How did the band start?

Vinnie and I had been talking on and off about starting this project since 2007, I think. He was still a senior in high school at the time. We joined up with Raj this summer. That's when the three of us decided we were going to proceed but with the expectation that we would find bass, brass, keys, guitar, and whatever else fit, in time for our 10/10/10 performance debut, which I had already booked. At the end of the summer I finally got the guts to pitch Armando, who I've always admired as a musician. Same with Sparky. They, along with Thuy, Jamal, Pete and Eddie, surprised me in fast succession by joining without hesitation. Jamal and Pete came on in time for only one practice before 10/10/10. Eddie's first practice was the show. There's been an element of improvisation at work from the beginning.

I've known everyone in the band for years in some way, personally, professionally and, now, both. Raj and Thuy and I worked together at the Spokesman-Review and were laid off at the same time. I've followed everyone else's creative endeavors over the last decade-and-a-half in my efforts as a music journalist. I recruited everyone individually, which has been a rewarding experience --  to bring together musician friends I've admired for so long but who've never met each other, and see them become friends and bandmates engaged in artistic dialogue and enjoying getting to know each other on a human level.

What does the name mean?

The name "Flying Spiders" brings to mind a number of images: dexterity and grace, the idea that aside from using its web to catch its prey this creature has evolved so that it may create the illusion of flight; in some cultures spiders are a symbol of good fortune. Spiders have a presence that provokes a response. There's a lot of mythology and metaphor to play with, plus I just think "spider" is a cool word. Spiders creep me out, but I respect their role in nature. But if spiders ever evolve so that they actually do learn to fly, that would be world-changing. If penguins ever figured out how to fly I imagine it wouldn't be that big of a deal.

Genre?

I refer to what the Spiders do as "organic hip-hop" because it's live instrumentation led by an emcee with an emphasis on the performance, but we're not aiming for, nor limited to, any one compartment. Thus far we've only had three shows -- 10/10/10 was a hip-hop show, Platform's Gogol Bordello After Party, with an Americana folk band from Reno featuring accordion and banjos, and the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party was plain eclectic. Good music is good music.

Influences?

The Spiders influences include jazz, classical, Latin, experimental, blues, indie, soul and R&B, hip-hop, funk and electronica, and there are apparent moments evidenced in the music. Hip-hop has a tradition of sample-based art that can incorporate any genre as long as it adheres to aesthetics such as the boom-boom-tick rhythm pattern. The Spiders approach music in a similar fashion, focusing on connectors rather than points of division.

Aspirations?

There's a ton of potential in this project, but ultimately I hope this group is, and will always be, a fellowship where good people have a good time playing good music together. Anything beyond that is a bonus.

Lineup?

Flying Spiders: Myself on lead vocals and auxiliary percussion; keyboardist, vocalist and auxiliary percussionist Jamal Ali; bassist Armando Arguello (Son Dulce, The Longnecks, Los Vigiles); violinist and vocalist Rajah Bose; guitarist Pistol Pete Johnson (The Longnecks); drummer and percussionist Vinnie "Cash" Nickeloff (Vax Lavala); pianist and auxiliary percussionist Thuy-Dzuong Nguyen (author of "The Truth Lenders" multimedia novel, which featured a rap Thuy and I wrote together); saxophonist, flutist, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Sparky (The Groove Patrol, Son Dulce, The Spokane Jazz Orchestra); and flutist and auxiliary percussionist Eddie Taylor III (Soup); and human beatbox MJ.

Invisible Spiders: Guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Adam Crowell (Deadcasuals), and sound engineer and harmonica player Brendan Biele (The Carcinogens), both made significant contributions to composing, arranging and transcription of Spiders material.

Satellite Spiders: We're being joined onstage by cellist Billy Mickelson from Bend, Ore., band The Dela Project for our Dec. 11 show at The A Club, while Spokane percussionist Ben Cater sits in with the band on Friday at the MAC.

Multiplying Spiders: We are actively recruiting more members and always interested in collaborating with other artists.

Photos Courtesy of Shayne Garcia, Nicole Hensley and Flying Spiders.