The Wood River Valley is a hotbed of musicians, bands, singers, songwriters and all-around entertainers. When valley musicians come together—in this case a successful barista, graphic designer, DJ and sporting gear company worker—it's interesting to hear what they play. The latest addition to the valley's music scene is the newest version of the four-member band Triple Nixon.
Triple Nixon has a steady rhythm with music echoing the likes of The Beatles, Elvis Costello, U2, The Clash, Pearl Jam and Radiohead. Todd Rippo has strong vocals, Chris Seldon on guitar is a clean sound, Jason Spicer aka Train is a hard-rocking bass player and newcomer Ted Livingston is a consistent drummer.
Songs such as "Gimlet Eyes," "Relate," "Honey," "Not My Son" and "Take It All" are original pieces that the band wrote together. The band has been together for a year and a half.
"Some people golf," said Rippo. "I have a rock band."
Rippo has been in bands for as long as he can remember since living in the valley as owner of Java, a coffee bar and café with locations in Ketchum and Hailey. The band members met socially and decided to play music together.
"We have a connection and it's a nice collaboration," Rippo said. "I can't get away from playing in a band."
Livingston said a band is the best girlfriend he's ever had.
< Beyond the love of playing music, all members of Triple Nixon said their sound is completely organic.
"It's not like being in a city where bands feed off a scene," Rippo said. "We have 18 original songs that have really stuck with us."
Rippo said the band is an art project and listeners should appreciate the honesty of the music. The band has a great work ethic and has been working really hard for its performance at Whiskey Jacques' on Saturday, Jan. 8, at 10 p.m. The band will open for headliner Reverend Deadeye.
"We're original," Spicer said. "We're a passionate rock band."
Triple Nixon will be featured in a film "40 Nights of Rock & Roll," a documentary made by Steve LaBate and Scott Sloan, who drove all over the U.S. to watch 40 concerts, interview 40 bands and come up with the answer to one question: What is the current state of Rock & Roll in America? Triple Nixon was night No. 33.
"They said that night with us was one of the top evenings of the entire tour," Seldon said. "The film includes big names like Paul Westerberg."
The film is slated to debut at the next South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.
The first 25 readers to tweet the band on Twitter will receive free admission at the Whiskey Jacques' show.
To get a taste of the band, visit www.triplenixon.com.
For a complete listing of music events in the valley, see the Music, Dance and Theater section of the Calendar on Page C5.
