Musician
Podcast guestNate Gerard
Trumpet player, bassist and singer who came back to music through the open jams and now plays in Cakewalk, a Cake tribute.
Nate Gerard played trumpet from seventh grade, learning from a teacher who played with the Philadelphia Orchestra, and switched to bass in high school. He played in bands through high school and at Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania, then stepped away from music for years after moving to Minnesota. Nate found his way back through a group of fellow Rush fans and the Route 47 jam, and now calls the open jam community his weekly highlight. After filling a trumpet part on a Cake song at Shaw's, he became a singer and trumpet player in Cakewalk, an eight-piece Cake tribute.
On the Minnesota Music Note
Fun facts from the interview
- Nate started piano at six and picked trumpet in seventh grade.
- His first band was named Kcor, which is rock spelled backwards.
- He met his college bandmates at a talent show at Shippensburg University, and their bands played house and fraternity parties.
- He is a huge Rush fan, and Rush fan groups led him to the people who brought him to the Route 47 jam.
- His first song back at the Route 47 jam was on bass, with Aaron Schmidt on guitar.
- He played Sepultura's Refuse/Resist at Shaw's when Brett Schmidt asked him to cover the heavy part.
- Seeing Brian Naughton sing at a jam inspired Nate to start singing.
- Cakewalk has eight members, including Aaron Cole on lead vocals and drums and Steve Olsen on second trumpet.
- Nate sings lead on some Cakewalk songs and plays trumpet on all but one.
- Cakewalk booked showcases at Route 47 on March 5, at Shaw's in March, and at Ziggy's in Hudson on May 8.
- He can play two trumpets at once, harmonizing with himself.
- He recommended Laura Peele and Glenn, who help run the Shaw's jam, as future guests.
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