Hump Day 10: About Russ

A’ight peeps, here we go.  Some of these are based on questions I get from FE fans, others may just be random junk I’m putting out there.  Either way, this is my 10:

1. I’m a graphic designer. I do all of the graphic design for FE.  Album covers, posters, t shirts, etc.  I love it.  In fact, I run my own free lance design business on the side and do all kinds of free lance design work, my favorite being music-related design (album covers, etc.).  I’ve always loved art and have enjoyed doing it.  It was difficult for me to even decide which to pursue in college/career, so being in a band where I can not only use my music but use my art is a really special thing for me.  In FE I feel like I’m firing on all cylinders.
2. Speaking of college, I’ve studied at 3 different colleges and have yet to earn a degree.  I started at the University of Memphis studying jazz, then transferred to Greenville College where I studied music performance (where I eventually met my wife and the FE guys).  I left school to hit the road with LP Outsiders for 5 years.  After my run with those guys I did a short stint at St. Louis Community College to take some design, art and photography classes.
3. So yeah, I toured with STL-based jazz/hip-hop/funk band LP Outsiders for 5 years.  It was an amazing band and an amazing experience.  I get asked about it a lot, especially in the St. Louis area.  We did a lot of great things, wrote a lot of great songs, played with a lot of great bands, and I still keep in touch with the other members.  If you’ve been to an FE show in STL chances are you’ve seen a former LPO member hop up on stage and sit in on a song or two, and fellow front-man Chris “Luppy” Swan busted a rhyme for us on the last record on “Don’t Say.” I’ve even had a few people come up after a show and say the minute I started singing they recognized my voice from LPO.  That’s pretty cool.
4. I play trumpet. I wish I did it more.  I used to be pretty darn good.  I’m sort of playing catch up now.  Sort of.  But yeah, I started in 7th grade and I was a total band nerd in through high school, rockin’ out in one of the top jazz bands (and marching/concert bands) in the state of Arkansas, which is what landed me my music scholarship to U. of Memphis.  I enjoy incorporating it in FE’s music whenever I get the chance.
5. I love Guatemala. My son, Eliot is from the city of Mixco, Guatemala.  I’ve visited the country a ton of times, mostly in connection with his adoption.  Because of our strong ties there my family has had the opportunity to lead 3 mission trips to Guate over the past 2 years, and we always look forward to the next visit.  We often threaten that we’ll just move there someday.  It’s a beautiful place and culture full of some of the greatest people you’ll ever meet.  Amazing food and coffee, too!
6. I’ve been married for 11 years. Nope, that’s not a typo.  Katie and I got married at age 21.  It’s been an insanely amazing experience.  My wife, Katie loves FE and has been an amazing support system to me and the guys.  We all have pretty amazing wives and kids.  It takes special people to tag along in this business.  Yup, and I just gave it away… I’m in my freakin’ 30’s.  Of course, you didn’t know that because I’m still so hip.
7. I love sports. And I’m a totally fantasy sports nerd.  In fact, the only reason I’m writing this right now is because both my baseball leagues just wrapped up and I still have a couple days to set my football lineup.  I not only love to watch, I love to play.  I did lots of time playing baseball, basketball, and football growing up.  I love to be outdoors and I love to compete.  I love the Arkansas Razorbacks and I’m a huge Cubs fan.  But let’s not talk about that right now.
8. I make the best fried chicken on the planet. To be fair, I cook a lot of mean food, but you haven’t lived until you’ve had my fried chicken and mashed potatoes.  I usually don’t brag about stuff, but I definitely brag about my chicken.  Recipe?  Forget about it, I don’t follow one.  It’s in my heart :)
9. People often ask me how I got started singing. Well, I grew up in a family of music lovers, so I’ve been singing along with records and in the shower all my life.  As far as singing in front of people goes, I definitely got my start the same way a ton of singers have: singing at church.  In fact, I still do church music at City Church, which meets in the Soulard neighborhood in St. Louis.  Whenever I’m not on the road you’ll find me playing guitar and singing there on Sunday mornings.  I help lead the band, arrange the music and also do the church’s graphic design projects.
10. FE Favorites: Favorite place to play: I definitely love to play my hometown of Little Rock, AR the most.  I love getting to show my band off for friends and family back home, and our steady gig in town is at Sticky Fingerz, a place that’s become a second home to FE.  Great venue, great people and great food.  I really have enjoyed playing Norman, OK and Boulder, CO as well.  Favorite FE song: right now I’d have to go with “Sometimes,” which will be on our next record.  We’ve been performing it for a few months now and it seems to be a fan favorite, too.  Favorite FE memory: definitely the entire month of March, 2007.  We did a couple of extended road trips that provided some of our most memorable gigs and laughs.  We grabbed a lot of video footage from that month and whenever I go back and watch them I laugh until I cry.  A lot of inside jokes came from those crazy trips and we still quote the video like it was Talledegah Nights.