Episode 3 · Zach Zwerdling · June 15, 2023
Zach Zwerdling joins Scott Hammond to talk about law, music, community life, and the overlapping work of building a meaningful life in Humboldt.
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What this episode covers
- Balancing legal work, music, and community engagement
- The local bands, parks, and arts scenes that shaped Zach’s life
- How public service, performance, and creativity intersect
- What harmony looks like in work, art, and civic life
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Transcript
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Scott Hammond: Hey, Zach. Good to see you.
Zach Zwerdling: Hi.
Scott Hammond: How you doing?
Zach Zwerdling: Doing good.
Scott Hammond: Ladies and gentlemen, my friend, the man, the myth, the legend, uh, Zach Zwerdling. Uh, local attorney and, uh, singer in a rock and roll band, at least a player.
Zach Zwerdling: Player. I– Not singing.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Which is a good thing.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. That's okay.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: No, I, I'm a big fan of, of Ghost Train and, uh, just always love to see you guys. And you're playing… I guess you're gonna play in McKinleyville at the, uh, park again.
Zach Zwerdling: That's right. Both bands, actually, Amber Soul and Ghost Train.
Scott Hammond: Great.
Zach Zwerdling: The two bands. Both unique.
Scott Hammond: Great.
Zach Zwerdling: Very good bands.
Scott Hammond: So I wanna hear, how did, how did you get to… Tell me about your journey. How did you get… Where were you raised? How'd you get to Humboldt?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, my family moved here in 1959, and, um, so I started school in McKinleyville.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Went to Arcata High School, uh, then on to Stanford University, University of Santa Clara Law School.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, started practicing here in Humboldt County in 1976-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … as a young public defender for a couple years, and then I went into private practice, and I've been doing that ever since. Um-
Scott Hammond: Hm
Zach Zwerdling: … and, uh, in, uh, 2026, I'll have my 50th year of practice.
Scott Hammond: That's wild, 'cause you only look like you're, like, holding 50 pretty well.
Zach Zwerdling: I've got a good makeup person.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, me too.
Scott Hammond: So, so what inspired you g- to get into law?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, you know, I, um… When I was in high school and, and college, the Vietnam War was a, a big thing.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, I was pretty much against it, in fact, 100% against it, and, um-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … I just thought the best way that I could contribute to the effort to stop the war was to get involved in the law-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … and politics. And, um, uh, that was, that was the primary goal. But I, you know, I was interested in, uh, uh, debate. I was on debate teams at Arcata High and various other schools. I, I like the verbal discourse thing-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … with people and, uh, and, uh, trying to resolve differences in an amicable way.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And the law's good for that, at least for some lawyers. Some lawyers aren't so amicable, but, uh-
Scott Hammond: Right. Right
Zach Zwerdling: … I try to be.
Scott Hammond: I have an 18-year-old that's, uh, I'm working. He's a good debater, but he's not amicable.
Scott Hammond: Yet.
Zach Zwerdling: He may, he may make a great lawyer then.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, I think he'd be a, an-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … fabulous lawyer. So what did, what'd you study at Stanford?
Zach Zwerdling: I was a history major.
Scott Hammond: Oh, wow, okay.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, yeah, it was really interesting stuff, and, uh, g- good liberal arts education.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, then, like I said, I went to law school and came right back to Humboldt County. It's where I wanted to be. This is my home.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, this area means a lot to me.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, I've raised my family here. I have two kids, and, um, it's, it's been a great place to, to l- as you know-
Scott Hammond: It is amazing
Zach Zwerdling: … to live and to raise children. There's, there's very few places in the world like it.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, I think a hard stop on that. I, I think, um, since COVID especially, Joni and I have gone on dates up at Camel Rock and Scenic Drive and, um… Yeah, yeah, folks, cheap date and, uh, Dick Taylor chocolate and a bottle of wine, and, uh, we're on our way, and here I am sitting over the, the sunset of the Pacific, and it's 60 degrees and beautiful, and, and I'm looking at my phone, and people are… It's 20 degrees in Des Moines and Sioux City, where I'm from in Iowa. I go, "What… Wonder what, wonder what they're thinking?" I, and I live in, we live in such an amazing, magnificent-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … use another word, uh, descriptor, area. It's… You're right.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm.
Scott Hammond: It's really beautiful. So were you raised in McKinleyville then, or is that here?
Zach Zwerdling: Pretty much, yeah. We m- moved to Arcata, you know, somewhere along the line there. But-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, so McKinleyville and Arcata primarily.
Scott Hammond: So you were there for the open ditch sewers on both sides of Central in the back in the-
Zach Zwerdling: I was in one of the early Pearson developments out there on, uh-
Scott Hammond: Oh
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, can't remember the name of the street, but near Morris School-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … which is where I went as a, as a kid.
Scott Hammond: Okay.
Zach Zwerdling: So.
Scott Hammond: So that's going way back, yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yep.
Scott Hammond: That's-
Zach Zwerdling: I was there when they put the totem pole up.
Scott Hammond: Oh, wow, okay. Greg Pearson-
Zach Zwerdling: I remember it.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, it was at a chamber mixer. Greg Pearson just took the top of it down-
Zach Zwerdling: I remember
Scott Hammond: … a couple weeks ago. Well, anyway, so. So great. So and then so you went to Santa Clara to get a, a law degree.
Zach Zwerdling: Right.
Scott Hammond: All right. What did you… So you came back to the public defender's office?
Zach Zwerdling: Right.
Scott Hammond: How long were you there?
Zach Zwerdling: A couple years, which is typical, and then I got invited into a, a couple of different firms. I went from one firm to another and eventually started my own practice, um, what was it? Maybe three, four years after I got out of the public defender's office.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: And-
Scott Hammond: How many years is that now?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, uh, like I said, I started practicing in 1976.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: So we're going on 47, I think.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Something like that. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: That's amazing.
Zach Zwerdling: It's been a long, long, uh… But I love it, and you know, my son is a lawyer in my office currently.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, it's really… In fact, he went to Stanford and Santa Clara too. He's kind of been following in the footsteps a little bit. Um-
Scott Hammond: That's great
Zach Zwerdling: … but I'm helping guide him and guide the rest of the office. We have two other lawyers, and, uh, it's, it's, it's cool. I'm kind of, uh, mentoring-
Scott Hammond: I like it
Zach Zwerdling: … now, and, uh, um, I have d- I do have some experience.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: So it helps.
Scott Hammond: I- it turns out I'm writing about that a lot, thinking about that, uh, of late, mentoring, su- succession planning, um, discipling others, and 'cause all… you got all this experience. In fact, I just wrote two, uh, blogs in my last two days, uh, 'cause it was ta- I was talking and thinking about this, um, my top 10 pitfalls that I would write to, to, to younger, younger me or younger mes, uh, to look for, and, um, it was- they were interesting pitfalls. I, I, I, I won't, I won't talk about them much more other than to say that, uh, they were mine, and I learned from them, and I, you know… I, I really envy you 'cause you're, you're kinda, I think you're where I wanna be in terms of succession planning, and, uh, I don't know about exit strategy, but-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … something like that.
Zach Zwerdling: Yep.
Scott Hammond: So that's really cool. So-
Zach Zwerdling: I'm very lucky
Scott Hammond: … biggest challenges in legal profession?
