Brian Herrin, 37, is the keyboardist/vocalist for Decoy, performing at 5 p.m. Friday at Wellman’s Pub, 2920 Ingersoll Ave.
Q: How did you start working with Decoy and Chris Ranallo?
Micah (Wagner) and I started playing as an acoustic duo when I moved back to Iowa in 2007. We were playing at Drink, back when it was called that, and Chris came in with a couple other people and saw us play. He hopped up on stage with us and the rest is history.
Q: Your background is in opera. How did you end up in a rock band?
It is. I went to Simpson and studied opera, was a wrestler and played drums in jazz band. After that I went off to grad school to pursue an opera career. I sang opera professionally for close to eight years, then started a rock band with another opera singer down in Tennessee and switched careers. I haven’t done any opera in six or seven years. I could if I had to, but I’ve been busy with the band.
Q: How do you find the balance between performing covers and originals?
In depends on the bar we’re playing. If it’s somewhere like the Vaudeville Mews, we will probably play primarily originals. Or someplace like People’s or Bombay Bicycle Club, we’ll play originals unless the entire night is dedicated to us, because we don’t have three hours of originals. But we try to play as many originals as we can. When someone asks for a Decoy original, that’s always a good thing. But if people want to hear a cover, we’ll play it.
