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Ahead of His Time: An Interview with Seth Feinberg

by Matt Iarrobino

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If you follow the music scene in the Northeast, Seth Feinberg is a name that has come up in conversation lately. Seth is the front man of the Seth Feinberg Band, a power trio from the Westchester County area of New York. Seth plays guitar, and is amazing. But, what's even more amazing is that Seth is 15 years old. At the ripe old age of 15, Seth has already jammed with players like Warren Haynes, Jimmy Herring, Bernie Worrell (P-Funk), and Merle Saunders, just to name a few.

I first saw Seth perform at the Wetlands Preserve's Power Jam back in February during the Wetlands' 10th Anniversary celebration. I was looking at the stage wondering, "Who is this kid trading guitar licks with Warren Haynes?"

Since then, Seth's appearances in and around the New York area have become less sporadic, and more looked forward to. Most recently, Seth played guitar in Merl Saunders' band at The Gathering of the Vibes festival in Bridgeport, CT. I spoke to him backstage, and he wasn't nervous at all. In fact, I when talking to Seth, you'll find that he's much more mature, outgoing, and intelligent then your average 15 year old. Seth certainly isn't average.

Seth and I caught up at The Gathering of the Vibes, over the internet, and on the phone.

MI: Seth, you seem to have come on to the scene in the past year. Tell us where you came from, musically. How did you come from playing at Manny's Car Wash in New York, to playing at the Wetlands and Gathering of the Vibes?

SF: Well one day I was walking on the street in New York City and I asked a cab driver "How do you get to the Wetlands?" And he said "Practice." Only kidding. I just constantly listen to music and practice.

MI: Are you self taught, have you had lessons, or both?

SF: A lot of the stuff I taught myself. Like feeling. A teacher can't teach you how to play with feeling. But for the technical side of things, I have had some great teachers who I still take lessons with.

MI: You told me on the phone that you had lessons with Jimmy Herring (Jazz is Dead, Aquarium Rescue Unit). Could you tell me how that came about and what it was like taking lessons from such an amazing player?

SF: It is an honor for me to have taken five or six lessons with him. He is the Einstein of guitar. I got the opportunity to take lessons with him because I got to know him by going to shows. So whenever he's playing a show in town, I show up a few hours early and learn incredibly great techniques, which I'm still trying to understand!

MI: How long did it take you to get the level of playing that you are currently at, and what do you think you need to improve on in your playing?

SF: I try to never be at one level of playing. I try to keep advancing. I do need to practice hearing chords and intervals better.

MI: Tell me you got paired up to play with Merl Saunders at this year's Gathering if the Vibes Festival, and how as it playing with him?

SF: Well I've known Merl since January of 98. We met backstage at a Jazz is Dead concert. I had been sitting in with him a lot since then. But this time he asked me to play the whole show with him. So I did, and it was a lot of fun. I've learned a lot from him. He's played with Everyone!

MI: Did you and he have any time to practice?

SF: Nope. Merl likes to put me on the spot. He feels it's good training for me.

MI: Who else have you played with in your young career?

SF: Jack Pearson, Matt "guitar" Murphy, Derek Trucks, and some others.

MI: How did you come to know all these great musicians in the first place? You once told me the story about being backstage at an Allmans show. How did you get there?

SF: I came to know all these great musicians by just going to shows and talking with them. I originally got backstage at my first Allmans show because my dad knew their manager from college. My dad sent a note back saying "Remember me? Class of 74?" So, I started talking to Warren, etc.

MI: Let's talk about your Dad. He seems to be super supportive of you and your interest in music. Do you think that if it weren't for him, you would still be where you already are at such a young age?

SF: That's a tough question. I made 100% of the contacts and musical friends by myself. My dad really doesn't know anything about music. He doesn't play any instruments either. But if it wasn't for him driving me everywhere, and going way out of his way to do so, I wouldn't have done what I've done.

MI: What do you think of Derek Trucks joining the Allmans? Do people often compare you to Derek because of the fact that you both started playing out at a young age?

SF: I think Derek's gonna tear it up in the Allmans. People don't compare me to Derek because they shouldn't. Derek's in a league of his own. As Mike Myers would say "We're not worthy!" "We're not worthy!" But, I have sat in with the Derek Trucks Band a few times. It's been a lot of fun.

MI: What are your aspirations?

SF: My aspirations are to do this for the rest of my life. I'm obsessed with music. I'm a total music geek. I would like to lead my own band and/or be a sideman.

MI: You have your own 3-person power trio. Tell me about it.

