Meet Mr. Schmiggity
Local musician Pat Waters is the man about town when it comes to music, playing in no less than seven different bands and almost as many instruments. He’s also the force behind live music venue Schmiggity’s, playing, booking acts, and even getting patrons to jam with him and sing along. We caught up with him to see what makes his drumsticks click:
S&C: Where’d you get your musical chops?
Waters: I joined the drum section of my school band as well as choir at Southeast Junior High in Iowa City in 7th grade. Then I formed my first rock band when I was in 10th grade and played with them throughout high school. My first “serious” band was in 1990 in Ithaca, New York, at Cornell University. The band was called Blindman’s Holiday and got extensive airplay in the Northeast and had the honor of playing opening slots for bands such as Widespread Panic, The Wailers, and The Band to name a few. After that I became a hopeless addict of playing live music for the rest of my life. I’ve been playing in bands ever since.
S&C: When did you move to Steamboat?
Waters: I moved here in 2007 with my ex-wife and two small children. My parents had a couple of different condos here since the 1990s, so I had been visiting for many years. I worked from home doing internet application development, so the decision to move here seemed like a no-brainer.
S&C: How many bands are you in?
Waters: Seven. In order of formation or joining, first was The Worried Men. Although they usually play with Ron Wheeler these days, I still play with them occasionally, so I’m counting them. The others are Wish You Were Pink, Speak of the Devil, Constant Change, Chamberlin Birch (when they do full band shows), The Bella Band, and Heads All Empty.
S&C: Do you have a favorite?
Waters: That’s tough because I enjoy playing with all of them in different ways. I suppose if I had to pick a “favorite”, it’s probably Wish You Were Pink because I get to do so many different things in that band: singing, drums, playing guitar, and running sound effects. And I still love Pink Floyd after all these years. Heads All Empty is also a lot of fun because of the double-drummer situation and their depth of talented musicians and vocalists.
S&C: What’s your favorite instrument?
Waters: Singing. If that doesn’t count as an “instrument,” I’d pick drums.
S&C: What would you say you’re best at?
Waters: Singing and drums.
S&C: How easy is it to switch genres so quickly – like go from Dead to metal to Floyd?
Waters: I love all of the genres I play, so it’s not hard to switch. But metal is the most difficult vocally and physically.
S&C: What’s your take on Steamboat’s music scene?
Waters: For a town our size, I think it’s great. I feel fortunate to be in a position to have an impact on the local music scene – as both a performer and a promoter.
S&C: How fun are those play-along-with-Pat nights you host at Schmiggity’s?
Waters: Both our “live band karaoke” and “guitar bar” nights are super fun. Guitar bar is particularly fun when we have a room full of people singing at the top of their lungs. It’s a pretty unique feeling to be in the middle of that. It can get pretty rowdy.
