People seem to love East Coast music around here. It’s probably part and parcel because of our Irish foundation and roots. It’s nice to see a good reaction from people when it comes to a band like East Coast Experience because so many of us just want to have a good time when we go out! Bill, Marco and & Co. are a great example of the art of taking stories, anecdotes and music to the people while transporting them to a happy place! The band plays Saturday, November 30. I know it’s already packed, but give The Cove Inn a call and hopefully get a reservation! Details here: web link

Seamus Cowan: Sociable! This is your call. this is your vibe. I strongly believe that this is one of the main reasons your show is so attractive! I know it’s and east coast thing but is there another reason that it’s important to you?

Bill Quigley: Sociable certainly is an east coast call to action and it's been historically a call to drink and be merry, but to me it's a call out for a cheer or celebration in unity as it promotes belonging and togetherness when we all lift our glasses harmoniously and cheer! ECE will use it specifically several times a night to give everyone an opportunity at the event to come together and be included in the show! It really isn't a drinking call anymore in its traditional sense, but you can certainly participate with whatever is in your glass. There was a strong correlation at one point about the Sociable and beer sloshing as everyone cheered and clanked mugs together before a big swallow, and there was a stigma at one point about not participating with alcohol. Those days are gone and there are so many great non-alcohol options out there today, especially from our sponsor at Perth Brewer. Sober Sociables are now a really popular thing!

Q: Since you started playing at The Cove a few years ago, your group has grown in size. I believe it’s five now. Originally performing as a duo, it’s clear you and Marco have such a brotherly synergy on stage. What brought you together and what has lead to the band growth?

Bill: Here’s the short story. Marco and I used to be neighbours many years ago and at the time, we played in 2 different bands. We would see each other on the street or in our driveways loading gear in and out of our trucks several nights a week and always had a friendly wave or a quick hello, but we never hung out or collaborated musically. He was busy with Roadhouse and I had Bill Quigley Band Project. It wasn't until I was gearing up for another Eastern Canadian tour in 2016 and had to replace my lead guitar playerjust a few weeks before the tour that I reached out to Marco as a complete Hail Mary, and said “hey, I have this multi-week tour coming up next month covering Eastern Canada and I am down a man. Is there any way you would be open to learning 25-30 songs, including lead breaks and harmonies in the next few weeks to join the band and I?” Up until this point, this is the longest conversation we had ever had and I think he saw the desperation in my eyes knowing that if this didn't pan out I would have to cancel the tour. Being the kind of guy he is, he agreed to help me, and we started immediately putting the work in and hit the road east bound for what was a very memorable tour full of fun, friendship building and great music! Once we got back from that tour we had connected in a whole new way, both musically and in friendship. I already had a solo show booked at Chateau Montebello for the week after that east coast tour, and I asked him if he would like to join me as a duo, and from there we never looked back. We were both multi-instrumentalists, we both sang and our voices naturally blended which gave our Duo show a feeling of being very full to the audience. The other perk was only having to worry about both of our external schedules for booking shows, as that was the treat of being so simple as a duo, but we were soon talking about the possibility of what if we added more.
It was then that we turned to finding the rhythm section and a fiddle to round out the sound for East Coast Experience. Finding the right group of people was the absolute most important part. We had to gel as people first and it couldn't just be about the skill of the musician. We soon found that group chemistry and now we have 5 dedicated friends who are very professional in their skill and commitment, and who love hanging out together, playing music, laughing and bringing joy to the audiences in the communities we are so lucky to be welcomed into. At the end of the day, our shows have always been about connecting with the audience and bringing joy. I always thought that if we can leave you better than we found you, then that is something pretty special to be able to accomplish. We make it a very big priority to do that every show. We truly believe if the audience can feel how much energy we bring and how much fun we are having on stage then it will be contagious. We hear this regularly from the show goers. Getting that validation is certainly rewarding and makes us feel good knowing we have made someone's day just a little bit better. You never know what people are going through at any moment, especially these days.

Q: It’s always great for me to see a group, reading their own material and getting a good reaction from it. This is definitely been a focus of yours over the last few years. How are your fans reacting to it?

