us. I save that for my little brother [Richard, a bass player studying to follow their father into dentistry] who seems to be beating me at everything these days.  Whenever someone hears that I’m in a band with my sister, they want to know about all the fighting that must go on, and I always feel like I’m a big letdown in this area.  I think the Oasis brothers have set the bar way too high for any of us other siblings to compete.

As far as songwriting is concerned, we have always considered each other equals.  I don’t think either of us feel comfortable calling a song done until the other has put their influence on it.  We started out calling ourselves the Blaire Reinhard Band because we thought it would be the easiest thing for new fans to understand and remember us by considering Blaire’s voice is sort of the most signature thing about our sound, and it just kinda stuck.  If anyone were to be uncomfortable with being called the Blaire Reinhard Band it’d be Blaire herself.

Doc Severinsen is on your Mom’s side of the family. But your Dad’s the one who occasionally sings with the band.  Who do you and your sister (and kid brother) get your musical chops from?

You are correct Doc is on my Mom’s side of the family and my Dad is the one who you see singing his heart out on stage.  To be honest though, I don’t know anyone on either side of my family who doesn’t love music . . . there is no more high profile show for me each year than the Reinhard Christmas party.

Lastly, with Blaire and Wade expecting, how are you preparing for your new role as Uncle Gray?

Ha well, as a band we’ve all turned our amps down from 11 to 10 so that this baby isn’t sick of mom’s music from day one.  I’ve also brought out the swear jar in my apartment to start getting used to that, and have been trying to silently communicate with strangers’ babies I see around town to sort of get an idea of how those little guys work.  To my surprise, it seems like widely opened eyes and big smiles are scarier than they are amusing. I’m going to shave my beard and see if this alters any results.

The Blaire Reinhard Band performs on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 9:30 pm in the Famished Frog on 18 Washington St. Admission is free; you must be 21 or over. The band returns to the Frog on Feb. 11.

MORE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND VIDEOS AND STORIES

Blaire Reinhard Band bringing new member to Morristown’s Frog on Jan. 28

The Blaire Reinhard Band will bring a new member to Morristown’s Famished Frog on Saturday, Jan. 28.

A future member, actually.

Blaire and her bass-playing husband, Wade Perrin, are expecting their first little rock and roller to debut on the Fourth of July.  Can a CD of kiddie tunes be far behind?

“We’ve been talking about that, an album of children’s songs,” said Blaire, who has enjoyed lots of good news lately. Over the holidays she and her brother Gray performed with their grandfather, former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen, at two sold-out shows in Minneapolis. Blaire and Gray also are completing an album with Clinton Curtis, titled Curtis & Reinhard at the Pigeon Club.

Here’s a video sampler of that project:

Oh yeah, and Gray also performed recently with a guy named Springsteen.

As for the Perrin Project, Blaire and Wade are mum on whether they’re having a Baby Elvis or a Baby Gaga. (Either way, the wee creation appears to be holding a microphone in the sonogram.)

When the due date creeps closer, the BRB will go on hiatus, Wade said. He plans to pare down the band’s stage gear to make room, “so we can leave a baby seat in the car.”

And the couple’s Hoboken digs may start feeling a bit cramped, too, so don’t be surprised if Blaire, a Morristown High School graduate, and her fledgling family return to the wide open spaces of Greater Morristown.

Meanwhile, Blaire is still aglow from her gigs with Grandpa Doc. Prior to December, her last big performance with the famed trumpeter was on a Christmas album when she was 9. She sang Silent Night.

Blaire insists she wasn’t nervous about reconnecting with her grandfather in Minnesota, even when he asked her to cook up some lyrics overnight.

Despite the pressure, the whole process was smoother and “more civilized” than pulling together a BRB show, she said, citing all the pros who made the Jingle Bell Doc concerts come together.

“I was less nervous for this show than for any I’ve ever done,” Blaire said. Even though musical arrangements still were being charted on the day of the first show and there was only one rehearsal, she said, the orchestra and choir were note-perfect.

Appearing onstage with her 84-year-old grandfather “was a dream of mine,” Blaire added.

“I was too shy to bring it up. Then he called. He had a Christmas song he wanted to write with me and Gray. Doc sang the melody once, and asked, ‘Can you write a song to this? Can you write words by 8 in the morning?’”

Challenges like that don’t faze Blaire, whose songs last year landed on TV shows including The Voice, American Pickers, So You Think You Can Dance, and, appropriately, Dance Moms and 16 and Pregnant.

“I stayed up all night and wrote the words. (The Light of Christmas.) Then (Doc) wanted to know if we had any other Christmas songs? And we had a couple. ( This Time of Year and I Remember Christmas.) We sent our songs to his arranger . . . ”

Before they knew it, Gray was playing a big Steinway at Orchestra Hall “and I was singing right up front,” Blaire recounted with a lingering Yuletide grin.

