Chubby

The talent: Matthew Maybanks (vocals/guitar), Jeremy Hay (guitar) and Ryan Hoagland (percussion)
The sound: Acoustic
The gigs: May 2 @ Bushwood, 350 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids and May 8 @ Bricks, 320 2nd Ave., Cedar Rapids
The rest of the story: www.myspace.com/chubbykicksass
The music:

Tired of going to hear live music and being blown out the door by the shear volume of the speakers? If so, acoustic trio, Chubby, is right up your alley. You will be able to have a conversation without yelling across the table but you probably won’t want to. Instead the music will draw you in.

Band mates Jeremy Hay and Matthew Maybanks were playing in a band called Greener together and, having similar music tastes, began to slip acoustic songs into sets. When the band split, it seemed logical to continue in that direction.

“We wanted to do our take on a cover band that plays songs we really like in this format,” Matthew says. “We try to put our own spin on the arrangements, changing tempo and feel in interesting ways. It allows us to use pedals and beat-boxing to get some crazy sounds.”

Jeremy and Matthew, already playing in Homemade Headtrip together, were joined by Ryan Hoagland, who also already played in several bands, and created a dynamic threesome. The eclectic taste of the band is shown in style as well as selection of material, including folk, funk, pop, hip hop and Latin.

Featuring an extraordinary array of covers from Amos Lee to Terrance Trent D’Arby, Chubby is a rock band with a sense of humor. In the middle of playing Rusted Root’s “Send Me on My Way,” Matthew will break into a rap that seamlessly fades back into the previous tune.

“We are open to playing just about anywhere and under just about any circumstances,” Matthew says. “Everyone in the combo has been playing live for quite a few years, so we know that some of the weirdest conditions can produce some of the most fun shows.”

In addition to the numerous covers, Chubby is well versed enough to take suggestions from the audience. Currently, they are gigging three to four times a month, prepping for the recording of their first album and working to add venues and festivals to the schedule.

“It can be tough to convince the bookers that an acoustic trio can be as entertaining as a full plugged in band but we feel that we are all good at what we do and we can hold our own in that department. We just want to keep playing and having fun.”

– Justin

“This is your hobby right?’ Well, it was in middle school. Now it’s my living.”

Ryan Hoagland, 28, Cedar Rapids
Self-employed musician

Ryan Hoagland, aka Hoagy, beats the crap out of things for a living. Unlike many musicians in this area whose passion for their art can only be for fun, for Hoagy, the love of song is his day job and his life.

For more than 20 years, music has been like breathing for Hoagy. He attended Jefferson High School and Kirkwood Community College before finishing his bachelors in music at the University of Northern Iowa. His passion, however, started much earlier.

“I played guitar and piano from age 6 to 10 but decided to switch to percussion,” Hoagy says. “When I was a kid, my cool uncle Brad played drums in different bands around town as well as in the Hawkeye Marching Band. I don’t even know if I ever saw him play but I knew that he played so I gave it a try and fell in love with it.”

“I’m lucky that I had a great mom that let me practice as much as I wanted to. She bought a second drum set for my brother to play; his was upstairs, mine was downstairs and we would do battles back and forth. I would hear him playing something and I would try to play it faster with more flashy fills. He, in turn, would send back something even crazier. My mom used this time to go grocery shopping.”

Hoagy also sings but despite playing percussion in countless bands through his career, he has yet to demonstrate this ability outside of school. While he hopes to release an album of solo work, Hoagy currently has his hands full hitting the skins with Chubby, Funk-Stop and Junk-Funk; performing with Theatre Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band; teaching choreography to the strolling band at Adventureland in Des Moines and substituting every now and again for random bands needing a backup drummer.

“The subbing thing can be pretty scary, showing up and having to play a three-hour set with a band when you’ve only met maybe one or two of the members,” he says. “It can be frightening but it is always a great challenge.”

If all of this performing sounds hectic and overwhelming, consider that it actually takes the least amount of time compared to teaching. Hoagy teaches private drumming lessons at West Music in Marion as well as group lessons at Johnson Elementary School.

“It’s wonderful for me when I can help someone else struggling with something difficult, to get them to the point where they get it,” Hoagy says. “I love the look on a student’s face when they finally understand and play it right for the first time.”

Whether playing a trap set, marimbas, timpanis, bongos or paint buckets, it’s hard for him to turn down any opportunity to perform. But there are only so many hours in the day.

“There are many factors that go into my joining a band: talent, professionalism and dare I say it – money,” he says. “I often get, ‘This is your hobby right?’ Well, it was in middle school. Now it’s my living.”

- Justin

WHAT HE CAN DO FOR YOU: Whatever your musical tastes, he will entertain you. Plus he can show you how to do it.
DID YOU KNOW: Ryan is in three bands, plays for Theatre Cedar Rapids and the Cedar Rapids Municipal Band and teaches. Whew!