All about that bass for Wendell Pehlemann
Wendell Pehlemann is seen by those who don’t know him as a very quiet, almost shy guy in the band. The truth is, Pehlemann is much loved and appreciated by his friends and peers for his keen intellect, quick wit, dry sense of humour and his talent.
He was born in Sherbrooke, Quebec in 1966 and raised in Bury by his parents Bruce and Ruby. He currently resides in Lennoxville for a shorter commute to where he works as a draftsman at Propar Inc.
For the last 30 years or so, he has been very active on the local music scene and he has been part of Slightly Haggard for 20 years now. It is sometimes hard to pinpoint exactly when a taste turns into a passion. In his case it all started when he was very young, but here’s the story of how it all started.
“Allegedly I used to dance in my crib to the sound of Sam Hopper playin’ on the radio, so I’d guess my love of music started early. I had a great-grandfather who played the saw (yes, a saw) and step danced, otherwise I didn’t really come from a musical family. I enjoyed listening to my parent’s collection of LPS and 8-Tracks, mostly Country of course,” he said.
A simple idea sometimes turns into some kind of personal challenge and this is exactly what happened when he was a teenager. At that age, it is somehow exciting to make plans and dream but it is definitely a thrill to make it happen. And he did!
“A high-school buddy of mine had the idea to form a band, and he convinced me that I could learn to play the bass guitar. Hey, they only have four strings, right? So the bass chose me and I’ve been a devoted follower ever since,” said Pehlemann.
Little did he know that learning how to play bass would fill his life and weekends with a lot of action, and that things would go much further than he thought at the time!
“Our friend Sam Evans gave us the name Midnight Men, and a band was formed. We had fun for a few years, but shortly after high school we all went our separate ways,” he explained.
A few years later, Peter Mackey approached Pehlemann with the idea of forming another band, Mountain Dew. That’s how the young man got his start as a musician. “The rest is all Whiskey under the bridge,” he said.
Being a musician requires a fair amount of practice to hone their skills, learn new material and be in sync with the rest of the band. Like many of his peers he spent a lot of time at mastering his instrument.
“Practice? What’s that? I used to practice every chance I got, but my talent level plateaued years ago. Now I just rehearse a song a few days before it is needed, sometimes that works and sometimes it doesn’t. It’s a good thing that I’ve been blessed to play with a very forgiving bunch of guys, the Slightly Haggard band. Has it been 20 years already?” he replied jokingly.
Life sometimes gives us some unexpected pleasures or experiences confirming we’re on the right road and doing what we are meant to do. They come as little rewards leaving us with precious memories.
“I also had the opportunity to play for Johnny Reid in a band called Crossfire. Being involved in Johnny’s journey to who and what he’s become has been a truly memorable experience. My name is somewhere in the liner notes of John’s first CD, the whole recording experience memory I’ll cherish forever,” he stressed.
Pehlemann has many favorite artists and a very eclectic CD collection that ranges from the band America to Dwight Yoakam. He owns every CD Marty Stuart has ever made, all the Hanks, Corb Lund, Lyle Lovett, Haggard and Cash, and the list goes on. “Right now I can’t get enough of Larkin Poe. My influences are talented people and great songs,” he added.
This seasoned musician has a great understanding of what his role in a band is. He works very well in a variety of musical situations, when the bass has to fit nicely in the mix of instruments being played.
“Playing bass guitar puts me right in the middle of a song, like a bridge between the rhythm and melody. Locked in a groove with the drummer (thanks Chris Curtis) makes me feel like all is right with the world. I once read, “Bass, it’s what makes your girlfriend dance.”, and they do like to dance,” he said.
“Fortunately the Townships host many, many talented musicians, most of them are now good friends of mine due to our common love of music. It’s been said that if you do what you love you’ll never have to work, music is a lot like that. I want to keep playing and jammin’ with my friends, makin’ new acquaintances, and enjoying life.”
You can catch him and Slightly Haggard playing at the Burrough’s Falls dance hall for The Country Music Appreciation Jam on Saturday, Oct. 12 at 1 p.m.