Sally Rod dives into Beck’s Song Reader Songbook

(a portion of this piece was published by Planet JH Weekly)Driggs-based multi-instrumentalist David Bundy has been a go-to band member in a lot of Teton County bands over the years—bassist for Chanman Roots Band and Calle Mambo, drummer for his own defunct rock trio Johnny Wailin’, and a solid addition for the oh-so-common fill-in gigs. Now, Bundy is stepping to the front of stage with an electric guitar and his under-utilized voice in an interesting new project, Sally Rod.“It’s easier for me to play guitar and sing rather than play bass and sing,” explained Bundy, whose slight rasp brings to mind Cake’s John McCrea. “I’ve sang harmonies before and had one lead vocal song here and there, but I’ve really been working more on my voice for Sally Rod.”Along with his talented wife Rachel Gray Bundy on trumpet, Sally Rod includes Greg Creamer on bass, drummer Steve Johannes and former Johnny Wailin’ guitarist Bradley Matthews. The unprecedented and ambitious purpose of Sally Rod is a repertoire based on the Song Reader Songbook by Beck. In 2012, Beck released the sheet music for the masses to purchase and make a go of the music any way they see fit. Beck did not record the songs, so there is no reference point beyond the sheet music itself. “Sally Rod” is referenced as a Billy stick in one of the Songbook tunes, “Leave Your Razor at the Door,” and according to Urban Dictionary also means “a long stick used to whip a women with a ‘hot ass,’ typically conducted through an open car window while the car is in motion.“I’m not huge Beck fan and have never owned much of his music, but my brother is a fan and heard about the Songbook, which he gave to me for Christmas two years ago,” Bundy said. “I’ve been working on putting this project together for the better part of those two years. I’m not a proficient writer, but I did write some parts to the unfinished parts of the Songbook where there were lyrics without chords or vice versa, and chord arrangements were added for solos. We recorded ten songs at Creamer’s studio and will be putting the final touches on those real soon.”This will be Sally Rod’s first official show. To check out their sound, visit ReverbNation.com/SallyRod. Sally Rod, 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday in the Trap Bar at Grand Targhee Resort. Rock. GrandTarghee.com.