Zach Zwerdling: Oh, you know, it's a, it's, it's a tough way to make a living.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, I, I think you have to find your place, and, uh, it's not for everybody.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, I've been really fortunate. You know, I've got, uh, because I c- went to local schools, I had a pretty good client base here, and, uh, I've been involved in a lot of community activity, uh, a lot of nonprofits. Music is kinda my passion as-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … as you know. Uh, and so through all of that, I've been able to, to, uh, have a fairly successful practice, and-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … I've been really happy with it. I've had some, uh, good results in court, some not so good results.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, but you know, there's something very satisfying about representing a person in need-Who is, uh, in our, my situation, we do personal injury cases.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, all of my clients, uh, have m- very serious medical, uh, problems that, um, uh, it's nice to be able to do something for them.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, help them out is a satisfaction thing, so.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. And you guys are award-winning. It just… And you wouldn't s- come on and say that, but I could say it, and you could talk about it. You've won a couple awards as-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … the office, and do you wanna-
Zach Zwerdling: Well, uh-
Scott Hammond: Please tell me more. I'd like to-
Zach Zwerdling: Okay. Well, I've, you know, Best of Humboldt a couple times.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: But, uh, the really significant awards are some national trial lawyer organizations-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … that I've been inducted into. Uh, you don't apply. You get invited to join based-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … on your track record. And, uh, these are both national organizations. One's called ABOTA, and the other is called the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And those are my biggest honors, and I was very, you know, very proud to get them. I'm the only attorney in Humboldt County that's in those organizations.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, that's just based on years and years of trial practice-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and getting some good, g- good verdicts. And, uh-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … so a little bit of a national recognition there. I've had a couple of national cases, actually.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: So, um, anyway.
Scott Hammond: That were, that were tried here in Humboldt?
Zach Zwerdling: They were not. Well, they actually were settled. Uh, one of the, the most tragic case, uh, I was involved in this case against Carey Stayner in the Yosemite murders back, uh-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … I think that was in the 2000s. Uh, I represented the family, um, of the victims and, uh, ag- against a motel where they were murdered. Um-
Scott Hammond: It's the Carrington family?
Zach Zwerdling: Carrington family.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Correct. Um, and that was a very, very difficult emotionally-
Scott Hammond: I bet
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, case. And, uh, we got a good result for everybody, and, um-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … I got interviewed on a lot of national TV. It was-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … it was quite an experience.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. Boy, that's a heavy story.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: So, um, challenges that you've had and overcame as a lawyer. A- and I wanna get to the music stuff 'cause that's-
Zach Zwerdling: That's the fun too. That's the fun part.
Scott Hammond: Sure, the lawyer is kinda day job stuff.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: But I wanna hear about music in a minute.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: But what do you, um, uh, I don't know, top lessons you've learned as, as a, uh, a lawyer, mentor-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … guy that you are over 50 years.
Zach Zwerdling: I, I live a… There's a rule that I developed, and I've trained the attorneys in the office to follow it. It's called the 24-hour rule, and, uh, when you get upset or mad about something-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … which happens.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Other attorneys, clients, uh, defendants in cases, judges-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … will do things or say things that get you upset, and the worst thing you can do is to respond to it in the moment.
Scott Hammond: That's good.
Zach Zwerdling: Give it 24 hours. Let things settle down, and you, uh, generally find out that it's not as bad as you think it was.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: And you don't burn bridges, and, uh, somehow things keep going. It's, uh, it's, it's been a very, uh, uh, productive rule.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. And I… What they say is, "Sleep on it. Don't stay awake on it." That's why they say go to bed.
Zach Zwerdling: Well said. Yeah, that's it too.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Same idea.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. Well, our, um, my son who's turning 40, uh, when he was younger, we'd just say, "Jacob, just please, let's end the day. Go to bed. We're gonna… We're… It'll… I swear to God, it'll look different in the morning." And it always does.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: And now at 63, I have to obey that same rule. It's like, "Oh, I'm, I've gotta fix it tonight." No, you don't. Have to react to it. I'm gonna write that email right now, and it's like Johnny's going, "No, you're not. No, you're not. Just c- cork that." And it's such-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … such a bit of sage wisdom, you know, in that direction. So, um, so again, chief challenges in, in the industry that you would have as, as a trial lawyer-
Zach Zwerdling: Well, you know, it, uh-
Scott Hammond: … team?
Zach Zwerdling: … as a trial lawyer, I mean, there, there are, are, you know, elements in society that want to limit the rights of victims-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … to, to get fair compensation, and we're fighting that all the time.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, so that's the biggest challenge I would say professionally. California, actually, we've, uh, we've been pretty successful in protecting the rights of victims.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, and, uh, you know, most of the laws, most of the rules, um, are, are fair and I think, uh, applied fairly in, in the state. So, uh, you know, that's not a huge challenge for us. It's more difficult in other pos- parts of the country. We're lucky here. Um, you know, I, I think the, the, the main thing is just, uh, maintaining integrity.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: You know, trying to be honest and truthful with people that you deal with-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … so that they're the same with you, and developing that kind of respect within the legal community and in the public, uh, is a huge part of success, I think. Um, people tag you pretty quickly.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And if you screw up once, you might get a break, but you do it twice-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, it's gonna follow you around for a long time.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And so you just try really hard to, you know, be yourself, be natural-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and care about people. I mean, that's the main thing I worry about. I worry about my clients all the time, and, um, that's just one of the things-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … that comes with the job. And, uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … I don't go home and turn it off. It's there. It's going on and on. I'm in the shower.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: I think of a argument to make in court. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, it's just one of those things. You live with it, and you either like it or you don't.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: Yep.
Scott Hammond: I like that integrity idea that… So, uh, what I heard recently is connection and relationship also involves accountability and responsibility to, to not get that two or three strikes.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: And especially in a small town, it's like the… This is… You, you could screw up once maybe.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: And, and then it's, like, um, not good. And-
Zach Zwerdling: We have a, we have a strong legal community here. There are some really fine lawyers, and, uh, I, I'm often told by out-of-town attorneys, especially big city lawyers, that they wish they could move here-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and practice law because we all know each other. We respect each other. And, uh, you get to know the judges on a first-name basis typically.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, it just makes the whole practice, uh, process more… It's more… Uh, it's, it's not casual. Um, you know, we're not quite as strict as maybe some of the bigger-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … cities or, or bigger court- courts, but it's a, it's a great place to practice and, and to, um-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … to, to have that kind of relationship with people. It just makes a big difference. Uh.
Scott Hammond: You know, and a- as much as we talk about Humboldt and, you know, the, I don't know, crime rates, drug rates, alcoholism, drug abuse, criminal, w- homeless, whatever you wanna go at, it's really cool to know that there's individual networks like your own.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Um, it's true for the regional center community, special needs community. They're-
Zach Zwerdling: Right
Scott Hammond: … they're one of the best regional centers in the-
Zach Zwerdling: Absolutely
Scott Hammond: … in the state. Um-And, and to, to know there's, you know, Mary Keane out there developing this special needs farm behind Grocery Outlet, and, and, uh, we are up in, uh, McKinleyville. So it's, it's kinda– y- you gotta look a little bit, but there's a lot of, there's a lot of that integrity that you're talking about.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: I like it. So I wanna talk about you personally for a minute. So here comes, here comes the really hard questions. So who, who was Zach Zwerdling at 15?
