Rich Westin, drums, and Marcos Arroyo, guitar, practice a set in the Westin's basement.
Keeping the Day Jobs with Rich Westin, drums, and Marcos Arroyo, guitar, will be playing Saturday night, June 25 from 7-10 p.m. at the Hungry Bear Bar & Grill. They hope to play once or twice a month on the weekends throughout the summer.
SEELEY LAKE – Conversations in the Arroyo's Cantina led to the formation of "Keeping the Day Jobs" band. Marcos Arroyo and Rich Westin sat around discussing music one evening with Arroyos' guitars hanging in the background. Westin advised he was considering getting a new set of drums. Arroyo encouraged the thought so they could play music together.
Arroyo grew up in Texas, joined the Navy and met his wife, Samantha in Washington. He was an electrician by trade working in Washington. Opportunity presented and the couple left Washington to return to Samantha's hometown, Seeley Lake five years ago. Arroyo joined the family business Deer Creek Excavating. They have two daughters.
Westin and his wife Debbie, both retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's office and moved to Seeley Lake three years ago. Westin has family roots in Montana but grew up in Pasadena, California. Westins have four grown children.
The original intent was just to play music together said Arroyo. A couple of weeks after the first conversation, Westin purchased an electric drum set and a month later the two were practicing.
"I had never played with a drummer before," Arroyo said. "I had never heard him; he had never heard me play or sing."
Arroyo is a self-taught rhythm guitarist. Previously Arroyo has not been part of a band or much of a public player. Westin started playing drums in the fifth grade with the school band, played in the eighth grade for the symphony orchestra and in the competitive drum line for the San Marino High School marching band. Westin also filled in for drummers with various small jazz bands in different bars before turning 21. Once Westin started his career as a police officer he just played at home listening to music.
Family and friends convinced the two to play for others after listening to them practice. Tamaracks Resort offered Arroyo a chance to open for Jaden Decker during a small event they had last summer, Arroyo said.
"I asked Rich, and he said, nope, not ready," Arroyo said. "We only had one song."
Arroyo played solo for that event.
"I got up there, and it was such a different experience," Arroyo said. "I told him about it and we would have killed it."
The practice sessions took on a new direction to learn more songs. "We mostly like funny songs," Arroyo said. The group practices in Westin's basement, learning new songs from recommendations by friends and family along with trying new songs they hear on the radio. They will work on a set list for playing at a venue the week before.
"We don't take requests, we are not that good," Arroyo said. "If you make a request, we will learn it for next time."
Coming up with a name for the band took some discussions. Family and friends suggested "Dig and Rich," a play on "Big and Rich," since Arroyo is an excavator operator by trade.
Instead they decided on the name "Keeping the Day Jobs," the duo only plays gigs on Saturday since Arroyo works full time.
"We don't plan to make a living at this," Westin said.
They play next at Hungry Bear in Condon on June 25 from 7 - 10 p.m.
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