Suzy Wedge Biography...
Conceived in the beginning days of 2009, Suzy Wedge & the Waves are a revolution being birthed as a reaction to social inequity. Power-house lead guitarist, Suzy Wedge is on a no-nonsense mission to confront society's conceptions of gender dynamics and roles by being unabashedly transgender and challenging others to be accepting of those who stray outside of conventional labels. Suzy Wedge & the Waves represent love and freedom for all people regardless of social standing, sexual orientation, or personal beliefs. Backed by bassist Dustin Schmauder and drummer Paul Carpenter, Suzy is a technical virtuoso surf guitarist inspired to create a new generation of instrumental surf rock. Musically, the Waves draw influence from all forms of music ranging from classic surf, to avant-jazz, to technical metal, and even post-rock, forming what suzy has called "Tech-Surf" or even "Gender Punk." Known for high-energy performance and incredibly danceable sound, Suzy Wedge & the Waves are becoming a force to be reckoned with. 
Paul Carpenter Biography... I began drumming at age 12 having gotten involved in a community Highland Pipes and Drums band. I was heavily involved in the local competition circuit and was taking lessons with a member of the Simon Fraser University Pipe Band, who have been competing internationally for years and were recognized as one of the most accomplished bands in the overall Pipe Band community. This training was essential in my formation as a performer, giving me a deep understanding of rhythm theory and providing a strong rudimental background for when I made the switch to the full drum kit. When I was around 17 or 18 I began to take more of an interest in playing rock and the like having found enough friends to comprise a standard band outfit; a singer, two guitarists, and bass player and myself. This was where I first actually started playing with Dustin. He was the bassist in that group, and it was actually how we met in the first place. We played an array of songs from the Pixies to the Misfits, and the Clash and such, albeit quite badly. But hell, everybody has to start somewhere. Not much really happened until about 2 years later when I joined a technical Death Metal band in Kelowna BC called Moonlit Burial. I focused on that project for the better part of 3 years. We recorded an album that is available for listening on our myspace page, and we played a smattering of shows around the Okanagan valley and in Vancouver. When that eventually caved due to various members moving on to other things I decided to go to school for music after having decided that more academic based post-secondary wasn’t right for me, so I moved to Nanaimo to attend Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University College) with a focus on Jazz. Dustin decided to join me and entered the classical program at the same school. This is where we met Suzy and formed the band. 
Surf was definitely pretty new to me as a player when we started jamming. I had a little listening background because Dustin and a mutual friend of ours listened to some groups like The Ghastly Ones and Satans Pilgrims among others, so I was able to pick up on the general style pretty easily. In the early days of the band we were playing strictly covers anyway so that was a great way to start getting that understanding of how surf songs are usually constructed and basic playing concepts for the drum parts. It wasn’t until Suzy began writing her own songs that I started to feel that my own background could comfortably inform my surf playing. I suppose my playing is in many ways shaped by my rudimental background as well as my time playing complex metal. I’ve certainly scaled back in my playing in terms of difficulty and complexity opting for a more groove oriented approach, providing a solid basis with the odd fit of 16th notes and many, many crash accents. I’ve never made a concentrated effort to take any specific influence from any one drummer, but those that I have a great deal of respect for include: Martin Lopez (formerly of Opeth), Jon Theodore (formerly of The Mars Volta), Blake Richardson (Between the Buried and Me), Bill Bruford (Yes, King Crimson), Nick Mason (Pink Floyd), John Bonham (really who doesn’t cite this guy, seriously), John McEntire (Tortoise), and as for specific influences on my surf style I look to Scott Churilla of The Reverend Horton Heat. My actual listening ranges from 70’s prog to technical metal, to indie pop, to post rock, etc. I like having a wide range of musical influence, and I’m glad that within the band we have such a massive scope of the music around us, as I feel it allows us a be grounded within one style while bringing divergent backgrounds together to allow for something a little different. I can only imagine that in subsequent albums and future endeavours we’ll be able to truly push ourselves and play surf music that has been allowed to grow well beyond traditional surf. The gear I use (for any like minded drum geeks) is as such: Gretsch Catalina Birch kit with a Black Panther Deep Forest cherry wood (14x5), as well as Sabian cymbals: 20" Artisan medium ride, 16" prototype crash that is similar to Virgil Donati’s saturation crashes, a 15" HHXplosion crash, and 14" Paragon Hi Hats. I also use Gibraltar Hardware and DW 9000 double kick pedal. 
Dustin Schmauder Biography... Born November 22nd 1987, on the cusp of Sagittarius and Scorpio. Rocked out to Rod Stewart at 2. Began bastardizing Bartok at 6. Fell in love with the guitar at 13. Fell in love with the bass at 14. Fell in love with nylon at 15. Started playing with Suzy at 20. Enjoying beer, music and love at 21.
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Article in Nanaimo News Bulletin
Suzy Wedge and the Waves
http://www.myspace.com/suzywedgeandthewaves
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