Zach Zwerdling: Oh, well, I, yeah, I was a high school kid. Uh, like I said, I was very committed to the anti-war movement. Um, I was student vice president at Arcata High School, and I did a lot of things to sort of develop social, uh, consciousness-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, environmental issues. Um, and I started playing music when I was about that age.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: I saw The Beatles on "The Ed Sullivan Show"-
Scott Hammond: Sweet
Zach Zwerdling: … 1964, February 1964, and I said, "I wanna do that."
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, went out and bought a guitar at Nygaard & Greene in Henderson Center. I still have it, as a matter of fact. And, um, it's just been a passion ever since.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, I, I would say that that particular band, uh, has, has been a source of inspiration for-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … many, many years.
Scott Hammond: I think if I got this story right, you'll… you could correct me. They, um, they offered a X amoun- amount of dollars to be on the show once, and the manager said, "We'll go on three times."
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: And they did. Anyway.
Zach Zwerdling: I believe the total pay that they, uh, got for those three performances was around $3,000.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, it was really nothing.
Zach Zwerdling: It's hard to imagine.
Scott Hammond: But it really launched the-
Scott Hammond: … the brand.
Zach Zwerdling: Oh, boy.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah, the, the British in- So did you play rock and roll starting?
Zach Zwerdling: I did. Yeah, I was in a high school garage band.
Scott Hammond: Uh-huh.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, played a lot of gigs around, uh, Arcata, mostly Arcata High School, but we played a gig at Winchelp and various schools in, in Eureka.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, it was fun. It was good.
Scott Hammond: Nice.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, yeah, and, uh, yeah, I kind of… When I went to college, I jammed a lot with people but didn't have a formal band.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: I didn't get any bands really started until I, uh, actually, you know, 20 years into law. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Okay
Zach Zwerdling: … yeah, the first 20 years was getting the career going, getting-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … the practice going, starting a family. And then as time kind of opened up a little bit, uh, I was really wanting to be in, in bands. And one of the things I do is, um, I've not only formed bands that I'm in, uh, but I've helped form bands for other up-and-coming musicians.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: I don't know if you know this, but I have a small record label called Mercury Sky Records.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, and we have produced five records, uh, so far in the last seven, 10 years. Um, and it's just been a matter of, uh, I, I hear or I hear about a particular-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … musical artist locally and check 'em out, and, um, m- many times they don't register with me, but sometimes there's a spark of genius in there, and I-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … promote these, these artists and, um, help them produce records. Uh, and then in some of the… some cases, I actually play with some of the musicians that I've produced.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: And that's, that's really been fun, too.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. No, I've-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … seen some of your bands.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: So do you… Is this with, uh, Jimmy Foot?
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Or-
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, Jimmy's in… He's– It's his studio where we record-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … all the records. Uh-
Scott Hammond: And he's got a world-class studio, right?
Zach Zwerdling: Very good studio, and a, a top-notch engineer named Dominic Romano, who… the only person I'll work with. He's, he's fantastic. Um-
Scott Hammond: Producer's nodding his head over here.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Dom-
Scott Hammond: You know that… You know who that is?
Zach Zwerdling: He's a bit of a local legend, and I mean, he went to college and studied sound engineering. I mean, that's his thing.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: And he's also very talented musically himself.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And I've known him for a while. A very, very, very nice guy. So, um, yeah, I– These, these five records that we've put together are pretty nice. They're on Apple, Spotify, all the streaming platforms. Uh-
Scott Hammond: When you say five records, five singles, five albums?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, actually, there was one single.
Scott Hammond: Collections.
Zach Zwerdling: Our most recent release was a single. Uh, Brianna Penner, who's in, uh, Amber Soul.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, it was a, it was a single that she recorded-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and, uh, we, we released. Very, very strong song.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, but the rest of them have been albums, CDs.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, and they're all, like I said, they're all available on streaming platforms. Uh, um, I- I'm, I'm really impressed. I mean, one of the things that I wanna get across here, if I get the chance to, is just-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … th- you know, this particular location in the world has an incredible musical base.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: I mean, our… there's art here all over the place. We know that.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: There's many, many different forms of art. But I continue to be amazed at the quality of musicianship in this community-
Scott Hammond: Sure. Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … and all genres, you know, classical through jazz through rock, and, um, I just… It's an honor and pleasure to work with some of these people and-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … help find talent and get it going. Um, I'm actually right now working on getting a young s- female singer in Redding, a 15-year-old, onto "The Voice."
Scott Hammond: Oh, really?
Zach Zwerdling: So that's a new project-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … I've taken on. And, um, one of my, one of the other singers I produced, uh, didn't, uh, applied for "The Voice," got a, got an audition, didn't make it on the show.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, it's been very fun to do that, just, just helping-
Scott Hammond: I bet
Zach Zwerdling: … give these people a little bit of a nudge and the, the ability to c- to compete. So it's, it's, it's, it's what I love.
Scott Hammond: So I wanna talk about your five bands, uh, or the three, two band. You're in two, but you've launched five.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Let's… So talk about Ghost Train to start. Is, is that-
Zach Zwerdling: Okay
Scott Hammond: … the foundation?
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, yeah, that's the oldest band. Uh, it's been around about seven years.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, you know, it's a, it's a great cover band. We do a whole range of music, all kinds of different styles.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, fantastic musicians in it. Uh, Christina D'Alessandro's our lead singer.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, she's a knockout performer and knockout singer.
Scott Hammond: A good realtor.
Zach Zwerdling: And a good realtor, that's true.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, that's good plug. She, she'll, she'll appreciate that.
Scott Hammond: Christina.
Zach Zwerdling: She's always after me for plugs. Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: So there you go. Um, the other band that I'm in is Amber Soul with the Penner siblings. There's actually three of them in the band.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, they're phenomenal. Uh, they write beautiful, great songs, great music, and are incredible stage performers. You'll see them at Pearson Park if you come out to our show.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: And by the way, I'm gonna put in a plug real quick. Um-
Scott Hammond: Please
Zach Zwerdling: … Amber Soul's playing July 7th at The Eagle House as a benefit for Food for People.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, we're gonna play from 8:00 to 10:00 at The Eagle House, 20 bucks a pop, and-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … it goes to a good cause, and, uh, we'll put on a good show.
Scott Hammond: Good.
Zach Zwerdling: Hope, hope people come.
Scott Hammond: I'll be there since I'm a sponsor.
Zach Zwerdling: That's right, you are.
Scott Hammond: That's right.
Zach Zwerdling: Thank goodness. Yeah, you were one of the few people that jumped right up and said yes.
Scott Hammond: Oh, man, how could I say no?
Zach Zwerdling: I appreciate it.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, no, it's-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … my pleasure. I, uh-Now I'm big f- fans of those guys.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Have you met their parents?
Zach Zwerdling: I have.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. I heard they're really nice.
Zach Zwerdling: Very, very-
Scott Hammond: Very nice people
Zach Zwerdling: … they're the nicest people. You, you-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … can't believe.