Bill: We couldn't ask for a better response to our original music, we are so grateful that people want to listen and share in what we put out there and we are so lucky to do it live on stage so often. Look, I've been writing songs since I was 15 years old and have always loved creating, but when life gets busy it is hard to find time for that craft. When COVID hit, we found ourselves in this state of global suspension and with everything shut down, we had a bit of time on our hands, so we created a list of goals for the band and on top of that list, was to play Ottawa Bluesfest as we thought that would be the greatest gig to land and we really wanted that badly. To be considered, we had to have strong original music, so Marco and I got busy trading ideas via rough cell videos and different licks etc. I would typically come to the table with something written and we would take that and work on fine tuning it so that toy was as strong as possible. We realized that we were good at creating good music! We released our first EP called Home and in 2022 and it went on to not only fulfil our top goal of being enjoyed by the BF Programming Directors and securing us a spot on a Bluesfest stage in 2023! It also won multiple awards which was a great feeling of accomplishment on our first attempt at writing ECE songs. We still enjoy and play songs live from this EP regularly and it is great to see fans singing along with all the words at our shows. That in itself is a real buzz!

Q: I know that you are super organized when it comes to running your band. It’s inspiring to see. I think it is another one of those reasons for your success. Is there anything you would impart to others about what you were doing right?

Yes, being organized is paramount for success. The band is run by myself and Marco. We are both very detailed, committed and energetic people. We divide and conquer when it comes to how we manage the group, as we have many overlapping skillsets but also a few individual skills that we assign certain roles. Marco handles all the technical components of the band with regards to building racks, stage plots and technical requirements as he used to own and operate his own sound company years ago. I manage the business side of the band with things like festival applications and negotiations on where we play. There are several examples of how we divide and conquer as running a successful band is always an incredibly busy job. I do think we can offer some advice, social media is a powerful tool if used properly. Always try to be professional. Do it the right way not just the easy way. An unprofessional post is far more damaging than no post at all. Also, one very important piece to remember: it isn't all about you. For social media to work effectively, you really need to be social! Be present daily, but you also have to be present on more than just your own things. Like and share on other peoples posts, show support for others as it has to be a 2-way street. That will help grow your audience organically and your posts will be seen by more people and you will have a greater impact. If it is always just about you, and what you are doing all the time, people will tire of that pretty quickly and unfollow you. Think of a conversation. It can't be just one person talking, that is a lecture, and no one likes to be lectured to constantly.

Q: As you continue to create, grow, travel, work through life as a successful group, what do you see as the next steps? Travelling the East Coast to tour the new record, with kitchen party stops along the way?

Bill: Yes, we have a brand new full length album getting the final touches right now and is set to be released around mid Dec. (Just in time for Christmas wink wink...) we would love to do a new video for a song or two on that album. We are also gearing up right now for what looks to be a very fun and successful summer festival season, and once we have all that in place, we will indeed look to fill in the calendar with a few small tours. We also have some mini tours planned around Ontario, out west, and back out east for 2025/2026. We can't wait to share our schedule once we are given the green light, as there are some great shows ahead for us this coming year. We are also looking forward to our show Nov 30 at The Cove, as the people of Westport have truly embraced us with open arms since we started playing there 3 or 4 years ago and continue to pack The Cove every time we come to town and surrounding areas, which we are so very grateful for. This community is so special and it really feels like a home away from home for us. We see so many familiar friendly faces and East Coast Experience T-shirts whenever we come to town it is so great! We look forward to continuing to do a few shows a year with you Seamus at your beautiful venue and we thank you for providing such an amazing experience, fantastic staff and amazing room for all musicians who grace your stage to spread the joy though music. I will remind everyone again that you can follow East Coast Experience on Facebook or Instagram to get all of the info on the new album release, contests, and new show dates. This new East Coast Experience album paired with the special 12 Beers of Christmas from Perth Brewery, may be the ultimate Christmas gift bundle of 2025! Posted: Nov 29, 2024 Originally Published: Nov 29, 2024