This week takes us clear to the other corner of the country from Palm Beach County to Seattle. I have told many people that this years IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial in Colorado was without a doubt one of the most memorable experiences in my adult life. Part of the reason was the people I met while there this time. It could have been the Guinness that loosed me up to be more social or the thin mountain air...... either way I met some fine people and some incredibly talented players. At the top of the list has to be Clan Seattle I had spoken just briefly with Spencer via e-mail prior to my arrival there and he told me to find him at Quinn's. Fast forward a few days later when I ran into him and the rest in the lower level on Friday night. They played upstairs and down in the street and in the alley then upstairs and down again. When I had ranked them on another site I was surprised by the amount of press they were getting. They seemed to be everywhere, I mistakenly thought that they had been into Piping and Drumming for decades and you would to if you ever have the opportunity to see them in person. Spencer pointed me in the direction of Les for this weeks interview. I went with a e-mail interview this week instead of a phone interview because unknown to me I don't have long distance on the cell plan and e-mail is cheaper. SEATTLE FIREFIGHTERS PIPES AND DRUMS WEBSITE   HOOLIGAN: Your name and position? LES DAVIS: Les Davis- Piper SFPD IAFF -32 years Seattle Fire DepartmentMedic One-Senior Medic Clan Leslie Seattle Pipes and Drums are just over three years old yet you guys play like you have been together since grade school......How did you do it? Thanks for the kudos! We have that band mentality no different than most of striving for excellence by minimizing errors. Those goals obviously require practice, lots of practice. We were also lucky to have interesting mentor-ship, with the Scotts squared, that provided a wealth of knowledge beyond standard musical score and deportment. For an example, it was very common to go to weekly practice, and mostly hum or sing the “chunes” rather than blow on the chanters whilst the drummers tapped on the pads. Most important, the membership is pretty tight with great people that push and pull in the right directions. How long did it take from forming the band until you guys played your first public appearance? The founding and experienced three amigos, Pipe Major Spencer Nelson, Pipe Sergeant Luke Schultz and Drum Sergeant Lt. John Cameron along with outside agencies such as Tim Birr and his Tualatin Valley gang, and other local pipe band members were capable of hitting the ground running as the Seattle Firefighters Pipes and Drums soon after Spencer and Luke finished Drill Academy. Quickly, there was a presence, though small, at Memorials, Parades, Formal Department gatherings and Taverns. The immediate press reviews were amazing! Yep, if you looked in the western sky you could see the tornado starting to form. Like typical firefighters, we didn’t run away, we ran right at it as fast as we could. We trainees wanted to be band geeks. For the Hollywood version, the first all SFD member with a four and four deployment was right at a year. What was your first public appearance with the band? My “kilting” was at Qwest Field before a Seahawks game at the Annual “B” shift Tailgate Party. There was a barn load of amped Hawks fans and Firefighters in the vast parking lot that went nuts as soon as we struck up Green Hills / Battles O’er. We marched back and forth through the maze and haze of BBQ smoke and RV’s. How were the nerves prior to your first gig? Not bad, actually. Nothing compared to taking the minimum repertoire and deportment test for the evil Pipe Major the week before. I should mention, briefly, that my teat got stuck in the wringer at the “Hawks” game when I totally did a melt down and forgot the words to Minstrel Boy in front of my SFD kin. The band was disturbed. There, I told them. One of our latest kiltings is displayed on You Tube with one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Alcohol. Did I mention the tornado? How many members in the band? As I type we are in the ‘hood of around 20 with about 8 trainees. Do you take people with zero musical experience? Sure do, gotta pass the test though. Our current Drum Major, Matt Hartill, has a great teaching style and Trainees with the passion to learn will do just fine. Can someone take lessons with your band? That day may come as we grow and prosper, but currently our mission centers on bettering skills of the Performing Band Members, along with getting the Trainees up to code. Is the band strictly Seattle Fire Fighters or do you have civilians? SFD, you have to be. Does the band have a favorite song? Not really, but that full band strike-in on Amazing Grace never loses the grab! Differs from member to member, doesn’t it? I like our “Itchy”. How did you first raise money when you guys were starting out? I think those guys at 28’s started a meth lab. Seriously, the Union Local and the Administration helped huge, we donated our own dough along with the sales of shirts, patches and performances. How can the readers support your band (hats, shirts, patches for sale)?? Website. http://www.seattlepipesanddrums.com/ At gigs we usually have all the pogie bait, if the stock is up. Buy us a pint of Guinness, between sets. Any Advice to bands right now who are just starting? Need good leadership. Total immersion therapy. You have got to get the right tunes into your punkin’ so the fingers will do what’s expected. In the words of our local piping great, Jori Chisholm…” Keep your pressure steady and do whatever the Pipe Major tells you to do!” Was there a defining moment for your band, the moment you guys knew you were doing great things? My best is probably the nightly news video clip of the service for the Montlake Terrace, Wa. Police Officer LODD service a while back. The camera stayed trained on the Officer’s mother when we slow marched into the Church playing Minstrel Boy. Her facial expression pretty much cinched the deal why a Pipe and Drum band is worth all the effort. CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO What is the best answer for someone who asks "What's under the Kilt" Do you want a look? What Tartan do you guys wear? Fife District- Green for the Emerald City, Red for the FD, Black for Mourning Who looks better with the Seattle Bass Drum Raul or Hooligan? You are the Man. Raul is certainly a good looking drummer, but you? Wow!! The Kilting Tradition who came up with that one? Me thinks it was the previously mention compilation of the Three Amigos. Any other crazy band traditions? Nothing really “Crazy” Worth noting, on road trips, is the constant morning after clean up details locating band instruments and members. Talk about a bunch of “Soup Sandwiches”. How were you received by the rest of the fire department when you guys were forming? The Department has been nothing but supportive, aside of some banter as to the similar noises of beginner practice chanters and wounded wildlife. How does the Chief feel about the pipe band? Numbers 1 and 2, say they love us and have showed their affection openly in front of mixed company. I can’t really go into the specifics, but the bosses have been good to us. We, in turn will be good to them. Do you get time off to play at events or are you burning vacation? Both. If we are requested through the Department, there is a possibility the time off will be provided, otherwise it’s the standard of trades, merits, vaca or awol. PBC pays for the P& D Uniforms does Seattle open the pocketbook for you guys? They probably would, given the choice. We fund ourselves and side step political dramas and beholdings. This could make great lyrics for a Country Western Song. Do you guys have a favorite event to play? Alaska Days in Sitka Alaska is a total kick in the kilt for 4 days. The P-Bar absolutely Rocks. And the Springs, of course! What's is the most moving event you have ever played as a band? Colorado Springs has got to be in the mix for all the members of whom I am representing here. Any one reading this that hasn’t attended yet, need to shake a leg and make reservations now! What's is the most moving event you have ever played personally? Just before the Springs, I went and played bedside for my friend and neighbor, retired SFD Lt. Michel Graham L1 A Platoon. Stricken by fatal lung cancer, he wanted to know what I was going to sound like at his memorial service a few days later. I know from experience that you are sometimes called to play a funeral when you have a very personal attachment, how do you keep your emotions in check to pull off playing? One choice only, do your job. Do the emotional stuff later with your Pals at the bar, or family at home.Some mental health professionals would drop a brick, I am sure, at our routine emotional inventory. Did I mention Guinness and the tornado?? I know I did. Last time I saw some Seattle guys they were marching down Tejon at about 2:30 in the morning when did you guys lock it down that night? Saturday night? We didn’t. There is going to be a revision of Samuel L Jackson’s recent blockbuster retitled, “ Drunks On A Plane.” Is there a band you guys love to play with? The previously mentioned Tim Birr and the Tualatin Valley P&D, those southerners from Oregon are a bunch of talented folks. Is there a band you look up to or really enjoy listening to? We’ve all got tickets for the Keith Highlanders concert coming up. The Simon Fraser University up in BC are always amazing with the likes of Jack Lee and Jori, to which, if you get a chance to come to Seattle, come to the Masters of Scottish Arts concert at Benaroya Hall…WOW!! I know you guys have piped in the Murphy's how was that experience? I was grinding it out on Medic 10 downtown that night and drove by to see my fellow band lads just finishing up. Their fun meters were pegged. What's the biggest crowd you have played in front of? Warm up for Rod Stewart at Key Arena I think there were 3 million people there? Way scary. Who do you pick for next week’s Pipe Band of the Week? TimmmmmmmmmmmmBirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!! Anything else you want to add? Watch out for Tornado's, the vortex as it passes you by may leave you naked, high and dry. One Last Question, Do yo know what happened to my Scally Cap? I lost it in the Springs and as I recall there were some Seattle guys in the vicinity? I don't know diddly about your lid....I'll ask around.