Scott Hammond: I've heard lots of good things.
Zach Zwerdling: And I wanna know the trick. I don't know how genetics works, but how did three people all develop such incredible talent musically? I think a lot of it was their dad. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … he's apparently very talented musically, and-
Scott Hammond: Okay
Zach Zwerdling: … they, uh, uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah, I wanna meet them. So, so you got, uh, Ghost Train, Ambersol.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Who else?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, uh, other artists that I produce, uh, a woman named Rachel Becaria who-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, doesn't live here anymore, but we put out-
Zach Zwerdling: … a record. That was the first record on, on my record label. Uh, I've, I've put out records for the, uh, the Penners sisters, um, uh, you know, just a, a number of people, and, you know, they're all, uh, they're kinda unique, kinda talented. I don't necessarily-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … play with these records, honestly.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: I'm, you know, I'm, I'm a okay guitarist. There are people that are much better than I am, and when you record in the recording studio, you know, I want it to be the best.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: And so what I do, actually, I do pay and hire some of the best local musicians to back-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … these folks up in the studio. And, um, it, it makes the quality of the recording really good.
Scott Hammond: Amazing.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. The studio guys. So y-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … comfortable talking about who they are or gi-
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, some of the musicians that I work with? Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, some of the plugs or-
Zach Zwerdling: I w-
Scott Hammond: Or even just some of the local bands you like too, I'd be kinda curious about.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Well, you know, we do have a, a, a great, um, assortment of, of talent here. I mean, Object Heavy is an amazing band. Uh, they've been around for a while, and they're, they tour. They're, they're actually, you know, kinda making it to the next level.
Scott Hammond: Say, say that name again.
Zach Zwerdling: Object Heavy.
Scott Hammond: Okay.
Zach Zwerdling: A band in Arcata that, uh, primarily in Arcata. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … they've been around for a while. They're really good. Um, you know, my son's in a couple of other projects. Uh, he's in a band called Wild Abandon-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … with a very talented singer-songwriter named Melanie Barnett, who I helped promote early on and helped her find musicians to be in her band. And she writes her own stuff. Uh, they're w- worth catching sometime. Uh, all original music. Um-
Scott Hammond: Do they play at the Freshwater, uh, Benefit for the Land Trust or…?
Zach Zwerdling: I think they have. Yeah, they do.
Scott Hammond: Was that, was that Nathan? He's in another band with the guy-
Zach Zwerdling: Nate
Scott Hammond: … with the Crocs. Nate?
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, he's in that band, and the guy with Crocs, yeah, I think that's the guitar player.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: But, um, yeah. They're a really, really-
Scott Hammond: Yeah, they're great
Zach Zwerdling: … the relationship in that band is very, very unique. They're-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … they're really good. And, you know, the fact that Melanie writes music, um, to me, that's kind of the ultimate, if you can actually take-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … your talent and put it in your own words and-
Scott Hammond: Everything
Zach Zwerdling: … make your own song.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Uh, but yeah, the people that I work with that, that just do covers all actually do a really good job on them too.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, and, uh, Jimmy Foot is a phenomenal guitarist.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, he's been voted best guitar player in Humboldt County, uh, I think in North Coast Journal once or twice, and he earns it. Um, he's got-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … a huge track. He's played with a lot of big bands, uh, in his career-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … and opened for a lot of famous people, uh, and done a lot of recording himself. Uh, nice thing about working with Jimmy is we're about the same age.
Zach Zwerdling: So we're kind of the old guys in the-
Scott Hammond: The old guy, great
Zach Zwerdling: … crew. Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And, you know, my, my, both my bands are multi-generational. Yeah, we go from 20s through 70s.
Scott Hammond: Awesome.
Zach Zwerdling: And, uh, it's nice to have that kind of bridge with the younger-
Scott Hammond: Oh
Zach Zwerdling: … generation.
Scott Hammond: I think it's-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … it adds everything. So Jimmy seems like a nice guy too.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: So what other studio guys do you br- gals do you bring in?
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, you, you're putting me on the spot here, but, um, uh, there's a f- drummer named Sam Kaplan Good, who's very good.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: He's in Object Heavy actually, and he drummed in Ghost Train for a while.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, we had a great singer named Jamie Carroll, who a lot of people in Humboldt County know. Sh- she's a real, real socially conscious, great person. Unfortunately, she's moved.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: So she, she had to leave the band. Christina took her place. Um, you know, my son's a phenomenal bass player.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: I use that word too much. I'm sorry, phenomenal. But anyway, he, he's a terrific bass player, a very talented musician-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … and, uh, every project he's in is unique, special. He's in a jazz quintet with the Penners.
Scott Hammond: Right, I think I-
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, called, yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Called Young and Lovely.
Scott Hammond: Saw them. Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: They're really good, and they're competing at the Battle of the Bands at the fair this weekend. Uh-
Scott Hammond: It's coming up, right?
Zach Zwerdling: … Sunday, 4/20. Isn't that a great time to perform?
Scott Hammond: 4/20.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Perfect. Humboldt time.
Zach Zwerdling: Well, what's cool about it is they're a jazz quintet. They play traditional jazz tunes. Um-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and they're competing against rock bands.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: So we'll see how that goes. Uh, I hope the, the judges are open-minded about it, 'cause, uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … they're really, really good jazz folks. Uh, Devon Penner sings and plays organ. He's-
Scott Hammond: He's really good, right?
Zach Zwerdling: He's brilliant. I mean, anybody who knows Devon, listen to him play, um-
Scott Hammond: I think you told me somebody he's… He was in the Marine Corps band?
Zach Zwerdling: He was in the Marine Corps band. And-
Scott Hammond: Which is a no small thing
Zach Zwerdling: … and he did a lot of national, uh, touring with the M- Marine Corps Jazz Band.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, I believe he played at the White House once, uh, and a Super Bowl.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Various things like that.
Scott Hammond: Huh.
Zach Zwerdling: He's, uh, uh, he's a knockout performer and singer. Uh, great guy. Uh, he's, he's a- actually un- unbelievable. He could walk into any studio, I believe, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville-
Scott Hammond: Just play
Zach Zwerdling: … and kill it.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And just, he could do it. I mean, he's just a natural.
Scott Hammond: He's that good.
Zach Zwerdling: He's that good. Um, yeah, so th- those are, those are most of the folks. Uh, Trevor Enwright, our current drummer, uh, in both-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … bands, Ambersol and, uh, Ghost Train.
Scott Hammond: Know Trevor.
Zach Zwerdling: Really nice guy, very sweet guy, which-
Scott Hammond: Sheriff's office
Zach Zwerdling: … fun to play with. Yeah, he's-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … a core deputy coroner.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: So you know him through that.
Scott Hammond: I see him at the gym all the time, and great guy.
Zach Zwerdling: I can tell. He, he goes to the gym a lot.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Just look at him. Um-
Scott Hammond: Can you tell that I go to the gym?
Zach Zwerdling: Uh…
Scott Hammond: Don't answer that.
Zach Zwerdling: I'm like, I'm purging myself here.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, so-
Scott Hammond: I do yoga in the morning.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, good for you.
