Cassie Van Gelder grew up on an Iowa farm in a family of singers. She moved to Canada to become a piano technician after college, and following several piano-related gigs, Van Gelder moved to Tucson in 2007 to be the piano technician for the UA School of Music. She plays keyboards and sings in Seashell Radio.
What was the first concert you ever saw?
If my box full of chronologically ordered ticket stubs serves me correctly, it was Keith Jarrett with Gary Peacock and Jack DeJohnette in 1999.
What are you listening to these days?
Mumford and Sons, Local Natives, Chris Merritt and Menomena.
What was the first album you owned?
Mariah Carey, Music Box, and Soundgarden, Superunknown, bought simultaneously. Before that, I checked U2 and INXS tapes out of the library.
What artist, genre or musical trend does everyone seem to love, but you just don't get?
Chillwave. It's fine; I probably even get it, but I don't want it.
What musical act, current or defunct, would you most like to see perform live?
I used to say Pearl Jam, but now, I'd say Coltrane with Monk or McCoy Tyner and Elvin Jones. If you're going to bring someone back from the dead, you might as well have your socks blown off.
Musically speaking, what is your favorite guilty pleasure?
John Mayer, Fergie, Jahcoozi and Modeselektor.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
"This Side of the Morning" by Del Amitri. Who am I kidding? Anything by Del Amitri.
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
I have to say The Beatles; I had no other choice. My mom piped it into the womb so I'd be sure to sing harmony with her later. If given the choice, I'd say Del Amitri (Justin Currie). That man can write a song.
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
I'll say Charlie Haden and Pat Metheny, Beyond the Missouri Sky, because it is perfect. I've listened to it exactly 1 million and one times.