The Clinton Curtis collaboration started with Gray, who has played keyboard with Clinton’s group for a couple of years. Clinton played guitar on the BRB’s Concert for Lauren album, recorded live in 2010 at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Morristown.

Blaire & Wade. Please click icon below for captions.

Curtis & Reinhard at the Pigeon Club, which refers to a Hoboken studio, was an exercise in speed-writing and recording, pulled together in about a month. With Wade’s time largely tied up by law studies at Fordham, Blaire said she and Gray were seeking musical projects to stay sharp. The album, coming soon, gives Gray a bigger share of the vocals and lets Blaire experiment with songs written by others.

“It’s like the Traveling Wilburys thing,” Blaire said.

Now there’s a novel baby name: Wilbury Perrin.

Catchy, like a BRB song, don’t you think?

The Blaire Reinhard Band performs on Saturday, Jan. 28, at 9:30 pm in the Famished Frog on 18 Washington St. Admission is free; you must be 21 or over. The band returns to the Frog on Feb. 11.

MORE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND VIDEOS AND STORIES

Video: Santa Claustrophobia in Morristown with the Blaire Reinhard Band

Imagine the office Christmas party at Santa’s Village.

That pretty much sums up Saturday night at the Frog with the Blaire Reinhard Band.

Santas of all shapes and sizes landed in Morristown for the annual Kringles Gone Wild episode, otherwise known as SantaCon. They packed the Famished Frog tighter than Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. The band’s holiday medley–washed down with assorted adult beverages–made everyone jolly, as you can see in this video.

MORE HOLIDAY COVERAGE

MORE ON THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

Video: The Blaire Reinhard Band rocks Morristown’s Famished Frog

The Blaire Reinhard Band, one of the best things to come out of Morristown since the Continental Army, gave another no-holds-barred show Friday at the Famished Frog.

Blaire & Co. included only a few original songs in their eclectic mix of covers. But we managed to capture one of them, Pearl River, which gives a pretty good sense of this group’s energy.

For more great BRB compositions, you must head to Minneapolis, where siblings Blaire and Gray Reinhard will join their grandfather, former Tonight Show bandleader Doc Severinsen, on stage at Orchestra Hall on Dec. 9 and 11.

They will perform some original tunes arranged for choir and orchestra.

“We can’t wait!” Blaire says.

This won’t be her first performance with Grandpa Doc. Blaire sang Silent Night on a Doc Severinsen album when she was 9.

We’ll find out how the sequel went when the BRB returns to the Frog on Dec. 17.

MORE ABOUT THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

MORE BRB VIDEOS ON MG

Please click icon below for captions.

Frog shots: Scenes from another sizzling show by the Blaire Reinhard Band in Morristown

On Saturday night at Morristown’s Famished Frog, the Blaire Reinhard Band picked up where it left off at Ginty Field earlier in the week with another sizzling show.

Singers need great pipes. And in this case, that also means great plumbing.

In addition to their musical prowess, Blaire, Gray, Wade, Keith and Phil are medical marvels: They play for hours with no bathroom breaks.

This is an amazing band on many levels!

VIDEOS OF BLAIRE REINHARD BAND AND MORE

Please click icon below for captions.

Video: ‘The Garden’ by the Blaire Reinhard Band at Ginty Field in Morristown

Here is The Garden, another new tune by the Blaire Reinhard Band, from the group’s July 12 gig at Ginty Field in Morris Township.

This one was written by Blaire. You can catch her and brother Gray Reinhard (guitar), husband Wade Perrin (bass), Keith Woodward (drums) and Phil Ward (lead guitar) at Morristown’s Famished Frog this Saturday, July 16.

MORE ON THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

Video: ‘Heavy Air’ by the Blaire Reinhard Band at Morris Township’s Ginty Field

Here’s a favorite from the Blaire Reinhard Band’s debut CD, Steps on the Ceiling. The song’s called Heavy Air, perfect for a muggy night at Ginty Field in Morris Township.

Blaire is backed by her brother Gray Reinhard on guitar, husband Wade Perrin on bass, Phil Ward on electric guitar and Keith Woodward on drums.

Recorded on July 12, 2011. The BRB plays Morristown’s Famished Frog on July 16.

MORE ON THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

Video: Blaire Reinhard Band sings ‘Write Me’ at Ginty Field in Morris Township

Here’s something new from the Blaire Reinhard Band. It’s called Write Me, and it was performed at Ginty Field in Morris Township–Blaire’s home town–on the warm evening of July 12.

Blaire was joined by her brother, Gray Reinhard, on guitar; her husband, Wade Perrin, on bass; and by Keith Woodward on drums and Phil Ward, who played electric guitar, mandolin and percussion during the 90-minute set.

The BRB has a special place in our hearts; the band headlined at our very first film festival. On Saturday, Sept. 17, we’re proud to present our Fourth Annual MorristownGreen.com Film (& Music) Festival. Mark the date–and SUBMIT YOUR VIDEO NOW!