Zach Zwerdling: Um-
Scott Hammond: Pay it off
Zach Zwerdling: … so one, one other musical project my son's involved in that I help promote is, is, uh, was a band, uh, locally called The Gatehouse Well.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And they were a f- Irish folk, kind of modern folk. It's hard to describe this genre, but my son played bass in it, and, uh, Dominic Romano, the recording engineer I told you about-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … earlier, and a guy named Michael David, who's-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … unfortunately moved away. I produced a Michael David record.
Scott Hammond: Michael David's amazing.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, he's amazing. And, uh, we did a CD release party at the Eagle House. It was a big success.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Sold out. The other CD release party I did for Rachel Becara- Becaria also sold out.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, very successful, both of them. Uh, anyway, Michael and Dominic were the lead singers in the-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … in, uh, Gatehouse Well, and they're, they're missed. It was acoustic.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: All acoustic music, and, uh, very different than the rock and roll and jazz.
Scott Hammond: Did they play at, uh, the Folklife Festival at Dell'Arte?
Zach Zwerdling: Every ti- uh, uh, many times.
Scott Hammond: I think they… Yeah, I think we saw them. They're great.
Zach Zwerdling: They killed it. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Singing harmony. It was, you know, just they're all around just great musicians.
Scott Hammond: And Michael David, I mean, is there, is there a song he doesn't know or can't play? He's like-
Zach Zwerdling: If you go on his website, I think he's got 300 songs on there that you can just, you can pick and choose for a wedding and-
Scott Hammond: Wow, and he'll, he'll play it.
Zach Zwerdling: Just he can do it. And he can do it on the spot-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … which is amazing too. He's very talented.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Nice guy too.
Scott Hammond: Did he play "Free Bird" or "Stairway to Heaven"?
Zach Zwerdling: He would if you paid him enough. You'd have to pay for it though. It's not gonna be cheap.
Scott Hammond: So you'd have to really pay for that tune.
Zach Zwerdling: I used him actually– I've used Michael a couple times in, uh, recordings with, um, L. Penner, who's one of the Penner siblings.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: He played guitar backup on a couple of songs that we recorded, and just, it, it's just sweet. It's just perfect and, uh, you know-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … I can't say enough good things about him.
Scott Hammond: I, I think you got a real pulse on the, the, um, the… I don't– I wouldn't call it the music scene in Humboldt. I, I, I guess it'd be the music culture here.
Zach Zwerdling: Community.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, community. And, and there's so many people that we've seen over the years at Meadow River Brewery or now at Fieldbrook Winery-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … and, and, um, you know, the Bluegrass guys to the Interchangeable Band-
Zach Zwerdling: Fantastic
Scott Hammond: … and the like and-
Zach Zwerdling: And don't leave out this, the Eureka Symphony is wonderful.
Scott Hammond: Oh, great point.
Zach Zwerdling: They just did Mozart's Requiem, and, uh, I didn't go. I was out of town, but my son said it was a killer performance.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, we have a local young lady who I've re- recorded, uh, Clara Lyle.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And she's an opera singer.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: A professional opera singer.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: She lives in Brooklyn, New York, and she performs opera regularly.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: She came back to perform in the Requiem.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, and, uh, we did release a… There's a YouTube video and a recording that we did, uh, when she was in town once. Um, so I mean, we have… That's just part of the diversity that I'm talking about, um-
Scott Hammond: And Sara Bareilles when she comes back.
Zach Zwerdling: Hard to top that. I mean-
Scott Hammond: Yes.
Zach Zwerdling: … that's, that, that's amazing.
Scott Hammond: That was a great show. That was really fun.
Zach Zwerdling: I know. It was really good.
Scott Hammond: That was, that was a good time.
Zach Zwerdling: We were considered, Amber Soul was considered to be the opening act for that show.
Scott Hammond: Oh, wow. Okay.
Zach Zwerdling: Sad we didn't get it, but maybe next time.
Scott Hammond: Hey, there's next time.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Hopefully she'll be back. That'd be great.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: So, um, uh, in terms of local bands that you like-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … who do, who do you like to see play?
Zach Zwerdling: Besides my bands?
Scott Hammond: Besides your bands, yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Well, like I said earlier, I think, uh, you know, Object Heavy's definitely up there on the list.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, um, I like Wild Abandon, who I mentioned earlier.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, I'm just, I'm drawing a little bit of a blank now. There, there's a number of groups that I do go see.
Scott Hammond: There's so many, yeah, there's so many-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … guys that are, gals that are great.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Um-
Zach Zwerdling: You know, The Undercovers, I c- can't beat those guys.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: They're, they're a top-notch band.
Scott Hammond: No crap.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, the musicianship in that band is, is, is excellent. Uh, no question about it. Uh, I always enjoy hearing them play.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Also playing in McKinleyville-
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah
Scott Hammond: … this summer.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Just got a really nice lineup going all the way through.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, they do a nice job in McKinleyville.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: That Pearson Park thing is great.
Scott Hammond: Oh, it's great. It's Thursday night lineup, and it's-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … it's big. So musically then, what keeps you motivated and interested in all this? I think I already know the answer-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm
Scott Hammond: … but what, uh, I'll let you answer. What, what do you think's driving your train on that one?
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. It's, you know, it's hard to… I think it's hard to pin down exactly. Uh, I'm a little bit of a frustrated musician. I think if I had had, uh, you know, a tiny bit more talent, or actually quite a bit more talent, you know, I would've liked-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … to have done something with it professionally.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, I've always admired and, and-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … I, I love, you know, watching great musicians, uh, in, in li- I just saw Peter Gabriel actually, uh-
Scott Hammond: Oh, wow
Zach Zwerdling: … who we all know from many, many decades ago.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: And he's still powerful and strong. He's about my age actually, and he put on an incredible show in a, in an arena that I saw that, uh, you know, it just reminded me that-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … these guys, there's a reason why they're so good, and it's because they write great music, and they sing, and they're-
Scott Hammond: And he's still at it.
Zach Zwerdling: He's still at it.
Scott Hammond: Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: And he sounds just as strong as he did 40 years ago, 30 years ago.
Scott Hammond: He was with Genesis the day, right?
Zach Zwerdling: Right.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Then he went off on his own, and, uh, you know, "Sledgehammer" was his big hit.
Scott Hammond: Where'd you see him?
Zach Zwerdling: Paris.
Scott Hammond: Sweet.
Zach Zwerdling: Which is pretty cool. He's coming, he's coming to the US. He's gonna be touring.
Scott Hammond: The city Paris, not the, not the casino.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. It was, it was, it was Paris. I was like-
Scott Hammond: I bet that was great.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. It was fun and, uh, French audience is interesting. They're a little different than American audiences.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: A little more restrained, a little more polite. It was, it was-
Scott Hammond: Jody and I are gonna go up to see, uh, Brit, Brit Floyd at the, uh, Brit Festival.
Zach Zwerdling: That's a wonderful venue.
Scott Hammond: Supposed to be a… Yeah, they're supposed to be the, the Pink Floyd, uh, guys, but we'll see.
Zach Zwerdling: Cool.
Scott Hammond: We saw Australian Pink Floyd a couple years ago, and it was… They were just outstanding.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: We go, "Well, I don't… Uh, we don't know." But it was, it was one of the best, best shows ever we saw, so.
