Dinner With Greg

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Page contents

1 History
2 Members
3 Discography
4 Related Web sites
5 Related groups

History

Dinner With Gregg was the earliest real project for songwriter Josh Scott, with drummer Brian Moen, bassist Kevin Randleman and guitarist Christopher Porterfield. Beginning in Rochester, MN, in 1999, they moved to Eau Claire, WI, in 2000, where they ended in 2003. What stands out about the band is how seriously they took themselves, and how that attitude forced them to quickly dismiss everything they'd previously done. Scott's prolific songwriting-- there was a catalogue of over 80 songs by the end-- forced the group to constantly grapple with how to best interpret new material. New influences were seeping in, and not everyone had the reference points to keep up. The band found kindred disparate/desperate sprits in the DeYarmond Edison Quartet, also old friends trying to get passed the ghosts of old projects. Several shows together hinted at realigning personnel, and this ultimately led to the demise of the band, and the birth of Amateur Love, with Scott and drummer Brian Moen enlisting Brad and Phil Cook.

There would be a reunion show in 2005 that not many people cared about.

Dinner With Gregg was a growing up period for all involved. By the end, they were a tight bar band with good writing. They opened for (and got hammered with) Ike Reilly; they played a show as Throbbing Cock and the Balls; they made good friends and connections, and had fun. Since the end of the band, Scott and Moen turnedd heads and broke hearts with Amateur Love. Moen has played in Digitata, Land of Talk, Laarks and other notable bands. Scott continues to write songs, and has relocated to Chicago. Porterfield writes and performs under the name Conrad Plymouth, and fronts a band called Bookhouse in Milwaukee.

The following was from an early bio, and is notably devoid of real reference points, but displays the band's need to separate itself from earlier work. This would continue to the end.

" Dinner with Gregg combines the styles of classic artists such as Neil Young and Tom Petty with the rock sounds of bands like Counting Crows, U2, and Pearl Jam. The result is a unique brand of modern folk rock with a hint of country. After less than four months of playing together, Dinner with Gregg was offered a chance to record with Last Minute Records. The collection of recordings, titled "Among These Dwellings," is a representation of the band in the early stages. They continue to develop their sound and six months later spent a weekend recording a second time, releasing a collection called"Solitaire on Red Carpet" exclusively in a digital format over the internet. One of the tracks, Leave It Be, was featured on a local music compilation promoting bands and Last Minute Records while raising money for charity. Dinner with Gregg has finished the first recording in which they feel their sound has been fully developed, entitled "A Song is Round." The band feels that this is really their first representative full-length record. Songwriter Joshua Scott, along with Christopher Porterfield, Kevin Randleman, and Brian Moen, incorporates some repeated lyrical references and musical ideology throughout the record that tie it together into an experience more than a collection of songs. Their energy and attention to dynamics are very present throughout the album and even more so in their live shows. These elements together represent what Dinner with Gregg has deemed 'passion rock,' giving them a certain uniqueness and expression that expands the boundaries of rock and roll."
Broke up sometime in 2003?

Members

Joshua Scott (vocals, guitars, mouthharp)

Christopher Porterfield (guitars, lap steel, vocals)

Kevin Randleman (electric and acoustic bass)

Brian Moen (drumkit, percussion, vocals)

Michael Contezac III (keybaords, guitars) live support only - post Song Is Round

Discography

Among these Dwellings CD (2000) Last Minute Records LMR007
Solitaire on Red Carpet (2000) Last Minute Records Online only release.
A Song is Round CD (2001) Last Minute Records LMR010