Entry deadline is Aug. 1, maximum length is five minutes, theme is Sustainability.  Tell us what that means–you might walk off with the Best Picture trophy!

And if,  like us, you cannot get enough of the Blaire Reinhard Band, you can catch them this weekend, July 16, at Morristown’s Famished Frog.

MORE ABOUT THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

MORE ABOUT ‘THE FOURTH ANNUAL MG FILM (& MUSIC!) FESTIVAL’

Summertime and the living is easy, with the Blaire Reinhard Band in Morris Township

Spectators who braved the heat to catch the Blaire Reinhard Band at Morris Township’s Ginty Field on July 12 were treated to a sneak preview of the group’s next album.

Blaire Reinhard, Gray Reinhard, Wade Perrin, Keith Woodward and Phil Ward performed several original tunes of recent vintage. (Stay tuned for videos.)

They had been self-producing a followup to their debut CD,  Steps on the Ceiling, but that was scrapped when the band hooked up with producer Glenn Rosenstein, whose studio credits include Bruce Springsteen, U2, Keith Richards, Queen, David Bowie, The Go-Go’s, the Village People and Yoko Ono, among others.

Please click icon below for captions.

Recording sessions are scheduled for early fall, said Blaire, who had a large hometown contingent of family and friends in the audience. She and husband Wade Perrin moved from Morristown to Hoboken last year;  the group is playing a lot of weddings between gigs on both sides of the Hudson.

(One of those gigs is Morristown’s Famished Frog on Saturday night, July 16.)

The BRB also has had some TV time lately, with song placements on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance, NBC’s The Voice, and MTV’s 16 and Pregnant.

MORE ABOUT THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

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COMING UP IN MORRIS TOWNSHIP:

Tuesday, July 19: The Hanover Wind Symphony is celebrating its 27 season. This volunteer, nonprofit band consists of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, all played with the purpose of bringing “music to the people and people to the music.”

Tuesday, July 26: Rave-On will perform hits by the great Buddy Holly.

Tuesday, Aug. 2: The Due South Band brings a touch of country to the Gazebo.
All concerts start at 7 pm.

MOVIE NIGHTS

Wednesday, July 13, at Cornine Field, How to Train Your Dragon (animated, PG)

Wednesday, July 27, at Ginty Field, Despicable Me (animated, PG)

Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Ginty Field, The Karate Kid (live action, PG), co-hosted by the Morris Township Fire Department.

For more information, contact the township Parks and Recreation Department, weekdays from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm at 973-326-7371 or online at www.morristwp.com

A band that’s hard to beat: Blaire Reinhard, at Ginty Field in Morris Township on July 12

To catch a glimpse of the fabulous Blaire Reinhard Band, you usually must stay up late and elbow your way past the bar through legions of fans.

But on Tuesday, July 12, everyone can enjoy the BRB’s tasty brand of pop/rock in broad daylight, on the green grass of Morris Township’s Ginty Field.

The 7 p.m. show is free.

Photos of the Blaire Reinhard Band at the Famished Frog in May. Please click icon below for captions.

Blaire Reinhard, the lead singer, and her brother Gray Reinhard, on keyboard and guitar, are alums of Morristown High. Blaire’s husband, Wade Perrin, handles the bass duties. Keith Woodward is the drummer and Phil Ward plays lead guitar and sings.

The band’s repertoire is about as huge as Ginty Field, from Beatles to Gaga.  We are especially partial to the group’s original material. The BRB’s first CD, Steps on the Ceiling, is loaded with pretty melodies that hold up well to repeated listening.

But don’t take our word on this. Bring a beach blanket, bring a picnic, bring a friend, and see for yourself. Hearing is believing.

And for night owls who love the energy of indoor shows, the Blaire Reinhard Band performs at Morristown’s Famished Frog on July 16.

STORIES, VIDEOS ABOUT THE BLAIRE REINHARD BAND

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COMING UP IN MORRIS TOWNSHIP:

Tuesday, July 19: The Hanover Wind Symphony is celebrating its 27 season. This volunteer, nonprofit band consists of woodwind, brass and percussion instruments, all played with the purpose of bringing “music to the people and people to the music.”

Tuesday, July 26: Rave-On will perform hits by the great Buddy Holly.

Tuesday, Aug. 2: The Due South Band brings a touch of country to the Gazebo.
All concerts start at 7 pm.

MOVIE NIGHTS

Wednesday, July 13, at Cornine Field, How to Train Your Dragon (animated, PG)

Wednesday, July 27, at Ginty Field, Despicable Me (animated, PG)

Wednesday, Aug. 20, at Ginty Field, The Karate Kid (live action, PG), co-hosted by the Morris Township Fire Department.

For more information, contact the township Parks and Recreation Department, weekdays from 8:30 am until 4:30 pm at 973-326-7371 or online at  www.morristwp.com

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