Zach Zwerdling: That, that's a band that certainly has a legacy that-
Scott Hammond: Oh, man
Zach Zwerdling: … people love and admire.
Scott Hammond: They were, they were so good.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: So what would you, what would you tell a young you or a young person getting into law or getting into music?
Zach Zwerdling: Hmm. Okay.
Scott Hammond: Uh, how would you advise them if you were to give them some sage advice from your lessons?
Zach Zwerdling: I think I would tell them that become a lawyer, get a job-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … get a regular, you know, some kind of source of income.
Scott Hammond: Get a day job.
Zach Zwerdling: And then make the music, you know, your passion.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And if you can make the music pay, which is very tough these days-
Scott Hammond: Boy
Zach Zwerdling: … and m- basically move into that world, that's great, but you're talking 1% or less than 1%, I mean-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … you're, to, to really be successful.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And if you can do both, you know, on parallel tracks-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … that's what I'm doing. Uh, it's, it, it works, you know? Um, so, uh, that… I would, I would recommend that if you really are motivated to be a professional musician, uh, you've gotta plan on, y- number one, a source of income, but number two-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … hit the road, practice, play as much as you can.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, you know, get a, develop a local following, and then try to-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … expand it by touring, which is what Object Heavy's doing.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: I mean, they toured San Francisco to Eugene. I believe they go as far as north as Eugene.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And they're developing a, you know, they have a base.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And people come out to see them, and it's, it's nice.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: That's a, it's a good thing. Uh, but every one of those guys has a separate job. I mean, they have day jobs.
Scott Hammond: They have day jobs. Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: That's right.
Scott Hammond: So what would you tell as- an aspiring lawyer, attorney?
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, you know, I would, I would say that, you know, just be committed to, um, caring about people. I think that's a key to it. I mean, I, I don't think you can be a good doctor or a good lawyer, um, un- unless you really care about people.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: If you don't care about people and other people's lives and the, and the problems that they face in their everyday existence, then you shouldn't go into those fields.
Scott Hammond: Right on. Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, you need to, you need to be committed to, um, trying to make the world a little bit better place for people-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, and, uh, and, and care. Care about the community. I think community is a big part of being a lawyer, uh, or any professional person.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: You are a g- great example. I mean, you are very community-oriented and, uh, kind of an inspiration actually.
Scott Hammond: Thanks.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, we need more of that, and we, you know, Humboldt County, fortunately, we have a nice, uh… group of people that do a lot of great things for the community.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: You're one of them. I try to do what I can. And, um, so I think that, I think that being a lawyer shouldn't be about just making money.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: I mean, that's nice if it happens.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: But I think you wanna make the world a better place, and you can.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: That gives you an opportunity to, to right wrongs.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And that's very satisfying.
Scott Hammond: Can I tell a story?
Zach Zwerdling: Please.
Scott Hammond: Here it goes. So my dad… Uh, I was in media sales before I was a State Farm agent, where, where I, um… Right before I became an agent, I went to Stanford and had two new hips put in.
Zach Zwerdling: Oh.
Scott Hammond: Bi- bilateral hip replacement. Really rad.
Zach Zwerdling: That, that's a big deal. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Big deal.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Uh, ch- career changer, and I became my dad, who was an insurance agent, so funny story. But, um, he, he came into our meeting. My dad was a, um, insurance salesman on Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, California. And I was real excited, "Hey, Dad, here's the, here's the paper. Uh, you know, give us all, give us all the s- the company secrets. What, what are the secrets to life?" And he sat there, and he got kind of uncomfortable, and he's really a talker. And he goes, "I'll just say it this way." He goes, "If you're in sales or in life or in anything just for the money, you're about half paid."
Scott Hammond: And I'm-
Zach Zwerdling: That's good
Scott Hammond: … I go, "Let me… So where's the rest?" He had… He goes, "I'm done, Scott. I'm not saying anything else. If, if you're in… If you're doing what you're doing for money, you're about half paid." And I thought, "That's exactly what you just said. You know, people don't care how much you know till they know how much you care." And it… I, I think the difficult part of that for, um, many of us, and particularly young people who perhaps are on a journey, they're just not self-aware enough to go, "Is, do I have what that takes?" And I think that's a developed gift over time and, you know, love for people and care, and that comes, um… We'll talk about that another time-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … wherever that comes from. I think that love for folks, um, is, is key, and it's everything. Um, real quick on the music front-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … uh, local but not local. What I've discovered, uh, and, and I wanna promote local music all the time, but it's this, that a lot of guys come through town that are freaking amazing.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Whether they're at The Steeple in Ferndale, Arcata Playhouse, or the Arcata Theater-
Zach Zwerdling: HSU
Scott Hammond: … or H-
Zach Zwerdling: Center Arts. Yeah
Scott Hammond: … H- oh, Center Arts-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … has had so many.
Zach Zwerdling: Right.
Scott Hammond: Uh, we saw Duran Jones and the Indications last year. I, I didn't know who that was. I had one of the best concerts I've ever seen. It was just… They were phenomenal. And, um, uh, but the one-off troubadours or the, the Wardens from Vancouver, BC, they're just-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm.
Scott Hammond: A warden up there is a ranger, and they're four guys that play bluegrass, and they have a slideshow of Banff and the park. It, it was just a-
Zach Zwerdling: Wow. I'll have to check 'em out
Scott Hammond: … there's, there's so much variety. It, it's these guys that come, that Martin Sexton. I don't know if you, uh-
Zach Zwerdling: No, I know Martin Sexton. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Is that, is it-
Zach Zwerdling: Folk, folk singers. I think-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … he was a folk singer. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. He was great.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: I, I just, um… You know Billy Bob Thornton and the Box, Box Masters?
Zach Zwerdling: Can't remember the name of his band, but, uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah. They were just here. It's funny-
Zach Zwerdling: I know them
Scott Hammond: … 'cause we saw them, uh, two y- two years ago, and all their stuff online is, is like, uh, it's, uh, rockabilly. But they played full-on Nirva- Nirvana grunge at 110 decibels, and it was just like, "Yes, I'm 63. I've, I've had it." I, I, uh… It was a little, it was a little much, so. Let's talk about you some more, if we could.
Zach Zwerdling: Sure.
Scott Hammond: Um, uh, hardest questions that my, my father-in-law would ask people is, uh, "Who are you, and what do you want?" So I'll ask you, Zack Sword, like, who, who are you?
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, you know, I'm, I'm just a, a person who, um, loves this community. Uh, you know, I'm a family man. I've got two wonderful kids. Uh, one's a doctor. My daughter's a doctor, and my son's a lawyer, and-
Scott Hammond: Grandkids?
Zach Zwerdling: No grandkids yet.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Hopefully that's gonna happen sometime soon.
Scott Hammond: Doctor and a lawyer.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, a doctor and a lawyer.
Scott Hammond: Wow. Wow.
Zach Zwerdling: My daughter works at the Open Door Clinic in Arcata.
