THE DREAD CARPET TREATMENT: Band releases fourth CD at Red Bar

The popular local band Dread Clampitt released its fourth CD, “Learnin’ To Live,” Memorial Day weekend at the place it all began – The Red Bar.

Dread Clampitt has been a local’s favorite since its two founding members first took the Red Bar stage on Labor Day in 2002. Those two founding members, Balder Saunders and Kyle Ogle, were later joined by John Reinlie and Kenny Oliverio in making up Dread Clampitt.

The band’s unusual name came to Saunders in a dream when he was in the Marines.

“That’s the way a lot of things come to me,” he said, “lyrics and other things. But I remembered that name when the time came to form a band.”

The group released its first album in 2004 and two more quickly followed. However, “Learnin’ to Live” has been three years in the making.

All songs on the album are original and written by Saunders, Ogle, and Oliverio.

Saunders sings lead vocals and plays mandolin and fiddle. Ogle plays guitar, and sings lead and harmony. Oliverio plays upright and electric bass. Reinlie, who joined the group two years ago, plays drums.

Saunders said the addition of Reinlie has helped redefine and enhance Dread’s sound.

Sitting in for one song on the album was the band’s mentor, Duke Bardwell, who toured with Elvis for a couple of years. Bardwell was joined by Oliverio in performing his “Bayou Country.”

Special help came from Nashville’s Guthrie Trapp, who plays electric guitar on the album’s first track, and special guest Sam Bush, who Saunders said paved the way for alternative bluegrass.

“I was privileged to have their help,” said Saunders. 

The album, produced at Donnie Sundal’s Neptune Studio in Destin, also features Sundal on piano, keyboard and organ on the album.

Saunders said the album’s title, “Learnin’ To Live,” speaks of its material.

“We’re learning to make a go of it in a tough industry as musicians and in other areas of life,” said Saunders.

One song on the album is “A Selfish Dream,” which Saunders wrote, and calls his attempt at a love song.

“It’s about thinking how it would be without someone if that someone passed away or left. You know they would be better off leaving but you would like for them to stay,” he said.

Saunders said the band’s goal is to do an album a year.

“We went through a redefining of who we are and it has taken a while. Now we’re back on pace and producing something fresh with more to come, for sure,” he said.

Dread Clampitt commands the Red Bar stage every Sunday.