Weekend brings much Suchy to see
By ALYSSA SCHAFER
For the Bismarck Tribune

SOUTH OF MANDAN - It doesn't look like much. Just another white-washed old building along Highway 6.

At second glance, perhaps it's notable for the large, enigmatic letters - ZCBJ - that arch over its doorway. They stand for "Zapadni Ceska Bratrska Jednota."

Translated, that's the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association.

Built nearly 100 years ago, the Bohemian Hall was once a lively gathering place for Czech-Bohemian immigrants. Over time, however, the lights that used to burn into the night at WBFA Lodge 147 dimmed.

Still, a bit of the hall's convivial spirit lives on.

On Saturday, the hall will once again be a social center. Local musician Chuck Suchy and his family will host their fourth annual Bohemian Hall concert at 7:30 p.m.

This year's concert is even more special. Suchy's daughter, Andra, is coming home from Minneapolis.

She'll be the main feature, Suchy said.

Andra Suchy has just finished "Patchwork Story," her first solo album, which will be released Aug. 18 at Mayslack's in Minneapolis.

The album's title refers to the diverse themes of its songs, which were written over a four-year span, Andra Suchy said. These days she describes her style as a blend of roots rock, pop and Americana.

In addition to her upcoming solo album, Suchy continues to perform with various bands in various venues. Her current credits include The Andra Suchy Band, Hookers & Blow, the Dollys, Billy Johnson's Roadshow and The Honeydogs.

The two-time Minnesota Music Academy Female Vocalist of the Year nominee said she has always been ambitious.

"Looking back, I think I just jumped in head-first and went for it," Suchy said. "I have had to ... find my way around some obstacles, but everyone does in whatever path they choose. I just keep working as hard as I can."

She's bringing to Mandan a couple of bandmates, including Andrew "A.P." Pierzina, her boyfriend and the producer and guitar player for "Patchwork Story." Pierzina performs and travels with Suchy quite often, she said.

They make it to the Suchy farm, which isn't far from the Bohemian Hall, about four times a year - sometimes just visiting, sometimes playing. This will be Andra Suchy's first Bohemian Hall concert and she's excited about it, she said.

She's not alone. Chuck Suchy said the concert is now a locally anticipated event. He and son Ben Suchy performed at the first three, and Peter Ostroushko, a well-known producer and mandolin player from Minneapolis, joined them last year.

"We keep doing it because people want it," Chuck Suchy said. "We've really lucked out with weather the last three times. That's part of (the reason) people have such good feelings about it."

Ben Suchy said the most remarkable thing about this concert is that even though their audience has swelled to roughly 600 people in the past, there has never been a mess to clean up after the music stopped and the prairie dust settled. He said he appreciates the respectful crowd and is looking forward to his solo set at the concert on Saturday.

These days Ben Suchy's weekly gigs - "Sake and Sushi with Suchy" on Monday nights at East 40 Chophouse and Tavern, and Tuesday nights at The Walrus with Chad Falcon - keep him pretty close to home, but he is still touring regularly to Minneapolis, Grand Forks and Fargo.

Ben Suchy Bandwith is also going strong. The three-piece band - which took its name from a concert bill that proclaimed "Ben Suchy with band" - sometimes picks up a guest or two and becomes Ben Suchy Broadband, Suchy added with a grin.

His future plans include playing at the Burnt Creek Club and possibly touring in Japan, he said.

"Musically he has really grown a lot," Chuck Suchy said. "I look forward to hearing him in about 10 years, and I enjoy hearing him now."

This year's drought has kept Chuck Suchy pretty close to home to give greater attention to his farm, but he will venture out to Chicago in September and to southern Illinois in October for the 2006 Folk Alliance Region Midwest Gathering, where he will be one of the showcase artists, he said.

Chuck Suchy's wife, Linda, who has sung background vocals on some of his albums, will also have her own set at the concert this year, singing and playing guitar.

The Suchys have a group of dedicated, faithful friends and volunteers who help make this concert possible, Chuck Suchy said.

He added that the main credit for the hall's renaissance should go to the Western Bohemian Fraternal Association members who renovate and maintain the lodge.

The Bohemian Hall is located eight miles south of Mandan on Highway 6. Admission is $10.