Scott Hammond: Okay.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, and she's l- like me in many respects. I mean, she's, she's, she's got that commitment to people. Um-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … being a doctor these days isn't particularly fun, uh, and it certainly doesn't pay very well.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, but she's com-
Scott Hammond: Not here
Zach Zwerdling: … she's committed to it. Well-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … I think anywhere, unless you're a super specialist someplace at-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, like at Stanford. But, uh, you know, the doctors that we, we need, the family practice docs locally here, uh, they do- they don't get paid what they're worth.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: And that's just the way it is. But they do it for the reasons we just talked about. It's-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … it's very satisfying to take care of people. She has a, she has a lot of, uh, clients who, patients who really admire and respect her. My son's developing a really nice client base. So I s- I see myself as sort of, um, a, a little bit of… You used the word Genesis earlier. That was Peter Gabriel's band.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: I'm kind of the genesis of these two wonderful people who are-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … gonna do a lot for the community.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm. Love it.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, my wife Margie and I, you know, are so proud of our kids, and, uh, they both came back to Humboldt County-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … like their, like their dad did. Um-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … and they're gonna go on after I'm gone, doing great things for lo- locally, my son especially in music and law.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: So, um, you know, and, and, um, I've reached a point where I, I kind of… The idea of, of in helping promote music and various musicians who need a little bit of a nudge, a little bit of an, of a, of a, of an assist, um, it just feels good. It's-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … that's the right thing for me to be doing right now, and, uh-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … I, I like being part of that. Um, and then I'm involved in a lot of community activities. I've been on a lot of boards, nonprofit boards.
Scott Hammond: Mm.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, been active with the bar. Uh, I mean, a lot of things that, uh, I, I think are important.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And I feel like being a member of this community is a privilege and an honor-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … and I wanna pay back, you know-
Scott Hammond: That's awesome
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, pay things back here. I, I was very-
Scott Hammond: That's great
Zach Zwerdling: … lucky to r- be, to grow up here and, and, and-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … start off life.
Scott Hammond: And stay and have kids come back.
Zach Zwerdling: Yep.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: So lucky.
Scott Hammond: We have, we have nine, and, uh-
Zach Zwerdling: Can't get over that
Scott Hammond: … all of the adult kids are gone with no signs of coming back.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Um, it's funny how many kids do, though.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: And when they-
Zach Zwerdling: More and more
Scott Hammond: … when they come back, my son Jesse, who lived in Davis at the time, went to UC Davis, he goesMan, I can't believe how good the air is here.
Scott Hammond: He goes, "This is, like, the best quality air, like, in the world. Um, what, you know… Uh, Dad, this is amazing." I said, "Hey, you know, you could live here." He go, "Oh, no, thanks."
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: So they're off to the Netherlands and-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … anyway, so. Now it's-
Zach Zwerdling: It's hard, it's hard to get a foothold here, you know, economically, you know, professionally. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, there are a few careers that you can do okay in, medicine, practicing law, but, uh, you know, it, it's definitely more money in the big urban centers. That's what people-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, generally do th- do is-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, to increase their-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … income and everything. But I can't tell you how many times lawyers have come up to me. I said it earlier, and, "I wish I could move here."
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: "I don't care if, you know, I wouldn't make as much money, but this is the w- this is the life."
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: "This is where I should be." Um, I think-
Scott Hammond: I think, I think a lot of our realtor friends are seeing tons of people coming up just for the lifestyle 'cause-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … you know, COVID, they can work remote and, or work less and work their way out of a-
Zach Zwerdling: Exactly
Scott Hammond: … the grind and, and it's, um… I, I thought that interest rate would kill everything, and they said the real estate market's still-
Zach Zwerdling: Still hot. That's good
Scott Hammond: … still s- steady, yeah, steady Eddie. So how do, uh… I- if, if we were to support you in some way in terms of, uh, backing your causes, uh, I could… How could I help? How could, how could the public help, uh-
Zach Zwerdling: Well, you've already shown support for the Food for People benefit, and if this goes well, if we can get a, a full house there, and I'm really hoping we do-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … I'm gonna try to do it every year. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: It's a, it's a wonderful organization. They do great work in the community, and, uh, I'm just kind of honored to be part of this project-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, putting this, this benefit together. Um, you know, I'd, I'd love it if people go to see m- music, local music. You know-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … check out all the, the great-
Scott Hammond: That's good
Zach Zwerdling: … talent we have around here. Go to the symphony once in… you know, check that out. That's-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … that's well worth checking out, too. The jazz community here is very strong, the bluegrass community. Uh, just support local musicians, um-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … as much as you can. That means putting a little bit extra in the tip jar maybe.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: Uh, 'cause they, they, they're not doing it, you know, 100% for fun.
Scott Hammond: That's it.
Zach Zwerdling: They, it, it's nice to get paid.
Scott Hammond: It's nice to have gas money.
Scott Hammond: At five bucks a gallon.
Zach Zwerdling: You know, I, I know guitarists who go out and spend 15,000 on a new guitar and then 15,000 on a new amplifier, and then they play for 100 bucks a night, you know? It-
Scott Hammond: Wow. Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … it's just not, it's, it's just a ridiculous-
Scott Hammond: It's funny money. Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … economic model. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. So, uh, just to kinda cap off here.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: So what do you see for Humboldt? What do you wanna see?
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: What's your vision for our future? What are the opportunities?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, you know, I'm, I'm no expert on things like that, but, I mean, Arcata and Humboldt State are, um, uh, go to Cal Poly now, I guess. I… So, shows how far back I go, Humboldt State, and it's Cal Poly. I think that's, that's an engine-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … that's a driver that's gonna make our economy-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … just take off, I think. Uh, it's a real, uh, positive thing for the community-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … to have such a strong, you know, base, uh, educational base. You know, it's non-polluting. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … we're developing talent that's gonna help the rest of the world, and, uh, it's just, that's a wonderful thing, and I, I'm so happy to see that, uh, over the years, watching Humboldt develop into that.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um-
Scott Hammond: I like it.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Growing, growing people.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. And then, you know, the wind power things that are going on.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: There's a, there's a lot of interesting environmental things that are happening locally.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, it, you know, it's gonna… I think this area's gonna, it's gonna have to find its footing. I, I, I'm not sure the cannabis industry is the future. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … you know, I, I hope that some of these other th- the college and the u- well, the university, and all the environmental things going on-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, I hope those can become, you know, economic drivers.
Scott Hammond: Right.
Zach Zwerdling: And I think they will. Um, so yeah. That, that's, that's-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … my hope for the future here. Um, I hope-
Scott Hammond: Good
Zach Zwerdling: … not a whole lot of people move here and just-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … kinda keep it where it is right now, so that's a new-
Scott Hammond: It rains a lot, folks. It's terrible.
Scott Hammond: It just rains all the time.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, we do have a lot of fog, but anyway.
Scott Hammond: We call it, we call it, uh, Medical Desert at home, too, 'cause the medicine is, is dicey sometimes-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … getting, getting good healthcare. So-
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm
Scott Hammond: … um, different topic. I think of the Great Redwood Trail, too, coming in. Like, that's gonna be-
Zach Zwerdling: It's amazing. Yeah
Scott Hammond: … amazing, and then, um, if we ever tap the potential of Humboldt Bay and the, the surrounding bay, it's gonna be… It'd be great. You know, a big music venue at the old, um… Where were they gonna build the Hotel Helverson project?
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah, that was gonna be a, a big convention center at one time.
Scott Hammond: Right. Right.
Zach Zwerdling: It didn't come together, but who knows?
