Nick Dittmeier and the Sawdusters return The band hits the region in support of 'All Damn Day'
Nick Dittmeier and the Sawdusters return to southern Illinois Nov. 16.
The Bloomington-based Americana band will be playing at John Brown's on the Square in Marion at 9 p.m. in front of their new record, "All Damn Day." The band is made up of Nick Dittmeier (vocals, guitar), JP Payton (guitar), Bob Rutherford (bass) and Mark Wayne Minnick (drums). The most recent arrangement of The Sawdusters has been playing together for two years. The Times spoke with Dittmeier about his path to country guitar and the band's new album.
"I started playing guitar when I was 12," he said. "I really wanted to play radio rock that was on at the time. Soundgarden, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, stuff that was on the radio in the mid-'90s."
After performing with multiple groups and different projects early in his career, he decided to take charge of his musical path.
"When I was 21, I was trying to be in control of a project where I could kinda be the feed for it, then get people around me," he said. "I started writing songs, and I could be in control of it that way."
Now with the perfect line-up of musicians, Nick Dittmeier and the Sawdusters has a brand new album titled, "All Damn Day." The record ranges from acoustic songs that have a more traditional feel, like "Two Faded Carnations" and "Trouble Song," to electric tunes that don't hesitate from loud guitars and punchy grooves such as "I Can't Go Home" and "All Damn Day." The album includes unique layers of slide, pedal steel and baritone guitars that color the record nicely with diverse instrumentation.
The band is no stranger to the southern Illinois region. They have played shows at PK's, Tres Hombres, Brews Brothers Taproom in Murphysboro and, of course, John Brown's on the Square.
• Nick Dittmeier and the Sawdusters will play at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at John Brown's on the Square in Marion. There is no cover charge.</group><group id="41B5B5CB-5389-4C