Q&A with local musician Jerry Wessling

WASILLA— Valley raised musician Jerry Wessling is performed at the Mat-Su Fall Festival at the Alaska Raceway Park this weekend, and he’s one of several local acts lined up to play at the Alaska State Fair’s Harvest Festival.

Wessling recently participated in a question and answer interview to discuss finding venues to perform during the pandemic while touching on the Valley’s music scene.

So you’re going to be performing at the Borealis Theatre during the Harvest Fest, what do you think about that?

“It’s great to see they were able to come together and they were able to find an alternative venue…It sounds like the community is pretty onboard with it as well. It helps support the vendors that are at the state fair. A lot of those people, they depend on that for their entire income.”

How’ve you been finding gigs during this time?

This summer’s been a little less busy for sure… I’m just kind of testing the waters, you know?

“I’ve been playing over at Schwabenhof throughout the summer… I’ve also been playing here and there with Friday Flings; and you know, it’s the same kind of thing, the community coming together and still making sure everybody is able to have some income. I’ve seen a lot of support at the Friday Flings.”

What do you think about the fact that the fair and all these different places have been able to find ways for people to enjoy summer activities?

“I think it’s just really important from a community perspective. When you have a lockdown like that, I didn’t see anybody I knew for something like, geez, five weeks or something like that. I think it had a big effect on the community… I think it’s good for everybody’s psyche to get out and get a donut burger… This might be a nice way to get some normalization and have fun in a safe manner.”

So you know a lot of people in the music scene, how’s everyone else been finding gigs?

“I heard there's been a lot of activity happening at the different bars…I haven’t been out to Klondikes since the COVID thing’s gone down... I know that Mugshots has been doing a lot of music. They’ve still got music going on.”

In your experience, has the Valley’s music scene been pretty supportive?

“Oh yeah. We have a lot of really supportive musicians who try to raise people up. I think it’s a great community.”

How long have you been making music?

“I’ve been playing 20 years with the guitar. In terms of playing in the Valley, I’ve been in the Valley since I was 10 years old. So let’s see, that was 16 years ago. Time flies,” he said with a laugh.

After all these years, what keeps driving you to make music? What does it mean to you?

“I'm just an avid music lover. I'm just very, very passionate about it… It’s such a deep category. just a deep dive into different genres.”

What do you think about the talent out here locally?

“There's a lot of really talented musicians; and I’m really impressed with the supportive nature of all the musicians out here… Just a ton of talent. I recommend you go out and see people’s shows. I’m highly entertained.”

What’s your advice to upcoming musicians trying to break into the music scene?

“Always get better. The most important thing is the product you're putting out, almost like individual, personal criticism… It’s a constantly improving and constantly growing process. As you as your music stagnates, your music dies… If you're good, people are gonna find out about it… There's a certain magic when you go to a live performance, you feel it in your chest.”

Do you have any other gigs lined up?

“I don’t have a ton lined up… I will be playing the Oktoberfest at Schwabenhof in October.”

For more information about the Jerry Wessling Band, search them on Facebook or visit thejerrywesslingband.bandcamp.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com