Scott Hammond: If we could do an amphitheater, you know. So I, who knows? We'll see what, dream and see what happens.
Zach Zwerdling: You know, I, just a short aside, I mean, live music in, outside Humboldt County is challenging.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: And I've put on live productions outside-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … and sometimes the weather just ruins it. I mean-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … you just, you're stuck, and, uh, you know, I've been to events at the Helverson that were really cold and chilly, and-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … it's no fun. If the sun's out, it's great, but, uh, it, it's a t- it's a challenge up here.
Scott Hammond: It's a dice roll, yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Hey, it's sunny. It's gonna be great. Oh, wait, it's starting to mist.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: It's the Humboldt mist. Does it ruin amplifiers and musical equipment?
Zach Zwerdling: Well, rain can. I mean, yeah, you, you don't wanna get elec- you know, water-
Scott Hammond: You don't wanna do that
Zach Zwerdling: … getting in electronics. Yeah. People have died on stage, you know, with-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … with things like that. But, uh, I, I don't think I've ever seen a show up here where it's raining.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: I've been to shows in New Orleans where it's, was raining, and people were outside. I saw Dave Matthews in a thunderstorm and-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … on the stage, and it was… I, I, I can't believe they continued to play. They eventually quit-
Scott Hammond: Right
Zach Zwerdling: … 'cause there was lightning kind of coming down-
Scott Hammond: Crazy
Zach Zwerdling: … and all that, but, uh, but we don't-
Scott Hammond: It rained, it rained at Woodstock, right?
Zach Zwerdling: It did.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And those guys al- a lot of them, there was, there was close to fatalities there because they had some electrical issues.
Scott Hammond: They're crazy.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Yeah, the whole thing just kinda could've been a disaster. Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Great. So, uh, I'm, I'll part with this. Uh, top three, uh, bands, your, your favorite stuff if you-
Zach Zwerdling: Uh-
Scott Hammond: Zach's stuck on a desert island, and you got three-
Zach Zwerdling: Okay. I would, uh-
Scott Hammond: … catalogs
Zach Zwerdling: … uh, The Beatles, no question, way above. Um, to, to me, they've, they've been an inspiration in my life.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: So that's, that's-
Scott Hammond: Sure
Zach Zwerdling: … that's easy. Um, wow, that's a, that's a tough question.
Scott Hammond: I should say top three aside from The Beatles.
Zach Zwerdling: Okay. That would, that would be a fairer question, actually.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, you know, I'm a, I'm a big fan of, of rock and roll, and, uh, I've just listened to the Foo Fighters today. Um, David Grohl to me is a, is a brilliant musician.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And I love everything those guys put out. I mean, it's just, uh, there's… You, what can you say? I mean, they're, they're, they're supremely good.
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm.
Zach Zwerdling: Um, I love The Rolling Stones. They're a bit of a parody these days. I've seen them a number of times. Uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … they're definitely one of the best bands around, though, and always have been.
Scott Hammond: Sure.
Zach Zwerdling: I love their music. And, uh, I love classical music, as you probably have gotten a-
Scott Hammond: Oh
Zach Zwerdling: … an indication here of that, and, uh, um, I actually enjoy opera. And so, I mean-
Scott Hammond: Okay
Zach Zwerdling: … I would say the, the San Francisco Opera is, is-
Scott Hammond: Okay
Zach Zwerdling: … another one of my favoriteMu- musical-
Scott Hammond: Wow
Zach Zwerdling: … forms.
Scott Hammond: Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Just saw an opera in Norway, actually.
Scott Hammond: That'd be fun.
Zach Zwerdling: A Mozart opera. Oh, it's really fun.
Scott Hammond: I saw one at the Hollywood Bowl. It was fun.
Zach Zwerdling: Did you? Cool.
Scott Hammond: Yeah. And then we saw The Who three years ago.
Zach Zwerdling: There you go.
Scott Hammond: Right before CO- It was amazing. They just-
Zach Zwerdling: I wish I, wish I had seen them in the '60s, but-
Scott Hammond: Oh, they were
Zach Zwerdling: … I didn't, yeah.
Scott Hammond: Yeah, I, I missed, uh, so many things.
Zach Zwerdling: Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: Grew up in San Diego, you saw a lot of shows. Uh, my top three, since you asked-
Zach Zwerdling: Go for it
Scott Hammond: … uh, Pink Floyd-
Zach Zwerdling: Good
Scott Hammond: … Decemberists, and, um, gosh, maybe The Who.
Zach Zwerdling: That, that's, that's not a bad list.
Scott Hammond: I'd like The Who. Yeah. Just for-
Zach Zwerdling: Not a bad list
Scott Hammond: … catalog.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Mm-hmm.
Scott Hammond: But anyway, appreciate you coming in. Any parting shots? Any other, uh … Wanna, wanna do a shout-out for the old, uh, Food for People thing?
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah. Once again, that's July 7th-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … at the Eagle House-
Scott Hammond: Okay
Zach Zwerdling: … which by the way, is a great venue for music. If people haven't been to the, to the Eagle House, it, there's a wonderful stage-
Scott Hammond: Mm-hmm
Zach Zwerdling: … nice dance floor. It's, it's a very fun place to go see music. July 7th, 8:00 to 10:00, we're gonna be playing two sets.
Scott Hammond: Nice.
Zach Zwerdling: Amber Soul, uh, featuring the s- the Penner siblings, uh, who are phenomenal musicians. I'm really proud-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … to be in a band with them, and a great cause. Uh, so that, that's coming up. Um, parting shots, I just, you know, I, I, I, I like people, and I, I wish people liked each other more these days. I'm-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … kinda worried about the division in the country. Uh, that's, I've never seen anything like it. It's-
Scott Hammond: Yeah
Zach Zwerdling: … way worse than it was in the Vietnam days, honestly.
Scott Hammond: It's just weird. Yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: And, um, I, I w- I, I'd like to see America come together again-
Scott Hammond: Mm
Zach Zwerdling: … some point, but, uh, and that's, that's kinda my… I think about that a lot. And, uh-
Scott Hammond: Yeah. Yeah, I think we all are.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: I think we are all concerned with you.
Zach Zwerdling: Yeah.
Scott Hammond: Um, oh, and when's Ghost Train playing, uh, in McKinleyville?
Zach Zwerdling: Oh, you are something.
Scott Hammond: It's coming up. Another-
Zach Zwerdling: I'm gonna say June 29th.
Scott Hammond: Could be. I think it may be the second.
Zach Zwerdling: Could be the second.
Scott Hammond: That, yeah.
Zach Zwerdling: Could be the second one, yeah.
Scott Hammond: The second one.
Zach Zwerdling: I believe so.
Scott Hammond: 'Cause I know we're coming, we're going to the one next Thursday, a week from-
Zach Zwerdling: I'm gonna, I'm gonna take a chance and say June 29th. I'll probably get some calls on that, but anyway.
Scott Hammond: That's all right. Hey, consult your, uh, Facebook page.
Scott Hammond: McKinleyville Chamber. Well, thanks, Zach. Appreciate you coming.
Zach Zwerdling: Thank you, Scott.
Scott Hammond: Appreciate you.
Zach Zwerdling: Appreciate it.
Scott Hammond: All right.