Networking Works For "Grave" American Songwriter, July/August 1994 by Deborah Evans Price When songwriter/bass player Gavan Wieser met a retired embalmer turned punk rocker named Jo Dina at an Arizona Songwriter's Association meeting he had no idea of the musical adventure that was ahead. Since then their group, One Foot In The Grave, has released a CD titled Looking Good ...Who's Your Embalmer, produced by Mojo Nixon, and has recently completed a European tour. They've appeared on numerous television shows including Entertainment Tonight and have been profiled in People and The Wall Street Journal. One Foot In The Grave consists of lead vocalist Jo Dina, 53; drummer Gino Costa, 77, guitarist Mike Genova, 22; guitarist Bill Haislip, 68, and Wieser, 51. Some of the songs they've become known for are such tunes as "Aches, Pains and Capital Gains," "Clean Up Your Room," and "Menopause." Though they've garnered a lot of attention for being "antacid rockers" and playing music some refer to as "metal pause," Wieser says on their sophomore release they are anxious to show the music community they are more than a "one trick pony" through their musicianship and well crafted songs. The ages of the songwriters involved in One Foot In The Grave naturally make the subjects they write about different. Teenage angst and the youthful search for security and identity are issues these rockers have already met and resolved. Thus, their music reflects more mature themes. "I'm 51 years old. I'm not necessarily concerned about loves I've lost or getting a job or those kind of things, but there are other things to be concerned with. As you get older you look death in the face all the time." Wieser says. "You're constantly living life on the edge." Lest anyone think One Foot In The Grave's music is too deep and dark, there are songs such as "We're Spending Our Kid's Inheritance" that are definitely on a light note. And despite the advanced age of most of its members, One Foot In The Grave draws both young and old to their shows. Though each member of the band writes, Jo Dina and Wieser are the primary songwriters. Wieser says it's their differences that make them successful as collaborators. They have very different lifestyles and different approaches to writing. Wieser has been writing songs for 30 years; Jo Dina hasn't been writing long. Wieser compares the collaborative process to a marriage and admits it takes time to work into a groove. Wieser is glad he and Jo Dina struck up a conversation that day at the Songwriter's Association meeting and urges other writers to take advantage of local songwriter organizations and all opportunities that come their way. "Networking is so important," Wieser states, "because you can sit in your little room and write forever, but if you never show them to anybody or send them to anybody you miss [opportunities]. It's really important to make contacts. I can't emphasize that enough....You have to love it and keep doing it. Perseverance and networking are really important. Last update 10-Mar-2002. © One Foot In The Grave. Contact us or sign the Guest Book.