Polaroid of Josh

Name: Joshua Schnable

Height: 6’ 3”

Eyecolor: Green with gold

Birthday/Sign: May 17, 1977 / Taurus

Instrument: Piano

1st Concert you attended: When I was a teenager, I saw the Smashing Pumpkins headline a show, but I think my first *real* rock concert was Eddie Money, with my whole family when I was a kid. You can thank me later for getting “Take Me Home Tonight” stuck in your head…

1st tape or CD purchase: First album I ever purchased on my own (that is, not getting it as a gift) was Prince’s “Diamonds and Pearls.”

Best concert(s) you ever attended: This local reggae band in when I was in college, Cry On Cue, put on several good shows - really got people stompin’. Imogen Heap with Kid Beyond, that was like a year ago in Detroit - amazing stuff with his beat-boxing alongside her songs. Seeing Luomo perform at a party during the Detroit Electronic Music Festival, at this bar with more subwoofers than the space required. Lastly, not really a concert, but seeing Jeff “The Wizard” Mills DJ on three turntables at a party (rave, whatever) outside of Kalamazoo in a cornfield in like, 96 or 97. His hands were a total blur the entire set.

Some favorite bands: Eric Clapton, Traffic, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Fleetwood Mac, Howard Jones, Radiohead, Dykehouse, Getaway Cruiser. Then there’s the electronic folks - Telefon Tel Aviv, The Album Leaf, all the early Detroit techno pioneers, Arovane, Boards of Canada, Massive Attack, Sutekh, The Streets, Speedy J, and Deadbeat.

What have you been listening to lately: The Blow, Burial, Milosh, Justice, that oddly-named Nine Inch Nails remix album. Party Ben mashups always wake me up a bit when the afternoons get sleepy.

What’s the best part about being in a band: Well, other than the fact that I have six terrific new friends now, I’d say getting out and playing live. On my own, I do a lot of work in electronic music, and live gigs are fewer and a lot more time consuming to prepare for. Being in a band and focusing on one instrument really eliminates that technical aspect.

Hardest part: There’s a lot of songs to learn, but just because it’s a challenge doesn’t mean it’s not fun.

Favorite Canasta moment: Right now, I’m going to say my first live show with them.

Favorite Color: Green.

Favorite Food: Maryland blue crabs with a cold beer.

Favorite Movie: I like action/adventure stuff. I know, it’s not deep at all. The newest Bond flick was tremendously fun.

Pet (current): Molly the dog. She’s a cross between a corgi and a cocker spaniel. She was in the “free” section on Craigslist!

Favorite Childhood vacation: An annual week on Lake Michigan (the SW Michigan side), building sandcastles and listening to the Cubs on the radio.

Favorite Weather: Spring and stormy. Tornado weather without the tornadoes.

If you could live somewhere other than Chicago, where would it be: Baltimore, MD

Favorite game: Soccer. Or badminton.

In Canasta, each member brings their unique strengths to the music. What do you bring to the band?: You see how that question is worded? You could totally read it like “so, other people bring their strengths to the band, what the heck are you doing here?”

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