Local group’s rock ‘n’ roll sound compared to Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix and Rush
Four success-driven musicians, whose unique backgrounds span the borders of two southern states, come together to form the line-up of an up-and-coming rock ‘n’ roll band who’s got their eye on the most rewarding prize of all – making it big in the fast-paced music industry.
Together Joe Mancuso, Rox Daigre, Gary Schexnaydre and Zachary Goff are Atomic Pilot.
In 2001, New Orleans native and Destrehan resident, Joe Mancuso was in the market to start a band, therefore began the search for others interested in music, particularly rock ‘n’ roll.
“At first I tried the regular channels – friends, open mics, hanging out at the guitar store for hours on end,” said Mancuso, who takes the stage as the band’s lead guitarist.
“But I couldn’t find anyone that piqued my interest or shared the same goals and ideas that I had in mind.
“I wanted to make it all the way in music even if it meant I had to live in a box on the street to do it. I wasn’t going to settle for anything less than having the same dedication in my other band members.”
Mancuso says that he ultimately resorted to placing ads on the Internet in hopes of finding truly-driven musicians.
“Eventually, I found Gary who was actually playing drums at the time,” said Mancuso. “He and I met up and instantly hit it off as friends. He displayed the right dedication, drive and love for music that I was looking for.”
Schexnaydre and Mancuso began practicing with each other on a regular basis, but still had difficulty fleshing out the rest of the band.
“One day Gary called me over to his house because he had found a songwriter online that was interested in forming a band,” said Mancuso. “We listened to some of the stuff she had posted online and decided to contact her. And after our first jam session, it was basically love at first note for all of us.
“We got along so well both musically and personally that we even wrote our first song “Be Gone” during that very first meeting.”
Mancuso says that the band has zigzagged through many trials and line-up changes since that first song was written and has dealt with undedicated, lazy and selfish musicians, but points out that the band remains true to one another in knowing that in the end it has always been the original three.
“It’s always been me, Rox doing vocals and Gary on bass,” said Mancuso. “And we were recently lucky enough to meet our newest drummer Zack, now the line-up is complete.”
Mancuso says that Atomic Pilot has been compared to a combination of Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix and Rush.
“The combination of bands that we are told we sound like changes all the time, so that tells me that we really do have a unique sound and approach to our music,” he continued.
Although the band has over 400 songs under its belt, only one album has been recorded.
“We have completed one album at this point,” said Mancuso. “It’s titled Hurricane and was recorded at Bluff Road Recording studio in Prarieville with Harold Cowart of the Bee Gees.”
“Unfortunately, we seem to have the worst luck when it comes to getting our stuff recorded. We have been working on getting out a second album for the past couple of years, but things just keeping standing in the way.”
With the band’s first-choice recording studio going out of business and the second one ripping them off, laying down tracks hasn’t been an easy feat.
“Needless to say, we are struggling to get this stuff out recording-wise, but it’s trickling out slowly but surely,” said Mancuso.
“We have no record label, so our budget is limited to the depth of our pockets. What we really need is for someone to come in and say, ‘I believe in you’ and be just as dedicated as we are. Not someone just looking at us as another quick buck. We are a really great band and we need to have someone else come in and see that.”
Mancuso says that Atomic Pilot’s biggest accomplishment so far has been actually staying together all these years.
“With all the hard times and false starts that we’ve been going through, it’s been difficult, but at the same time worth it,” he said. “That’s a testament to the quality of my fellow band members though, they’re all great people.”
Mancuso adds that all song writing is a collaborative effort between the group.
“Most of the time one of us will come up with a preliminary idea, either lyrics or a few chords,” he said. “Then we take it to the rest of the band and the song gets finished that way. This method really allows us to stretch out and use the talents of the whole band.”
While Atomic Pilot has yet to land a gig in St. Charles Parish, they hope that their faithful fan reviews can create a local interest.
“Our fan reviews have always been great,” said Mancuso. “I can honestly say that we have never had anyone say that they haven’t liked our music. I’ve heard ‘I’m not crazy about this one,’ but they always follow it with ‘But I love this one.’
“We haven’t played in St. Charles yet, but are open to any opportunities that might come our way.”
To check out the latest Atomic Pilot tracks, visit www.myspace.com/atomicpilot or www.atomicpilot.com.
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