WAILUA — They’ve got a bit of funk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll going on. But it’s the acoustic music and percussions that make grooving and moving to the band “Acoustic Medicine” an almost knee-jerk response. Led by Rick Goding,
WAILUA — They’ve got a bit of funk, blues and rock ‘n’ roll going on.
But it’s the acoustic music and percussions that make grooving and moving to the band “Acoustic Medicine” an almost knee-jerk response.
Led by Rick Goding, MD, the small, Kaua‘i-based group also has a New York-based crew.
But that’s not all that makes this band unique — “Acoustic Medicine” isn’t another cover band. In fact, you’ll only hear them playing originals, with lyrics written by Goding and percussion, bass and drum lines collaboratively created by fellow members.
“It’s sort of a partnership,” drummer Mario Rodriguez said. “And we all kind of work to make it whole.”
Especially catchy songs written by the trio include “Take me home” and “Funky New York love song.”
Goding, an orthopedic surgeon moonlighting as a vocalist and guitarist, said he first began playing music about 15 years ago, when he was studying pre-med in college.
“I was just really moved by music and liked it a lot,” he said. “Of course it took a back seat to medicine — it still kinda does.”
It’s tough to tell, however, that music isn’t Goding’s main gig.
Taking to the stage with fellow members Rodriguez (conga), and Michael Coliva (cajón), the group has a “just-cruising” sort of sound but begs for listeners to move their feet, thanks in part to the energy from the rhythm.
Goding, who self-admittedly has a “lot to say,” said the process of writing lyrics has been especially inspirational to him. One song in particular, “Welcome to this world,” which Goding said he wrote about his daughter after her first ultrasound, was also particularly inspired, he said, as was a song entitled, “It goes by so fast.”
“My daughter was 18 months-old and we were on the sidewalk in front of Trees (Lounge),” he said. “I was videoing her with my phone and a guy stopped next to me and leaned over and said, ‘it goes by fast.’ It was this kind of a human connection.”
But Acoustic Medicine’s songs aren’t just about babies growing up, either.
“We have a pretty heavy political bent in the music,” Goding said. “It comes from an unshakable feeling that something has gone dramatically wrong with our country. Turn off the sports and the ‘Dancing With The Stars’ and see what’s going on.”
Goding noted it’s not just contemporary society that motivates his writing. It’s also jamming with other musicians.
“The way I write the music is an open tapestry,” he said. “I love to hear different people interpret it. One time, we had Ken Chalupnick (the bassist of Iron Butterfly). …With the way Mario and Mikey hold the rhythm section down, it’s easy for any bassist or lead to come in and play.”
Other fellow jammers have even included a violinist from the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, he said.
As for those wanting to hear a little sampling beyond their first album, “Seeds of Revolution,” the group just got back from New York and will be hosting a CD- and DVD-release party in upcoming months at Trees Lounge in Waipouli, Goding said.
The CD and DVD feature live music from the trip, he added. And, appropriately, the second recording is entitled “Live in New York.” Producer Anka Malatynska will be adding cache to the DVD, which she will be working on following the completion of a project in India.
The aim of the recording? To help rally support and play at more music festivals, Goding said, noting it also may help garner local interest.
“We realize most haven’t heard of us and don’t want to yank money out of their pocket,” he said. “So sometimes we give out CDs.”
For online download go to reverbnation.com/acousticmedicine
For bookings, call 645-6473
