Maeve Bauer, Executive Editor
Every other Wednesday an eclectic mix of local musicians gather to give the people of Ripple Ray’s, a restaurant and bar in Carytown, a taste of Certified Donkey Brains. The mixed-genre rock band is made up of Matt Weiser, Walker Caskie, Nate Rice, Travis Full, Brian Holloman and Lynne Holloman.
For those who are fans of FX’s 18 season long show, “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” the name might invoke memories of the season 10 episode “Reynolds vs. Reynolds: The Cereal Defense.” In which, Frank Reynolds, with the assistance of Charlie Day, proves to the rest of “the gang,” that by the power of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Frank Reynolds is declared, “To not have Donkey Brains.”
While Weiser and Caskie were brainstorming ideas for a name, Weiser came up with Certified Donkey Brains. As most musicians do, they double checked online to see if anyone else had the name. Instead, he rediscovered the “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” scene and decided that it was a match. Weiser even commissioned the artist who made the Donkey Brain certificate in the show and printed out copies for their show on Aug. 26.
The members of Certified Donkey Brains have their own separate projects that they began working on prior to the formation of the group, Weiser said. He and Caskie created the band after a spot at Ripple Ray’s opened up and neither of their bands had the availability to take it.
Instead, they made a new one, forming back in February of this year. First acquiring the talents of Brian and Lynne, with Rice and Full joining on a little later.
Rice previously played with the band on a few occasions after he got off work and eventually started playing with them full time.
“He would show up at 10:00 and join us for the last hour for the first time,” Weiser said. “He was a last-set-kind-of guy, now he’s a full timer.”
Weiser and Rice joked back and forth about how Rice got a promotion within the group.
“He’s a little bit closer to the front of the stage now,” Weiser said.
Full’s story is similar, after joining the band for a few shows at Ripple Ray’s, he became a permanent fixture in the crew. Staying true to the band’s Instagram bio, “Certified Donkey Brains is when local bands stop pretending they’re not stealing each other’s bandmates.”
“The first time Matt and Walker and I sat down and played, it just felt like we’ve been playing together for a very long time,” Brian said. “ I think part of that is because we’ve been watching each other play, you know, cause we all go out and see each other and stuff. So, it just felt pretty natural.”
Certified Donkey Brains all specialize in different facets of rock and roll. Weiser said he’s from an instrumental jam band — Greasy Bastards, Caskie’s band— Soundwave Supply Co. — is described to play more funky, reggae music, as well as his solo music. Brian and Lynne’s band is more psychedelic with the very fitting name, Lucid Dose. Rice’s band, Mobius Strip, is speed funk, which he says is on the heavier side.
Each member enjoys the carefree creative outlet that the Certified Donkey Brains provides them, saying it gives them inspiration to bring back home.
“I think the coolest thing about it, every time you get a chance to play with different players, get more unique chances and opportunities just to discover new avenues and music that you wouldn’t have if we were all just focused on our one project, you know, that’s all we’d be looking at, it’s all we’d be thinking about,” Weiser said.