Papa Coyote - Origins

Papa Coyote began forming in 2008 when recent NY transplant Evan Stuckless answered recent New Orleans transplant Ben Rougeo's cragslist ad for an accordionist who could do a set of Zydeco and Second-line hits for a crawdad festival on Mt. Hood.

3 years later Papa Coyote has played all over Oregon and has released two CDs. 

For a more tongue-in-cheek perspective, here is a republished interview from Rob Cullivan of the Portland Tribune:

What is the origin of the name Papa Coyote?

PAPA: Right before moving to Portland, I was homesteading on 36 acres in upstate New York that we named the Coyote Hill Family Farm. My extended family had a band called the Coyote Family Band, so it’s only natural that my stage moniker be Papa Coyote.

East County’s coyote population has reportedly increased in recent years. Any connection between your band and this phenomenon?

PAPA: Back east, I would sing with the coyotes on a regular basis, climbing up on the roof with my accordion and howl. My brothers of the fur are following my song and must have gotten sidetracked in East County.

You’ve chosen to be photographed publicly with an accordion. Has this led to any hate crimes being committed against you?

PAPA: The positive squeezebox-vibrations transform any non-accordion player’s envy into the compulsion to dance uncontrollably.

Who are your major musical influences?

PAPA: Classic rock, Afro-pop, Zydeco, bluegrass and tango. Bob Marley, Buckwheat Zydeco, James Brown and Tito Puente. (…)

What was the most exciting moment for you on stage with a famous band?

PAPA: Playing with Little Feat was huge for me, since they were my heroes in my teenage years. I especially remember talking for an hour with the slide guitarist Fred Tackett about his session work with Tom Waits. Recently, I had a fantastic experience sitting in with the Asylum Street Spankers. I got to play an epic Balkan hoedown with them at the Aladdin Theater.

What advice do you have for aspiring accordion players?
PAPA: When I first learned to play accordion, I rubber-banded the fingers of my left hand together to train them to be able to reach the tiny little buttons. It seemed to work.

Have you ever been haunted by the ghost of Lawrence Welk, one of history’s most famous accordion-players?

PAPA: No ghosts, however, I once picked up a signed, first-edition copy of his autobiography. I got it as a joke, but it ended up being the most inspiring musical book I ever read. He talked about loving the music you play and getting ahead by being really nice.

You’ve been photographed standing like a colossus on top of Mount Hood. Wasn’t that a bit dangerous?

PAPA: I have to be careful about which notes I play on the mountain. A double-stopped bellows shake can cause avalanche events.

Do you think you appeal more to alcoholic middle age divorcees, hip hoppers with their pants hangin’ low or super sensitive fans of indie shoegazer rock bands?

PAPA: Actually, people have told me that they love the extreme variety of styles they will hear in a given show. You can see anyone from grandmothers to goths out there dancing.

The original article can be found here.