the 2012 Helena Handbasket Press and Promotion Packet!

BAND PRESS AND PROMOTION PACKET 2012
CHRISTOPHER HANSON – BAND MANAGER
(701) 306-7567
CHRISTOPHER@DANOANDCHRIS.COM
WWW.HELENAHANDBASKET.NET
ABOUT HELENA HANDBASKET
HELENA HANDBASKET BRINGS A NEW SOUND , AN ENERGIZED SHOW, AND AN
INCREDIBLE WEALTH OF MUSICAL EXPERIENCE AND VARIETY TO THE FARGOMOORHEAD AREA UNLIKE ANYTHING YOU’VE EVER SEEN OR HEARD…
HELENA HANDBASKET brings a unique group of musicians together coming from varying and differing musical backgrounds that combine
into something musically special – the edgy sound of HELENA HANDBASKET. The band boasts an experienced rhythm section that lays
down a groove and foundation that is second to none. They are augmented by the fierce sound of the HELENA HANDBASKET horns, a
four-piece wind section that provides punctuation and energy to every song. The band is led by seasoned professional and vocal sensation BILL
DABLOW, the local legend who personally pulls his audiences into the show and keeps them there all night long.
BOTTOM LINE - HELENA HANDBASKET PUTS ON A SHOW THAT CROWDS DON’T FORGET!
What makes HELENA HANDBASKET different from other ensembles and horn bands is the UNIQUE MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS as
crafted by lead arrangers, CHRISTOPHER HANSON AND EDDIE SCHWIND. Many of the selections performed by HELENA
HANDBASKET are well-known favorites that every crowd loves, but dressed in a whole new wardrobe. Utilizing the HELENA
HANDBASKET HORNS, THE TRIO OF EXPERIENCED RHYTHM PLAYERS AND THE BOOMING VOCALS AND STAGE DIRECTION
OF BILL DABLOW, songs are transformed into epic amounts of energy that will get the audience on the dance floor and keep them there all
night long.
EXPERIENCE HELENA HANDBASKET – A BRAND NEW SOUND FOR FARGO-MOORHEAD!
RUSSELL PFAFF- DRUMS
BILL DABLOW - LEAD VOCALS
Helena Handbasket welcomed Bill Dablow, a veteran of the
Fargo-Moorhead music scene to the band in September of
2011. Bill brings a wealth of musical knowledge along with his
infectious energy and mastery of the stage to the show. His
experience includes decades of successful shows with Billy D
and the Crystals, Tripp 40 and the Fat Daddy’s. Bill also enjoys
acting having appeared in numerous motion pictures and
theatre presentations in the Red River Valley Area. Bill works
full-time for KBMW in Wahpeton as the General Manager and
co-hosts the popular morning show Double D’s in the Morning.
THE RHYTHM
SECTION OF
HELENA
HANDBASKET
CHRISTOPHER HANSON - BASS, VOCALS, ARRANGER
Christopher Hanson, one of the charter members of Patents Pending
which would evolve into today’s version of Helena Handbasket, has over
ten years of extensive experience in the FM music scene performing a
variety of styles of music in various bands. He has performed as a jazz
trombonist with the FM Jazz Arts Group, the FM Kicks Band, the Jazz
Inc. Big Band and the Imperial Big Band in addition to work with his own
combo, the Christopher Hanson Jazz Quintet. As a bass player and
vocalist, he has performed with Tripp 40 and the Fat Daddy’s. He is also
a member of the 188th Army Band where he performs as a bass and
trombone player in the concert, marching and jazz bands and serves as
the director of the popular rock band Blues in Green.
Russell Pfaff was an original member of the original version of
the band, Patents Pending, and has remained a member since
the band concept was born in 2001 contributing to the
evolution of the group to the current day offering of Helena
Handbasket. Russ has been a very visible performer in the
Fargo-Moorhead area since moving to town in 2001 to attend
school at NDSU. He has performed in various style genres
from the local jazz scene as a combo and big band drummer to
a diverse wealth of bands to include Beat Down, Doctor
Hodgepodge and the B-Side Bastards. He is also involved in
the local scene as a sound and light technician and is
experimenting with music engineering and mixing. He resides
in Barnesville.
JOSH MAYNARD - LEAD GUITAR, VOCALS
Josh Maynard began playing in bands in
his hometown in South Dakota. Upon
arriving in Fargo for college, he was in
search of other opportunities to play and
found one when he joined Doctor
Hodgepodge, a local original jam band,
in 2003. In 2006, he would join another
local jam band, Jedeye Mindfunk. The
band would have the opportunity to play
at 10K Lakes Festival. He joined Patents
Pending that same year. Josh would
broaden his musical tastes in 2007 with
Beat Down, a progressive funk fusion band. Josh continues today
to play with the former PP members, now Helena Handbasket.
MIKE SAUNDERS
TROMBONE, GUITAR, VOCALS
DEANN FYLLING
SAXOPHONE, VOCALS, GUITAR
DeAnn Fylling, originally of Minot, performs as a saxophonist,
guitarist, and vocalist in Helena Handbasket. She joined the
band in 2009 having been a colleague of Christopher’s in the
National Guard. DeAnn, who resides in Bismarck, is an
educated Music Teacher in both vocal and instrumental music
having attended Jamestown College. While she performs
primarily as a saxophone player in the band, she adds her vocal
talents as well as her ability to play guitar to boost the amazing
variety Helena Handbasket provides in their shows.
