The Love Haters’ Greg DeShong’s first performance with the group was at J.W.’s Sports Bar & Restaurant a few months ago and he will return with the band this weekend. The longtime musician said the band’s eclectic selection of covers keeps things interesting — how many bands do Metallica, Talking Heads, Kool & the Gang and Garth Brooks?
Q Tell me a little bit about how you guys met and got together.
A I founded and played in a Central Pennsylvania-based cover band called Screamin Daisys and after a nearly 10-year run was looking for something fresh and challenging. I had seen The Love Haters and liked the fact that they covered so many genres and were a three-piece with a standup drummer frontman. I love playing music but I hate to admit it, I like the money ... er, I guess I don’t hate to admit it really. I just thought that adding myself and keyboards would really liven things up and it eventually just happened. I knew of Trent from the hair metal days, we lived in adjacent towns, so I just threw the idea out there and their guitarist left and there it was.
Q What do you think sets you apart from other cover bands?
A Being a successful three-piece band is not the standard. It is hard to fill out the sound, but throw in some keyboard sequences and suddenly you can sound like a seven-piece horn band, and having a standup drummer/frontman is really unheard of. We are the only band I know of that does it, and it is an interesting visual. Plus, we play songs from The Beatles to Metallica and everything in between.
Q Tell me a little about the decision making process to add something to the setlist — how do you go from something like “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads to “Brick House” by The Commodores?
A We want to be diverse, but also do the songs justice. We all like different eras and genres of music so it really is just what we want to do and feel comfortable presenting to a crowd. Every decade has its gems.
Q Do you have a favorite part of the job? What about least favorite?
A A large, receptive crowd is the best and a nice paycheck. Driving home at 3 in the morning is the worst.
