a.ell design & atelier, Kapaa, Kauai, Hawaii

The best things happen by accident. On a First Saturday in Kapa’a, when what was supposed to be a big collaborative jam in front of a.ell atelier turned out to be a few, those few played together, musical magic happened, and a band was formed: The Big Swig.

I caught up with the four musicians to find out the backstory on the band that makes everything old new again.

Steven Meredith (washboard percussion and blues harp) has been in seven bands from here to Australia, and is the host of two radio shows on KKCR, Kaua’i Live and Deja Blues. He helped clarify what type of music they play:

“It’s Old Timey music. Music that was pre-genre; before blues or bluegrass. Traditional tunes.” They also play music from the early 1900’s, including Delta-influenced music, Blues, Rag Time, Barrelhouse music, and Western Swing. “It makes you want to move,” he said.

When asked what he enjoys about The Big Swig, he said: “we all share a mutual sense of direction. We love the same music and we have the same agenda…we have fun but we are really well-organized.”

Anni Caporuscio (vocals and kazoo) started playing trumpet when she was ten,  has been in Jazz bands, sang in choirs, and even was in a rock band where she sang in Japanese. She claims to “play many instruments poorly.” She said that the thing she loves best about the Big Swig is that they all laugh at the end of each song.

Amy Nelson’s (banjo) best friend told her for years that she should play the banjo. “I played guitar for years but it really wasn’t my thing,” she said. She finally got one, started taking lessons and got hooked. “I blame Matt Morelock for all this music madness!” she said, speaking of her music teacher. The old time music fits her perfectly. “I’ve always been drawn to old-fashioned things: music, clothes, furniture, diners on the side of the road.”

Angelique Ell (fiddle and guitar) started with clarinet and piano at a young age, then played guitar for years, and recently took up the fiddle, also with Matt. Angelique loves being part of the band because the creative camaraderie. “It’s the relationship-building between all of us, the music communication of listening to each other, and when we hit it, it’s such a high.”

For more information, shows, booking, and to contact The Big Swig visit our page at  Facebook.com/TheBigSwig