Windsor Drive

Green Bay Band Reviews
Windsor Drive Band Review Live at House of Valdar in Green Bay, WI

By TJ
February 26, 2010
Tonight I went to The House of Valdar, one of my new favorite spots to see live music, to check out the band Windsor Drive. They were originally formed in Weston, Wisconsin but now the band resides in Houston, Texas. First off The House of Valdar is not your average venue, it's all ages, it has more of a theater or comedy club atmosphere which I think adds to the experience of checking out a band, it's very relaxed and chilled out. A perfect setting for Windsor Drive, whose music is of a piano driven alternative rock genre. While the style of Windsor Drive is about as close to the border of pop alt rock as it gets for my personal tastes, the sound and emotion that came out of them tonight was simply amazing. Leading up to the show I did a little research and listened to the songs they had online, from the moment they got into the first song it was obvious that was a huge difference for the better in hearing Windsor Drive live. Windsor drive is a four piece band with Kipp Wilde on vocals and keys, Dan Sukow on electric guitar, Jon Wasleske on bass and Owen Jones on Drums. The Sound was great, Kipp's vocals are light, melodic and his lyrics are dramatic and emotional. Kipp's keys are mostly on a natural grand piano sound, switching occasionally to an electric piano. Owen on drums was powerful, his snare drum was louder than a 357. I noticed that they all had click track ear pieces to keep them locked in tempo, but mostly so they didn't get ahead on the sequenced tracks that Jon was controlling on the Mac book while playing bass.

Rhythmically Windsor Drive is very tight so when Dan is playing the telecaster guitar he is layering on melodies soaked in an ambient tunnel of echo that kind of floats over the top of the rhythm that Kipp, Jon, and Owen are putting down. You could tell that Windsor Drive was on a different level, extremely professional, rehearsed and articulate to the sound that they produce. The patrons at the House of Valdar were all mellowed out to the tunes. At the end of the hour long set the crowd brought them up again for an encore. They really didn't have anything in mind to play since they went through their full set, Kipp asked the crowd if there were any requests and to his surprise one patron called out for "Slow Down." Caught a little off guard by that one Dan had to run out to the Van to get the slide for the guitar parts on that song. It really was a great show, and somewhat of a home coming for the Texans that used call Weston their home and Green Bay their back yard. The sound keeps getting better at the House of Valdar and having the occasional pro touring bands coming in and mixing it up with the local bands playing for all ages is just what this town has needed for a long time. I would definitely see Windsor Drive again when they come back through this town. If you happen to miss them you can check them out on myspace. Great music, it was one of those nights where you get in the car, drive home and don't turn on the radio because the music is still swimming around in your head.