By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
Looking for entertainment for a special event? Tired of the stereotypical rock bands and country crooners? Doubletap will have you doing a double-take with its soulful blend of blues and rock, suitable for any occasion.
Contributed photo
Doubletap, a local blues/rock band, based in Houlton, will help get any party started, be it a wedding, birthday bash or class reunion. Band members include from left: Jon “Jonny B” McQuarrie, who plays guitar and provides vocals; Troy “McD” McDougal on drums/vocals; and Dan “The Man” Hitchcock on bass.
“Founded in March 2010, initially Doubletap was going to be a very informal project – just a base group of musicians that would jam some blues for the Houlton Coffeehouse at the Unitarian Church. However, once the project got going, the number of jam sessions increased dramatically to a couple times a week. We had some personnel changes and shifts over the next few months, which has resulted in the rock-steady lineup we now have,” said Jon “Jonny B” McQuarrie, who plays guitar and provides vocals for the Houlton-based band, which also consists of Troy “McD” McDougal on drums/vocals and Dan “The Man” Hitchcock on bass.
The trio brings years of experience to the stage.
“Troy is from Fort Fairfield and has played in bands spanning numerous genres, from jazz to country to classic and contemporary rock. Troy is a very technical and expressive drummer who provides the solid backbone for everything we play,” noted McQuarrie.
McDougal brings 25 years of musical experience to every performance.
“Dan is from southern Maine and has spent most of his bass playing in some of the most hard-core metal bands Portland has seen. He brings that metal edge with him, which really rounds out the sound we’ve been looking for,” said McQuarrie.
Hitchcock’s 15 years of playing bass for various bands makes him well-equipped for the blend of blues and rock Doubletap serves up with each performance.
McQuarrie, a native of Houlton, is also no stranger to performing, having devoted over 20 years to entertaining others.
“I’ve been playing the blues and rock up and down the Eastern Seaboard for the past two decades and have jammed with some relatively famous blues guys on Beale Street (in Memphis). Blues has always influenced my rock, now rock influences my blues,” he said.
McQuarrie said Doubletap doesn’t offer a typical blues performance but rather serves up a delectable blend that will have toes tapping and bodies swaying.
“This ain’t your gramma’s blues band. Doubletap combines a broad spectrum of blues and blues-influenced rock in a very special and secret recipe, with 12 herbs and spices, to create a unique evening of high-energy booty-shaking fun,” said McQuarrie.
McQuarrie said the band’s vision is to “bring blues into a more modern light, much like Cream’s explorations in the ‘60s, to make this ‘obscure’ music more attractive to some of the younger generations, all while keeping this recognizable to the fans of the early blues guys.”
“We engage in exploring the evolution of the blues to rock, all while staying true to our own edgy, raw sound,” McQuarrie continued.
The band is available to entertain at any type of gathering.
“When it comes to gigs, we’ll perform at just about anything; but we do prefer playing outside at non-traditional venues: fairs, street parties/dances, etc. We’ve played at a number of private parties as well, both inside and out,” he said.
Doubletap performs throughout Aroostook County and beyond.
“We’re happy to cover pretty much all of Aroostook – maybe a trip to Bangor once in a while,” McQuarrie said.
Doubletap will begin its performance season with a fundraiser in Littleton.
“We’re kicking off the 2011 season by playing the ‘Moose Mojo’ Dance to benefit Project Graduation at the Rambler’s Snowmobile Club in Littleton on Saturday, Feb. 19, from 8 p.m. to midnight. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the band goes on at 9 p.m.,” said McQuarrie.
For more information on the fundraiser, contact Kent Wotton at 400-7518.
McQuarrie said the band is looking forward to another fun-filled year.
“While we don’t have anything else yet on the books, there are a lot of things ‘in the works’ that will ensure a busy summer for us, as well as the opportunity to play with some of the other great local bands,” said McQuarrie.
For more information on Doubletap, e-mail info@doubletapblues.com or visit http://doubletapblues.com.
“Or you can find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/doubletapblues or MySpace at www.myspace.com/doubletapblues,” said McQuarrie.
