Pastor Greg Spencer bluegrass bass vocals

Webmaster: How did you become interested in bluegrass music?

Greg: I met Clark when he moved to Waukesha and began attending the Waukesha Church of Christ where I preach. I learned he was a luthier and worked at White House Music. He also told me that he played bluegrass music and is the leader of The Front Porch Boys. The more I got to know Clark, the more intrigued I became with bluegrass music. We decided to sponsor a monthly Bluegrass Jam at the Church building. I didn't know a lot about it, but I wanted to play so I purchased an upright bass and began to practice Bluegrass Gospel songs. Finally when the Front Porch Boys played at our Church for a Christmas party last year, I got hooked.

Webmaster: Why did you start playing the bass?

Greg: When I was a kid, I sang Rock & Roll music in garage bands. At 16 my voice changed and I couldn’t sing so I picked up electric bass, I got to be pretty good at it and played and sang background in a lot of local bands and did some studio work.

Webmaster: What is it about bluegrass music that appeals to you?

Greg: While I was a Rock bassist I was drawn to Progressive groups like Cream, Hendrix, and Traffic who’s music involved improvisation. From there I embraced Blues and Jazz and was inspired by bassists like Red Mitchell, Jack Bruce, Malcolm Pool, Willie Dixon and Ray Brown.
Bluegrass is a lot like Blues being built on standard chord progressions with a lot of room for improvisation. I also like the emotive vocals and the stratospheric harmonies in Bluegrass Gospel music.

Webmaster: How did you get involved in the Front Porch Boys?

Greg: When Clark suggested that we hold Bluegrass jam sessions at our Church, I decided I would like to give upright bass a try. I bought a bass and started going to the jam sessions. Then when Jim left the group, Clark asked me if I would be interested in joining The Front Porch Boys, I was thrilled to accept.

Webmaster: How are you finding playing the upright bass, as opposed to playing electric bass?

Greg: It was quite a switch for me. The ergonomics, the hand positions, and the angles are all different but the tunings and the esthetics are the same and cross over pretty well. Nothing can compare with the percussive elements and the glissandos that are possible with a fretless instrument. And then there’s the bow……shame on me, did I say that?