Kimberley Dahme is a hard-workin musician from Nashville who up until a few years ago split her time between playing in bands and selling songs. She accidentally became a member of the band Boston a few years ago, bringing a whole new attitude and stage presence to the band (she is much better looking that Tom and Brad in my opinion as well). She has dug right in and handles bass duties and anything else her boss throws her way.
Kimberley will be making the rounds across the USA this year with Boston. And while she still has to pinch herself to see if she is dreaming she can trust that this is for real. In fact, Boston is out with a vengeance and the rumor is there is more new music and possible a live DVD to come. She is a mommy as well and while the road can make it hard to be away from her family she has music in her veins and rock n roll in her blood. I sat down with Kimberley and discussed how she came to be in the little band out of Boston and what her new life is like.
Jeb Wright, June 2004
eb: My first thought is this: There is girl in the band Boston!
Kimberley Dahme: That is a normal reaction; I even had it.
Jeb: How did you get in Boston?
Kimberley: I was in the right place at the right time. I was playing in another band and Tom Scholz and Gary Pihl were out looking for a new drummer for Boston. They happened to see me onstage. I was playing electric guitar and singing in that band. Tom approached me after the show and asked me if I could play bass. I told him that I could learn. I immediately went back to Nashville and bought a bass and called their offices and begged for an audition. I ended up getting the part. I went into deep rehearsal mode for a year. The concerts come as second nature now but they took a great deal of wood-shedding at the beginning.
Jeb: Did you have any idea that Tom was in the audience that night?
Kimberley: I did. I am a huge Boston fan. It was funny because as they approached me, Tom introduced himself and I told him, I know who you are. I hate to tell you but you are kind of famous. I am a huge fan of his music. You can t get better than Boston and Tom and Brad Delp. I am very honored to be a part of this band.
Jeb: Did you ever think, Pinch me, I m dreaming ?
Kimberley: Every night I am onstage with them I feel that way. When we are playing Foreplay or More Than A Feeling I just feel like Oh my God! I look next to me and there is Tom and Brad and Gary. It is very surreal. I have worked with a lot of wonderful musicians but this band is my favorite.
Jeb: Did you have any idea that Tom was going to use any of your songs on Corporate America?
Kimberley: I came in at the tail end of the project. I would be in the studio and I would just start singing along. I naturally hear everything in harmony. When a person sings I hear in my head about eight different harmonies. Tom heard me singing and said for them to put a microphone on me. It really took a long time for me to realize what I was doing. It was several months after I joined that I finally went, Hey, I am part of Boston!
Jeb: You also sang lead on one of the tracks on the album, With You.
Kimberley: I wrote that in Berlin a few years earlier for my web designer and his wife s wedding. I was not going to be able to be in Berlin for their wedding and so I wrote them a song and recorded it the very next day. That is the same track that is one the Boston album. I have hundreds of original songs. I live in Nashville and I write all the time. I never anticipated that one to be chosen. All he wanted to do was add some harmony to the bass line and his guitar, of course.
Jeb: Corporate America has garnered good reviews and poor reviews. Do you think the negative reviews come from the fact that all other Boston albums follow a formula and this one is all over the map?
Kimberley: I think the idea Tom was working on was being more current sounding and not just being a classic rock band. I was amazed how well it goes over onstage.
Jeb: Your song is my favorite on the album. It is very emotional.
Kimberley: It is a genuine love tale. I tried to add in the flavor or country music on it.
Jeb: It is very weird to hear that sort of song on a Boston album. I have asked people to name the band when I play that song and no one has ever guessed Boston and they don t believe me till I show them the cover.
Kimberley: It is a great trivia question.
Jeb: Tom gets some shit from people. But you have to admit that he showed some balls to stick a country song on a Boston album and he puts it in the live show.
Kimberley: I love music as you can tell. I love performing and the people and everything. Bring it on!
Jeb: Where did you get the giant bass that you play onstage?
Kimberley: Tom and Gary designed it for the song that I play. We play The Launch with it; when the spaceship comes down. We put the heavy distortion on it and smokes billows out everywhere.
Jeb: First you have to practice for a year to get your chops down and then Tom makes you play a ten foot bass guitar!