THE HORN LINE
OF HELENA
HANDBASKET
EDDIE SCHWIND- SAXOPHONE, VOCALS, ARRANGER
Eddie Schwind functions in Helena Handbasket as a saxophonist, vocalist, horn
arranger, and horn line leader. His experience includes six years in the US Marine
Corps Band system where he honed his skills as a strong saxophone soloist and a
dependable and trusted composer and arranger. Since leaving the Corps in 2001,
Eddie has become a visible performer in the Fargo-Moorhead area. In addition to his
work in Helena Handbasket, Eddie has performed with the FM Jazz Arts Group, the
Eddie Schwind Jazz Quintet, Beat Down, and the FM Kicks Band and has appeared on
stage with PTFS, Groove Union, Friktion, and countless other local bands and
ensembles. In addition to being a musician, Eddie is also a talented Sound Technician
providing sound for not only HH, but for many other bands and events in the FargoMoorhead area.
Mike Saunders has been actively playing trombone for over
twenty years in various bands and ensembles in both Minot
and Fargo, North Dakota. An educated classical and jazz
trombonist, Mike joined Helena Handbasket in 2009 when a
new job gave him a new home in Fargo. Mike also brought his
guitar playing skills to the band giving the group even more
versatility to perform a wider variety of music. During the day,
Mike works in the Network Security and IT field.
JAMES LANDMAN – TRUMPET, VOCALS
James Landman
joined Helena
Handbasket in 2010
after an extended
substitute stint in
2009. James, a
native of Fargo,
provides an incredible amount of energy with his
strong lead chops on the trumpet gained through his
education in music which he received at NDSU. Aside
from his work with Helena Handbasket, James
continues to perform with ensembles in the Red River
Valley area in addition to his full-time job as a Music
Teacher at Red River High School in Grand Forks.
LIGHTS
LIGHTS
MONITOR
AMP
JOSH
RUSS
DRUMS
GUITAR
MIC
MONITOR
JAMES
MIKE
TRUMPET
BONE
MONITOR
MIC
MIC
AMP
CHRIS
BILL
BASS
VOCALS
MIC
LIGHTS
MAINS
& SUBS
MIC
EDDIE
DEANN
SAX
SAX
MONITOR
MIC
MIC
SOUND SYSTEM INFORMATION (EDDIE SCHWIND/DAN FELDE)
SPEAKERS – Mains – 2 JBL MRX 525’s (Dual 15” woofer plus horn), Subs – 4 18” Subwoofers
POWER – 12,000 Watts – QSC PLX Power Amplifiers
MIXER – Allen and Heath JL2400 (24 Channel)
MICROPHONES – 4 Wireless Shure SLX BETA98 Horn Microphones, 6 Sennheiser e835 Handheld
Microphones, 3 Shure BETA87 Handheld Microphones, 5 Shure 57 Microphones, BETA 52, BETA 57
and BETA 98 Drum Microphone System
FRONT OF HOUSE – DBX 1231 Equalizer, Yamaha REV100 Reverb, Lexicon MPX500 Effects,
PreSonus ACP88 8-Channell Compressor/Limiter/Gate, Alesis HD24 Digital Recorder, 100-foot Snake
LIGHTS
MAINS
& SUBS
LIGHT SYSTEM INFORMATION (RUSS PFAFF/CHRISTOPHER HANSON)
The lighting package for Helena Handbasket consists of: 8x PAR64 LED cans for backlighting, 4x Blizzard Puck RGBA
LEDs for front lighting, 2x Chauvet Kinta X LEDs for effects, Elation DMX Operator192 for control. All LED lighting
means hardly any current draw, minimal stage heat and a more dynamic show in a small space.
SONG LIST
25 or 6 to 4
99 Red Balloons
Ain't No Sunshine
All the Small Things
Beer
Beverly Hills
Billionaire
Blister in the Sun
Brickhouse
Brown Eyed Girl
Bust a Move
But Anyway
Centerfold
Chicken Fried
Come on Eileen
Copperhead Road
Crazy Love
Dancing with Myself
Faith
Feelin' Good
Fishin' in the Dark
Folsom Prison Blues
Friends in Low Places
Listed below are the current songs Helena Handbasket is
programming on their performances. All songs are
expertly tailored and arranged for the eight-piece band
giving each tune a brand new identity and sound that only
HELENA HANDBASKET can provide. New songs are
being added monthly, inquire about new songs and set lists.
Get Back/Twist and Shout
Gimme Some Lovin'
Hard to Handle
Hey Soul Sister
Hotel California
I Got You (I Feel Good)
I Will Survive
I'm Yours
Is She Really Going Out with Him?
Keep Your Hands to Yourself
Kiss Me Deadly
Long Train Runnin'
Low Rider
Margaritaville
Mustang Sally
Old Time Rock n' Roll
Pick Up the Pieces
Play that Funky Music
Ring of Fire
Santeria
Saturday in the Park
Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy
Sell Out
She Has a Girlfriend Now
Shook Me All Night Long
Stand By Me
Sugar We're Going Down Swinging
Summer of 69
Superstition
Sweet Caroline
Sweet Home Alabama
Sweet Home Chicago
Take it Easy
Take on Me
The Chicken
The Final Countdown
The Middle
The Setup (You Need This)
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Trudy
Use Somebody
Vehicle
What I Got
Wonderful Tonight
Yellow Moon
Your Guts
CREDITS
CHRISTOPHER HANSON – PACKET
RUFF PFAFF – DEMO, BAND LOGO
MATTHEW TOMPKINS – PHOTOS
KATE NAUJOKAS – PINUP LOGO
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK THE BAND, CONTACT:
CHRISTOPHER HANSON – (701) 306-7567
CHRISTOPHER@DANOANDCHRIS.COM
WWW.HELENAHANDBASKET.NET