• The talent: Chris Tuetken (lead vocals/rhythm and bass guitar), Alan Melville (lead guitar/vocals) and Dave Herboldsheimer (drums)
• The music: Rock/pop. Music you can dance to.
• The gigs: 9 p.m. Saturday (1/9) @ Three Fingers Saloon, Lisbon; 9 p.m. Jan. 22 @ Tailgators, Cedar Rapids.
• The rest of the story: www.tricyclicband.com

Tricyclic is a Cedar Rapids-based band that got together in 2001. Hoopla’s Pete Looney sat down with the band’s frontman Chris Tuetken.

PL: Tricyclic is a great band name. Where did it come from?

CT: I started the band with a pharmacy classmate, so we wanted something pharmacy-related. Tricyclic antidepressants came to mind. We like to make people feel good with our music, and the three-ring structure of the drug makes for a good logo.

PL: Who are the band members?

CT: We used to be a four piece, back when we started in 2001. But out of necessity I started playing bass when we became a 3-piece about three years ago. So the band consists of myself on bass and lead vocals, Alan Melville from Anamosa on lead guitar (we switch for a few songs), and Dave Herboldsheimer from Lisbon on drums.

PL: What type of music do you play?

CT: We play a variety with a rock/pop feel, and music you can dance to.

PL: Who are some of the bands you cover?

CT: The Beatles, Steve Miller Band, Pat Benatar, Journey, Violent Femmes, Nickelback, All American Rejects, Garth Brooks. So a little bit of everything.

PL: Where can people catch the band?

CT: We like to play mainly around the Cedar Rapids area. Tailgators is our favorite place. And we play around Anamosa and Lisbon. A couple of favorite gigs are Delhi Days and the Pickle Ride at The Shack.

PL: Tell me about the band’s background.

CT: Well, I picked up the guitar and started singing when I was 25. Al has been playing guitar most of his life as has Dave on the drums. We all happen to work together at Phillip Pharmacies. I’m a pharmacist and the owner; Al is the distribution manager and Dave is the maintenance manager.

PL: Tell me an interesting road story …

CT: While playing the guitar and singing one night, a fight landed on the stage and I stopped one guy from hitting another mid-song and didn’t miss too many beats or notes.

— PETE