By Amanda Dyslin
How to describe a Divers
performance ...
Well ... it’s fun, for starters. High-energy. Hilarious.
And that’s just between songs.
The music, itself, if you had to stick it in a category, it’s probably considered folk. But as Andy Overn of The Divers will tell you, there’s a lot more to it than that. There are elements of all kinds of musical flavors in this sundae, with heaps of comedy on top.
The band began 18 years ago with Pete Bloedel (vocals, mandolin, guitar, harmonica and megaphone) and Loren Halvorson (vocals, guitar, mandolin, melodica, fiddle and box of junk). And the current line-up, for the past 10 years, also includes Overn (vocals, drums and guitar) and Eric Halvorson (vocals, bass guitar and guitar).
They have released three albums: “The Divers,” “Water” and “Walkies in the Park.” And they can be seen playing gigs at Bethany Lutheran College, where Bloedel and Overn work, and Songs on the Lawn in the summer, among other places.
Here’s more about the band from Overn.
The Free Press: How would you describe your sound?
Andy Overn: This is the question we get most often, and it’s the one that’s hardest to answer. We usually say “folk” because it’s broad enough to describe what we do, and it’s easier than saying something like “acoustic-grunge-folk-rock-reggae-rap-jazz-easy-listening-adult contemporary.”
FP: Comedy seems to be a big part of your performance. The lighthearted bantering, is that all improvised?
AO: Some of our jokes are planned, and some have even been around since the beginning, but most of it is just what happens when the four of us get together.
We’ve found that the more time we spend driving together for a performance, the better the banter is on the other end because the conversation and jokes from the trip often end up in the show.
FP: What are your favorite tunes to play?
AO: I’m sure each of us has our own favorites. Luckily our set list is so varied that there’s usually something for each of us. As the token drummer, I love the variety, but I say the noisier the better. Also, I can play in nearly any key signature.
FP: Do you do any covers?
AO: Maybe 20 percent of our songs are covers. They’re usually chosen because they’re funny or nostalgic and likely to be popular with our audiences.
FP: Who writes the music, and where does the inspiration usually come from?
AO: Just about everyone has written something, but the majority of our original music comes from Pete. Most of the inspiration comes from personal experience and relationships, first with girlfriends, then wives and now children. Sometimes a good deal of inspiration can come from food. We all like a really good meal. Yum.
FP: What’s a really good night like on stage?
AO: A great concert happens when we’re relaxed and the songs and jokes flow easily from one to another without any awkward pauses or anyone sticking their foot in their mouth. We have lots of great stories about when things are said out loud that sounded much better in our heads. When that happens, we all try to act as if nothing’s happened and then we make a running joke out of it.
FP: Where’s your favorite place to play in Mankato and why?
AO: Martin Luther College is always great and Bethany Lutheran College is another yearly favorite of ours, as are Songs on the Lawn and the Rock Bend Folk Festival. It’s always great to receive an energetic audience reaction, and these are the places where that’s likely to happen for us.
FP: Are there any band rituals before you take the stage?
AO: We often start with a short prayer, usually ending with something like “God have mercy on our solos!”
FP: What would people be surprised to learn about the band?
AO: We do all our own choreography.