Kimberley: I am not afraid of any of it! Whatever they want, I will do. It is wild as the frets are to speck but they are big.
Jeb: If you could step outside of Boston for a moment and speculate why Boston is still able to headline arenas across the country and get ten thousand people a night when so many of their peers cannot.
Kimberley: Boston still has that great selling debut. They have followed it up with great albums. A lot of people are intrigued by the band. Now they have a girl in the band. I was really impressed when he turned down a lot of shows with multiple acts on the bill. He knows his music has got it going on. We do everything live. People get curious to see if we can pull it off.
Jeb: In the old days everyone said Boston played with tapes.
Kimberley: We don t and we refuse to do that, no matter what. We have never even done it when we were playing on television. We are off the cuff. We just step out there and go. It is like an actor who has not learned his lines until right before he steps out onstage. We keep it honest. I like the fact that Tom stands by no recorded sounds. With all the sounds that he has created in the studio one might think we are the band that might rely on taped sounds but we don t do any. We have too many great musicians in this band.
Jeb: Is it hard being a mom with little kids out on the road?
Kimberley: I am out during the spring and summer months but then I am home. I can go to the Boy Scout meetings and things. My mom moves into my house and takes care of them when I am gone. We all believe that if you love something then you should do it. It is hard emotionally but they do get to come out and visit me.
Jeb: People say that rock n roll is a man s game. You are a very beautiful woman and I am wondering if that makes it any harder for you than the guys?
Kimberley: Because I am not a man, I don t know. In everybody s opinion, men work the hardest [laughing]. It is only hard when I am missing the kids. When I am onstage then I am in my own world. I throw all my cares away and just play music.
Jeb: What do you think about Midwest rock n roll crowds.
Kimberley: We have played a few dates in the Midwest and there were torrential downpours but they didn t care at all. One time it looked like there was going to be a tornado so the band kind of got a little closer together onstage but the crowd didn t care. We just kept the music going and they just got us into it more. I really enjoy that the people are diehard fans and really get into the music.
Jeb: The Wheatland Jam is not an Evening With Boston. You have to share the bill. Does that make it harder?
Kimberley: I don t mind. I get to enjoy some music while I am waiting to go on. I can go out and watch and listen to some great music.
Jeb: You are the headliner. Blues Traveler will open for you.
Kimberley: Blues Traveler will be fun. I will go out and hang and listen to some music.
Jeb: I went to ebony porn
your website and there is another side to Kimberley.
Kimberley: I just got done recording another album. I am not sure where my solo career is going to go. I hope it is something for the future. Boston is my first choice of a band but after that then I concentrate on my music and because I am in Nashville and have a publishing company, I try to move songs to different songs to other artists. Either Boston records it, I record it or I sell it.
Jeb: When do you sleep?
Kimberley: I don t! I just bought a home too so I am trying to get everyone situated before I leave again so it is like oohhhhh!!!
Jeb: I heard Tom is going to remix Corporate America?
Kimberley: There is a lot of stuff we are doing. We are working on some new stuff as well. I told Tom that I just want to hear what is going on in his head. I am going up next week to record some vocals for Tom. We will see. I am up in the air just like you are. I don t know if he is just going to do a new one or a remix.
Jeb: I want a new one.
Kimberley: I m ready.
Jeb: Is Boston going to record a DVD this summer?
Kimberley: I am crossing my fingers and toes that we do it but I don t honestly have the answer to that. I really want to do it. It would be very exciting for me to be involved with the first real live release Boston has ever done. I know there are a lot of bootlegs out there but to be part of the first official one would be an honor. I would just be happy to see the DVD. I would probably just critique is and wonder how I could play that lick a little better.
Jeb: Is the set list going to be the same?
Kimberley: We are playing some new stuff and mixing things up a bit. I have been giving some new songs to learn, so we will see.
Jeb: What is your favorite kind of music?
Kimberley: Normally rock but there are times I listen to classical and I really like what you can do with lyrics within the context of country music.
Jeb: You need to put on a guitar and trade licks with Tom.
Kimberley: That would be very fun. I am feeling very comfortable on the bass so I could even do that on the bass. Watch out!