Published 2011-11-14T20:37:00Z”/>
Nicole Walker
Brought together by a musician’s forum on Craigslist, Chad Bushnell and Evan Bissell give country music a traditional spin from a student perspective.
This western duo played its first show Oct. 7 at the El Rey Theatre as the opening act for songwriting legend Robert Earl Keen, said Bissell, a junior sustainable manufacturing major.
Since then, Bissell and Bushnell have appeared together throughout the north state working with Diamond Productions of Chico and That’s Entertainment of Folsom.
Bushnell, who was inspired to play guitar by his father at the age of 4, had already established himself in his hometown of Red Bluff before moving to Chico, Bushnell said.
After transferring to Chico State this semester, Bushnell placed an ad on a musician’s forum on Craigslist. Bissell, who has played guitar since he was 11, responded to the post and their two-man band began.
Their separate talents really complement each other and people enjoy it, Diamond Productions producer Megan Moffett said.
“I could tell right off the bat that Evan was used to playing blues by the way he played guitar,” Moffett said. “But I really loved the way he played Chad’s country songs with that little bit of bluesy twist.”
Bushnell has a great voice with a sincere demeanor and Bissell’s guitar skills just add to it, she said.
“The boy could really pick the guitar,” Moffett said.
Over the short time of their pairing, they have gone on to open for LoCash Cowboys at the Crazy Horse Saloon and have performed with Whiskey Dawn at several venues in California.
With lead vocalist Bushnell on guitar and lead guitarist Bissell on backup vocals, the up-and-coming country pair has a distinct sound, straying away from the modern pop-country genre and sticking to the blues of traditional country, Bushnell said.
Along with alternating the sound of covers to fit their own style, Bushnell and Bissell put their own twist on every song they perform, he said.
An original song written by Bushnell is “Big Ol’ Country Girl.”
Everyone recognizes this song when it’s played, said Mike Wessels, program director and morning show personality of 103.5 The Blaze.
They play entertaining songs and have fun while doing it, he said. Generally, if the artist is having fun, the crowd is having fun too.
Bissell and Bushnell don’t only have fun on stage, but also set the tone of the night by getting the crowd into a country mood, Wessels said. The enjoyment on and off stage stems from the ability to reach out to the audience and provide them with what they want.
They’re relatable to the local crowd because they’re local guys who like country and enjoy performing, Wessels said. But with the pairing being so new, they’re a work in progress and they’re working hard to move up the ranks.
With room for improvement, the duo is focusing on expanding the band with a bassist and drummer in order to get more shows at bigger venues, and Bushnell is planning on recording an album with a studio band in the near future, Bushnell said.
“We’re going all the way, bigger than Garth Brooks while staying in school,” Bissell said.
However, with the changes and expansions happening, the two will continue to perform and practice, and will eventually have a name,
Bissell said.
“When you listen to them you can tell they’re talented, both as players and singers,” Wessels said.
<hr />
<strong>Nicole Walker can be reached at</strong>
<em>[email protected]</em>
