Last Call

Mindrift – Worcester’s longest running rock cover band

Veer Mudambi Worcester Magazine USA TODAY NETWORK

Local rock cover band Mindrift will be celebrating 25 years together with a massive show at Halligan’s in Auburn on March 26. Formed in 1997, Mindrift boasts a deep repertoire of rock and pop songs spanning from the ‘60’s to today, with a special focus on ‘90s rock. Comprising Worcester residents Sean Hendricks (bass/ vocals), Tony Postale (guitar/ vocals), Lisa Layton (vocals), and Tom Sidoti (drums), the band sat down with Last Call to discuss their evolution since they started in their 20s to now, the loss of a friend and band member and what’s kept them together for a quarter century.

What has kept you guys together?

Sean: We ask ourselves that every day — we’ve had our ups and downs but we’ve stuck through it. Tom and Tony and I were the original trio — in the mid-2000s we brought on a keyboard player, but unfortunately he passed away from brain cancer. We all like the same kind of music and we don’t take it too seriously, so we’ve all grown up or gotten older together. Like a family. It’s just worked out — hasn’t always been pretty but it works. We talk to each other on stage as much as we do to the audience.

Tom: When we play, people like us and when we have a good night on stage, it just drives us to keep playing. We’ve all ended up married with kids.

Tony: We’ve definitely had our moments but it’s the friendships, as corny as that sounds.

Tom: I don’t think there are many bands that make it to 25 years. You can’t stick together as a band for 25 years and suck. That’s what I tell someone every time I’m trying to book a gig. We got 19 shows this year, including Rutland’s 300th anniversary.

What’s it like being a member as well as manager?

Sean: It’s been Tom the last couple years but we rotate.

Tom: Being a band member, we kind of know each other’s schedules for gigs so that’s easier. But it’s challenging no matter who is wearing that hat. It was easier 20 years ago when we were single with no kids. We kind of know when we’re hitting that max density of shows. We used to play up to three or four times a month and that was pretty taxing. But as we’ve grown older, we’ve learned that less is more. Our fans aren’t going to come out and see us if we play every Friday. If it’s every two months, the rooms pack up.

Tony: You asked about the secret to our longevity — there’s a balance as you get older. You need to pay attention to your family life and can’t play as much.

Sean: As we’ve gotten older, we’ve gotten less dependent on the money we’ve made on these gigs. So that’s enabled us to do a lot more charity shows over the years. This isn’t like a money making thing. Any time someone has a cause in their life, everybody else is willing to step up to use their time to make things better for other people.

Tom: Our 25th anniversary show — all our former lead singers are coming out for that on March 26th. That’s going to be a big show.

Where did the name come from?

Tom: Tony came up with the name but he doesn’t know how.

Lisa: We don’t really like it — we’re still thinking about it.

If you could change your

From left, Mindrift members Sean Hendricks, Lisa Layton, Tony Postale and Tom Sidoti. MINDRIFT

name, what would it be?

Tony: The Merge!

Tom: Once you get deep into it, it’s hard to change the name. I’ve waited 25 years to make Tshirts, and we’re going to have Mindrift T-shirts at the show.

How do you pick your songs?

Tom: I always wanted to be a rock ‘n’ roll star but I realized pretty soon, that wasn’t going to happen. My thinking was, if people work all week and go to listen to a band do they want to hear something they don’t know or something they hear on the radio?

Sean: I don’t like writing music but I love to sing. I love to sing the stuff I listen to.

Tom: I can’t sing at all — these guys don’t want me to sing. But Lisa, Sean and Tony all sing. For me, good singing makes a band and this band has it and it’s another thing that keeps a band together. We all loved Chris as our keyboard player — it was a big loss. He was a talented musician; he was with us for about 15 years.

Sean: Like a super musician.

Tom: And there are songs that we can longer perform without him.

What’s your favorite song

— each of you?

Tony: I like to do all the Pearl Jam stuff.

Lisa: Probably Janis Joplin. I love playing “Bobby McGee,” too.

Tom: She’s a huge Pat Benatar fan — and Britney Spears.

Sean: One Lisa sings is by Joss Stone — “Tell Me ‘Bout It.” The one that I like to sing best is “Blue on Black.” It’s one of those songs you can really get lost in.

Tom: “Rock and Roll,” by Led Zeppelin.

Follow Mindrift on Facebook to check out their shows lined up for this year, including their 25th anniversary show at Halligan’s,889 Southbridge St., Auburn,March 26.