W.A.C.O.

The birth of W.A.C.O. (Wild Acoustic Chamber Orchestra) was a reaction to the predominance of the guitar-guitar-bass-drum formula and the growing use of samples. The band morphed out of the Boston/Los Angeles group the Wild Stares -- singer/keyboardist/composer Steve Gregoropoulous, bassist Fran Miller, guitarist Justin Burrill and drummer/percussionist Kyle C. Kyle. The story goes that Miller booked the Stares for an acoustic night at an L.A. nightclub. She traded her bass for a cello, and Gregoropoulous tackled the mandolin, while Burrill and Kyle played their regular instruments. The group played classical arrangements of their songs and kind of liked it. The band soon became known at Wild Stares Acoustic Chamber Orchestra, and later simply Wild Acoustic Chamber Orchestra. And with the new sound came new members. Many new members. Beth Bergman played viola, Tassia Sonnabend played violin, Elizabeth Herndon was the flutist, and Possum Dixon's Rob Zabrecky played stand-up bass.