The Usual Suspects

Genre: Acoustic Rock

E-mail: thenoose2008@gmail.com

History

If most of the tunes and a few of the faces seem familiar it isn’t surprising. In one way or another it seems that "The Usual Suspects" have been around seemingly forever.

S. C. Dixon, vocals and guitar, has been playing live music since the mid-1960’s and has recorded with such bands as Gentle People, Medusa, Shadowfax, Desire, and the Dixon-Hammond Band. In addition he was house deejay at Uncle Al’s, Calamity Jane’s (“C.J.’S”), The Kodiak, The Bourbon Barrel and with Legend Mobile Music as well as being the entertainment director at Kathie’s Club for over 7 years! He also has worked as a record producer for Without Wings, Bear Claw, and the Capital City Opry.

Bob Haselhuhn plays bass, guitar, banjo and just about anything else needed with the “’Suspects” and has a long history in the regional music scene including an extended stint with a very popular band in the 80’s called “Briney Murphy”. He is now the band director at Emporia High. Like S, Bob also writes his own tunes and occasionally they are included in the group’s repertoire. Mr. H. is well known in both regional jazz circles as well as with Big-Band aficionados. Bob also sings both leads and backup.

Dan Ratzlaff , a California transplant, rounds out the trio with congas, bongos, tambourine and all sorts of other percussion as well as providing timely back-up vocals. He joined in 2006 and is the band’s technology whiz-kid. Dan is the “quiet one” of the group.
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Bob and S.C. have been playing and jamming together for more than a decade and their performances at a very private club known simply as “Smitty’s Underground” “bordered on legendary!”

Their current home base is playing at "The Noose™" at 323 Commercial Street in downtown Emporia several times a month, although it is certainly possible to find them performing here and there at other local and regional venues.

Performing without pretense is a mainstay for the group; it is not uncommon for them to stop mid-song if they decide the tempo or the key is wrong! They mix in plenty of humor and personal interaction with the audience during their performances.

As a wee bit of performance “theatre”, the band gathers around a table with their instruments, notes, props and libations and regales the growing crowds with laid-back “almost-unplugged-except-that-everybody-has-a-microphone-and-the-acoustic-guitars-are-amped” versions of their favorite songs from the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s with the occasional newer song thrown in for good measure. What is coming up next is often a surprise, to the band as well as to the audience; it might be pop, rock, blues, country or some silly thing made up on the spur of the moment.

Their arrangements are unique and well-suited for an ersatz acoustic three piece band and the crowds have been reacting with growing enthusiasm and by the last set they’re regularly singing along! (Friday evening performances are often SRO).

Shows may include a plethora of percussion, 6 and 12 string guitar, electric, acoustic or even up-right bass, banjo, electric guitar, kazoo or harmonica, and just about anything else at hand.

Bob has been quoted as saying that the true joy of playing with "The Usual Suspects" is that “Each performance, every night, is different. There’s almost always a surprise or two either in our selections or in the way they are presented. One night Mr. Dixon surprised the band by leading us in rousing renditions of at least four tunes which, not only had we never rehearsed, I’d never even heard him play before!”

Musicians

• S.C. Dixon: Guitar, Vocals
• Bob Haselhuhn: Bass
• Dan Ratzlaff: Percussion