Artist Q&A with Todd Stonesifer

Todd Stonesifer grew up listening to legends Neil Young and Bob Dylan, and classic rock favorites like the Steve Miller Band. He still listens to his heroes, now putting his own spin on their hits as well as his own original music. Stonesifer took a few minutes Aug. 18 to talk about the music, their upcoming show at Bubba’s and his favorite B side.

Q You went to college in Georgia and played in a band there, eventually pursuing music in L.A. How long have you been playing in and around Dover?

A I’ve lived here for most of life except for a break of eight or nine years. Since I’ve been back, about 10 years, I’ve been playing locally for about three or four years.

Q What made you start playing in public again?

A An old friend had a show booked and his band couldn’t show up, and he asked me to come out and play. At the same time a group of friends said, “Are you ever going to play again?” I said, “It just so happens that I’m going to play this Saturday,” and that started the new revolution.

It’s become much more relaxing than it used to be. It’s not my main moneymaker anymore, this is just for fun, so I don’t have to worry about when or how often I play. When it happens, it happens.

Q You grew up playing the clarinet. How did you go from that to guitar?

A My brother had a band when he was in college and I got the chance to see them, and I said, “That’s what I want to do.” When I saw him performing in front of a bunch of cute girls, I said, “Hmmm, there’s no clarinet on that stage.”

I was about 16, and I didn’t stop playing the clarinet, I just started playing the guitar.

Q What bands did you grow up on that you still listen to today?

A It’s who I play all the time. The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Allman Brothers Band, Steve Miller Band, Rolling Stones, The Beatles.

Q A lot of that music is before your time. Did you pick it up from your brother?

A He was never into that type of music, but I knew good music when I heard it. Mom and dad had country music playing, my brother had country music playing. I was always into the classic rock.

Q How has your songwriting evolved since your college days?

A I have more experiences in life that I have to write about. I’m still the same person, but I have more life experience.

Listeners are going to hear everything. When we write a new song we move it into the set and move a cover song out.

Q What sets the Todd Stonesifer Band apart from others?

A I think we do something completely different. We’re not going to do your top 40 stuff, we’re not going to do your typical classic rock, you’re not going to hear “Brown Eyed Girl,” we’re not going to play that.

You’ll hear covers of those classic bands and our originals. We don’t even know how we’re going to play them sometimes, it’s improvisational.

You’re going to hear the B sides.

Q What’s your favorite B side?

A It changes daily. Today, “Tangled Up in Blue” by Bob Dylan.

Q What do your clients and co-workers say when they find out you’re a performer as well as Realtor?

A They all come out and support me. My clients, some of them aren’t into that type of music, but they all think it’s cool with my history from my college days to today.

Q Do you ever play with your brother, Craig?

A Yeah, he’s actually playing at the KCAR/Habitat for Humanity benefit. His group, Craig Alan and the Coyotes, was a huge local success when they were doing it, and he came out of retirement to do this thing last year and was a hit, so he has agreed to do it again this year and headline.

I sat in with them for a warm-up show in July when their main guitar player was overseas with Deep Purple, so I subbed in for him. Now he’s back, so I might get up and sing one or two songs with him. It will be a very friendly session. All the groups are friends, there will be a lot of collaboration.

Email Sarika Jagtiani at sarika.jagtiani@doverpost.com.