The Dregs
Encyclopedia
The Dregs are a popular comedy folk band based in the Twin Cities
, Minnesota. Primarily known for their improvised stage antics and twisted song lyrics, the six-person act performs on stages around the Midwest and can be heard on five recorded albums.
group formed by improv comedian and bodhrán
drummer Tim Wick at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
in 2001 under the moniker "Pub Kin". It consisted loosely of over a dozen members who were meant to serve drinks and entertain patrons of Mac's Pub, a vacant merchant shop turned ale house with an Irish theme. In practice, it became too problematic for performers to operate the pub on their own, so bar tending became the responsibility of the Minnesota Jaycees, and Pub Kin was reduced to purely a music act, keeping form with the Irish theme.
In 2002, the band was pared down to just five members who set a higher standard for music performance and improv comedy. Soon thereafter, the band began making public appearance at venues outside of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
where their popularity continued to grow. The Dregs released their first album "Are You Gonna Drink That?" in 2003, consisting mostly of traditional Irish ballads, silly drinking tunes, and bawdy songs. Expanding beyond a cappella
, the album included several songs with accompaniment by guitarist Sean Larson. Impressed with the musical talents of their recording engineer, The Dregs asked Chad Dutton to join the act. This six-person configuration continued to gain momentum, and by 2005 they had released another full-length album "Our Drunk Goes to Eleven" and the CD Single "Johnny Jump-Up".
Surprisingly, half of the cast decided to step down from The Dregs in late 2005, and were soon replaced by Rachael Salisbury, Frost Simula, and Angelina Lais. New blood brought new interest, and the act continued to grow in popularity, releasing a live album "Uncorked" in 2007, and another studio album "Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?" just a year later in 2008. By this time, the band had established itself as a local comedy and music act with several bars, music venues, conventions, and private events in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, as well as additional Renaissance faires in the Midwest. Their sound had also grown, building upon the vocal talents of all six members, as well as Chad Dutton's musings on the accordion and keyboard.
Vocalist and comedienne Angelia Lais departed from the act following The Dregs Holiday Special performance in December 2009. Interested in expanding instrumentation, violinist Molly Dimba was recruited in early 2010.
. They make nearly a dozen appearances per day, costumed and acting as a peasant Irish band, and are still a mainstay at Mac's Pub. Similar performances have been at the Siouxland Renaissance Festival in Sioux Falls, SD and at the Olde World Renaissance Faire in Twig, MN. The Irish music they play has gained the attention of many Irish pubs and Irish-themed festivals in the Midwest.
While music is a vehicle for their comedy, The Dregs main draw is a combination of their stage antics and their ridiculous lyrics. Themes which garner the most attention are songs about science fiction, rednecks, chickens, and zombies. To date, their most popular song is the apocalyptic undead ballad "Zombies in the Shire", featured on the album "Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?"
Recorded at: Rainbow Records
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Jones
Recorded at: Rainbow Records
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Jones
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Marcy
Recorded at: Curbside Studios
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Frost Simula
Recorded at: Curbside Studios
Album art by: Frost Simula
Twin cities
Twin cities are a special case of two cities or urban centres which are founded in close geographic proximity and then grow into each other over time...
, Minnesota. Primarily known for their improvised stage antics and twisted song lyrics, the six-person act performs on stages around the Midwest and can be heard on five recorded albums.
History
The Dregs originally began as an a cappellaA cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
group formed by improv comedian and bodhrán
Bodhrán
The bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
drummer Tim Wick at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance fair, an interactive outdoor event which focuses on recreating the look and feel of a fictional 16th Century "England-like" fantasy kingdom...
in 2001 under the moniker "Pub Kin". It consisted loosely of over a dozen members who were meant to serve drinks and entertain patrons of Mac's Pub, a vacant merchant shop turned ale house with an Irish theme. In practice, it became too problematic for performers to operate the pub on their own, so bar tending became the responsibility of the Minnesota Jaycees, and Pub Kin was reduced to purely a music act, keeping form with the Irish theme.
In 2002, the band was pared down to just five members who set a higher standard for music performance and improv comedy. Soon thereafter, the band began making public appearance at venues outside of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival
Minnesota Renaissance Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance fair, an interactive outdoor event which focuses on recreating the look and feel of a fictional 16th Century "England-like" fantasy kingdom...
where their popularity continued to grow. The Dregs released their first album "Are You Gonna Drink That?" in 2003, consisting mostly of traditional Irish ballads, silly drinking tunes, and bawdy songs. Expanding beyond a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
, the album included several songs with accompaniment by guitarist Sean Larson. Impressed with the musical talents of their recording engineer, The Dregs asked Chad Dutton to join the act. This six-person configuration continued to gain momentum, and by 2005 they had released another full-length album "Our Drunk Goes to Eleven" and the CD Single "Johnny Jump-Up".
Surprisingly, half of the cast decided to step down from The Dregs in late 2005, and were soon replaced by Rachael Salisbury, Frost Simula, and Angelina Lais. New blood brought new interest, and the act continued to grow in popularity, releasing a live album "Uncorked" in 2007, and another studio album "Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?" just a year later in 2008. By this time, the band had established itself as a local comedy and music act with several bars, music venues, conventions, and private events in the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area, as well as additional Renaissance faires in the Midwest. Their sound had also grown, building upon the vocal talents of all six members, as well as Chad Dutton's musings on the accordion and keyboard.
Vocalist and comedienne Angelia Lais departed from the act following The Dregs Holiday Special performance in December 2009. Interested in expanding instrumentation, violinist Molly Dimba was recruited in early 2010.
Popularity
The Dregs have gained their most momentum via their birthplace, the Minnesota Renaissance FestivalMinnesota Renaissance Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is a Renaissance fair, an interactive outdoor event which focuses on recreating the look and feel of a fictional 16th Century "England-like" fantasy kingdom...
. They make nearly a dozen appearances per day, costumed and acting as a peasant Irish band, and are still a mainstay at Mac's Pub. Similar performances have been at the Siouxland Renaissance Festival in Sioux Falls, SD and at the Olde World Renaissance Faire in Twig, MN. The Irish music they play has gained the attention of many Irish pubs and Irish-themed festivals in the Midwest.
While music is a vehicle for their comedy, The Dregs main draw is a combination of their stage antics and their ridiculous lyrics. Themes which garner the most attention are songs about science fiction, rednecks, chickens, and zombies. To date, their most popular song is the apocalyptic undead ballad "Zombies in the Shire", featured on the album "Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?"
Are You Gonna Drink That?
Released: 2003Recorded at: Rainbow Records
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Jones
Our Drunk Goes to Eleven
Released: 2005Recorded at: Rainbow Records
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Jones
Johnny Jump-Up
Released: 2005Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Christopher Marcy
Thank You, Sir. May I Have Another?
Released: 2008Recorded at: Curbside Studios
Engineered by: Chad Dutton
Album art by: Frost Simula
Dreggnog
Released: (Currently in production)Recorded at: Curbside Studios
Album art by: Frost Simula
Current members
- Tim Wick - BodhránBodhránThe bodhrán is an Irish frame drum ranging from 25 to 65 cm in diameter, with most drums measuring 35 to 45 cm . The sides of the drum are 9 to 20 cm deep. A goatskin head is tacked to one side...
, vocals - Susanne Becker - vocals
- Chad Dutton - Accordion, keyboard, bodhrán, percussion, vocals
- Rachael Salisbury - vocals
- Frost Simula - Guitar, vocals
- Molly Dimba - Violin, mandolin, vocals