Smart about being Stupid Providence band at The Box
BY MARGARET CARROLL-BERGMAN INDEPENDENT EDITOR

PHOTO TIBOR NEMETH Left to right: Omer Shemesh, Audrey Sterk, Floyd Kellogg and Heather Peroni are in the band I'm With Stupid, playing Monday and Tuesday night this week at the Box.

Audrey Sterk is not ready to put down her paintbrush. Yet the island artist, muralist and wallpaper designer is moving ahead with a music career.

Sterk is in the Providence, R.I. band I'm With Stupid, which will be opening for Spookie Daly Pride on June 24 and June 25 at The Chicken Box from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

"We are an indie garage band," said Sterk. "Our sound is fun and has an upbeat quality to it. It's simple and catchy."

The band recorded its first rehearsal - with some songs performed in the bathroom - and sent out a demo. The Stupids immediately got bookings.

"We did it for the acoustics," said Sterk. "We recorded a couple of them at 2:30 a.m., while we were getting ready to go to Japan later in the morning.

In addition to Sterk, Floyd Kellogg, Omer Shemesh and Heather Peroni are in the band. Kellogg and Shemesh are seasoned musicians, having been a part of the Providence music scene for a number of years. Kellogg is the band's front man and lyricist and Shemesh is the musical arranger. Peroni, who is an actress in New York and California, makes Nantucket her home base and adds "flair" and showmanship to the Stupids.

PHOTO TIBOR NEMETH The Stupids rehearse in Sterk's Providence, Rhode Island studio. Sterk and Peroni live on Nantucket and Shemesh and Kellogg live in Rhode Island.

"Our first gi g wa s at th e Ro se an d Crown on December 14," said Sterk, who has lived on the island for 12 years. "We did not have a name, but a handful of names, and at the end of the night, we let the crowd choose and that's how we became I'm With Stupid."

It is an interesting second career for Sterk, in her 30s, who spends most of her time in isolation, either painting on canvas or painting on walls, to experience a roomful of people applauding her work at the end of each song.

"When I bring a painting to someone's house, there isn't a crowd of people standing there cheering and clapping," said Sterk lightheartedly.

"It's freeing. The connection with people is pure energy," she added. "It's a very unexpected and fulfilling creative endeavor. I did not expect in my life that I'd be part of a rock band. It folds into my art career. It makes me listen to music in a whole new way."

In the never-ending quest to have fun, I'm With Stupid tries to help its audience make connections.

"If you see me on the street and you ask for a flier, I'll give you a name tag with a number on it," said Sterk. "When you show up at The Box on either Monday or Tuesday night, look for your number and you will win a prize."

The band is dedicated to giving away free stuff.

"We can promise you a good time and free stuff," said Sterk. "We also have a hula hoop competition. When was the last time you played with a hula hoop?"

Sterk is not entirely a novice musician, having played the accordion in guest appearances with Ecliff and The Swing Dogs, an island band. She plays the drums in her new band.

Peroni sings back up and plays percussion, Shemesh is on toy piano, Fender Rhodes and psychedelic synth and Kellogg sings lead and plays bass.

Members of the band have toured with national acts, including Rusted Root, Jurassic 5, Arrested Development, Gavin Degraw, the Wailers and many others.

Sterk is looking forward for the Stupids to open for the Presidents of the United States of America for their 2008 tour.

"I'll never give up painting, but for now, playing music is fun," said Sterk.