Free coffee, lemonade and kolaches - a traditional Bohemian pastry - will be served inside the hall. The stage will be set up outside, on the north side of the building. Rainout will be held at the Mandan High School auditorium.

Andra Suchy
by Brandon Broxey

Singer Andra Suchy moved to the Twin Cities from North Dakota in 1996 and since her arrival, Suchy's powerful, crystal-clear voice has been heard on albums by Soul Asylum, the Honeydogs, Billy Johnson's Roadshow and many more.

She makes weekly appearances with The Dollys at Stasiu's on Tuesdays and with Hookers and Blow on Thursday nights at Gluek's; she also lends her vocals to commercial work.
In the midst of the madness, Suchy found time to record her debut solo album, "Patchwork Story," due to be released August 18, 2006.

Suchy talked with Rift and offered a few insights into the upcoming album, the Thompson Twins and impersonating an 8-year-old boy.

Rift: What kind of sound can we expect from "Patchwork Story?"
Andra Suchy: This is always a hard question. I would say "Patchwork Story" revolves around the realm of organic, rootsy Americana rock with variances among different songs.

Rift: Which, if any, bands or artists directly inspired the album or your appreciation for music?
AS: There are a lot of inspirations for the way we wanted the album to sound, as well as songwriting influences, but I think that happens naturally. We talked about some specific albums we loved the sound of, or why we loved them, and kept that in mind throughout the process, but I wouldn't say we were exactly emulating anyone in particular.

Rift: You've played with just about every established musician in the Twin Cities area. Will any of them be making an appearance on "Patchwork Story?"
AS: I am totally knocked out by the musicians on my album, as well as everyone I play with live. It is humbling and a great honor. But that didn't really answer the question. Yes.

Rift: How long have you been working on your album and where did you record it?
AS: I think we did the first song demo about four years ago. We recorded the drums, piano and organ at "Splice Hear" and "It's A Secret" with David J. Russ as engineer. He's been an amazing catalyst. Andrew Pierzina did pretty much the rest at our home studio,
ASAProcks.

Rift: How do you market or promote an album?
AS: I am hoping to work with New Artist Direct and Tinderbox for radio and distribution. They've come highly recommended and work very hard for their artists. Of course live shows help, but having outside professional help is almost necessary when it comes to cracking unfamiliar audiences and getting your music in the stores and on the radio.

Rift: What are some of your favorite Twin Cities venues to play at and why?
AS: Hmm ... this is hard. First Avenue is an amazing place to play. I love the vibe at Mayslack's. The Fine Line has wonderful sound. Stasiu's is a new cool music bar. Gluek's has been a great place to play. Bunker's has good sound as well. I am forgetting a lot, but these come to mind right away.

Rift: Tell us about your experiences doing commercial jingles.
AS: I love doing jingles. It has taught me to leave my self-consciousness at the door and realize I'm there for the job and not to worry about looking ridiculous. You can't dwell on whether you'll get the job or you'll go crazy wondering what you did wrong. Sessions can take 15 minutes or all day, they're all different and yes, there are some strange ones. We don't need to get too far into that. There's an educational Web site for young girls called mypopstudio.com I recently did that was pretty fun. Oh, and once I did the voice of an 8-year-old boy for a Rugrats movie promo. That was a weird one.

Rift: You've recently created The Dollys. Who else is in the band and what has that experience been like?
AS: Actually, Kari Shaw is the creator of The Dollys. It is sooo choice. I get to sing with Kari Shaw and Joanna Jahn. Trent Norton plays bass, Joe Savage plays pedal steel, dobro, lap slide and banjo, Peter J. Sands plays keys and Andrew Pierzina plays guitar. We do a lot of fun country music covers from Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris.

Rift: What are your three desert island albums?
AS: Oh Lord, that's impossible.

Rift: What was the first album you ever bought?
AS: Well, my folks had quite a few albums I loved – Linda Ronstadt, Judy Collins, Gordon Lightfoot – but I think with my own money I bought either the Thompson Twins or Heart's "Bad Animals." I don't think I'd actually heard much of either; I must've liked the artwork or something.

Rift: Your CD release party is scheduled for August 18, 2006, at Mayslack's. Can you tell us if any special guests are scheduled to perform?
AS: I am so excited! I can say that The Dollys, Billy Johnson and my band will all play sets. Beyond that, who knows?