SF: I write all the originals, and we do a lot of jazz standard covers. Recently, I added a great 27 year old bass player named Tony Tino. He's a monster. Well be playing at the Wetlands July 28th, opening for Mick Taylor, from the Rolling Stones.

MI: What kind of guitar and amp do you use?

SF: I've mostly played a Les Paul, but lately I've been playing my Strat. I use a Fender Twin Reverb Amp. I also use a lot of effects pedals. I use a Blues Driver for distortion, a Chorus pedal, an auto chromatic tuner which allows you to tune silently on stage, and an octave pedal which I use sometimes for a bassier sound.

MI: You made your first CD about a year ago with the 2 - 2 1/2 minute Dark Star on it. It was a different configuration of the Seth Feinberg band, right?

SF: I'm not very satisfied with that CD. That's why I only sell it at gigs and never put it through distribution. It was a different bass player, same drummer though. My new band sounds great. I'm very happy with their playing. My new bass player even played with John Scofield. And my new organist plays with various jazz groups throughout the city (New York). And my drummer kicks ass.

MI: How would you describe your style at this point in your career?

SF: I can't describe my music. Someone once asked Steve Coleman "what kind of music do you play?" He replied " I play music." I play to many different styles to categorize it as one style.

MI: Could you name who is your # 1, #2, and #3 influence?

SF: That's hard! If I had to choose three, it would probably be, John Coltrane, Steve Coleman, and the Allman Brothers.

MI: You've played with Warren Haynes at the Wetlands, Bernie Worrell at the Wetlands, Merl Saunders at the GOTV, Jimmy Herring, and the list goes on. What has been your most rewarding playing experience thus far?

SF: Probably playing at the Gathering of the Vibes because it got rid of my fear of playing in front of a huge audience.

MI: Is it hard to still be in school and keep up with your playing and practicing?

SF: Yeah. It blows. When I'm in school all I can think about is guitar. I'm not a very good student, but I know why. I have my small group of friends at school, but I'm no Fonzie.

MI: How about your friends in school. Do they understand, and appreciate what you are doing in the music world, or, are they clueless?

SF: My friends at school are your typical fifteen-year-olds. Pursuit of girls that will never go out with them, 3 hours of homework, being punished for forgetting to clean their rooms, etc. As far as knowing what I do with my musical life, which is my life, they're clueless.

MI: Who are some of your favorite bands?

SF: Jazz Mandolin Project, Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Charlie Hunter, Jazz is Dead, Illuminati, Gov't Mule, Deep Banana Blackout, and so many others.

MI: From the list of bands you like, it seems that you're really into Jazz and Southern guitar rock. Is this true?

SF: Definitely. That stuff moves me a lot.

MI: I know that when I was 15, I was really into Motown, and Classic Rock (The Doors, Zeppelin, etc.). Do you have sort of a "musical map" or "path" that you've gone down that has lead you to your taste in music today?

SF: My path was weird. Most people who play an instrument listened to music before they took their instrument up. I decided to play guitar, then I started listening to music.

MI: What do you think of the growing improvisational rock/jam band scene?

SF: I think it's great what these bands are doing, and I think many of them are very talented. Also, it's a lot better than the bullshit on MTV.

MI: What is it that you think is wrong with MTV since you, like myself, are in the target age group that MTV is geared towards.

SF: I think what's wrong with MTV is that they are completely geared towards fashion. They want people to concentrate on what they see, not on what they hear. Which has been sort of a dilemma for me because some people like my guitar playing just because of my age. But once I get a little taller, and start growing facial hair, they couldn't care. The music fans I like best are the ones who won't care if I show up to a gig in a dirty t-shirt. That they just want to hear music.

MI: Personally, when I watch you play, I don't even think about your age anymore. The first time I saw you play, the first thing that went through my head was how young you were COMPARED to everyone else on stage. But, after listening to you play, I completely forgot about the age thing, and I was listening to you play like anybody else I see at Wetlands. Do you think other people see it that way?

SF: I think most people don't see me as the age thing.

MI: Hypothetically if your hottest commodity is indeed your age, what will you do to combat this?

SF: Just keep practicing.

MI: I hate to keep calling attention to the fact that you're 15, but it is amazing that you're as good as you are in your mid-teens. So, with that said, how is it that you are into such good music at an age when kids are usually into rap and top 40?

SF: Well, I appreciate your comment, but I really don't think I have my stuff together. There is an enormous amount of stuff about the guitar that I have to learn. I'm into such good music because that's what sounds good to me. I've never been into rap or dance music. I was the only kid that ever showed up to a friend's Bar Mitzvah party with earplugs.