Syracuse University alumnus David Padula is ready to return to the Salt City this weekend, as the bassist of blues-based rockers The Lucky Dutch.

The 2012 College of Visual and Performing Arts graduate will play at Funk ‘n Waffles Downtown in Armory Square on Sept. 11. Doors open at 8 p.m., the first act goes on at 9 p.m. and The Lucky Dutch will be on around 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the Funk ‘n Waffles website or at the door.

Padula was in a small jazz trio while at SU. Although the other members of The Lucky Dutch are not SU alumni, the Chicago natives and Padula have played at the Westcott Theatre’s “Battle of the Bands” show and at Funk ‘n Waffles on Marshall Street on several occasions.

The Lucky Dutch consists of front man/guitarist Nathan Graham, keyboardist/vocalist Claire Corriveau and drummer Ben Dacoba. Padula first connected with the rest of the band after a mutual friend introduced him to Graham.

Graham and Corriveau were looking for a bass player, and when they got in contact with Padula, they asked him to learn three songs for their upcoming gig.

Padula demonstrated he had all three tracks down, which was a clear sign to Graham and Corriveau that he’d be a good fit for the group. Since their formation, the band has played at notable Chicago venues and events such as the House of Blues, Glenwood Avenue Arts Fest, Chicago WingFest and, their personal favorite, Navy Pier, home to NPR’s Chicago station WBEZ 91.5.

This fall, the group hit the road to perform across the country including stops in New York, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida and Tennessee. Padula said he is excited to include Syracuse on their itinerary.

The band is inspired by musicians and groups such as Gov’t Mule, Vintage Trouble, Freddie King, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin, Padula said. Their repertoire relies heavily on their own songs, but they’ve also covered classic rock artists including Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix. Padula’s favorite on their set list is “Criminal Heart” from the band’s ten-track 2014 album “Bury the Night.”

“It’s just a good song,” Padula said. “For me, as a bass player, I don’t usually get to stretch out and play a lot of notes, and it’s just a good energy song.”

Padula has been a musician for nearly 20 years. It began when he played trombone in elementary school and then expanded to bass guitar about ten years later. At SU, he focused on perfecting his jazz sound, but that all changed when he moved to Chicago for graduate school. His band members’ sound, in addition to the city’s rock and blues culture, won him over.

One of Padula’s professors in VPA, John Laverty, contributed to his outlook on music.

“He said to me once, ‘You have to be a diversified musician. You can’t just play one instrument or be a teacher,’” Padula said. “It defines how I do things now. I do the booking, talk to the record label and am starting to help with the arrangement.”

During his time at SU, Padula could usually be found rehearsing classical trombone in the VPA practice rooms, or working at the Carrier Dome during concerts, where he provided hospitality for visiting performing acts. When he isn’t performing, he is serving as an artist concierge at Chicago’s Zagat-rated City Winery, where shows of all genres are performed on a nightly basis.

Padula stated, “Being in the band formed how I played bass; coming from a jazz background whereas everyone else came from a rock/pop history.”

Published on September 8, 2015 at 10:47 pm

Contact: rcplaut@syr.edu