Ideal World Band began in a basement back in the 1990s. That may sound like a typical band yet, in this case, two guys, Dave Walter and Sherman Canapp, delusionally thought they could create original twenty-minute epic progressive tracks to gift to the world.
Soon thereafter, Neal Gaffney joined as their lead vocals, and a bass and keyboard player were added to the line-up.
The group quickly pushed aside the seed material, and the good news was that new compositions soon arose.
Armed with brand new original material and cover songs from British New Wave artists such as The Cure and The Smiths, Ideal World soon found themselves playing clubs in Baltimore - Boheagers Maryland, Revolutionary Tavern, The Bank, The Funnel , The Vault, A.L Gators, Hickory Lodge, Parrot Island, Cancun Cantina, and Coco Lane to name a few.
Solid and energetic performances earned the group a following of devoted fans. The band ended up putting out several independent releases, CDs, and appearing on compilations with other bands on in the Mid-Atlantic music scene.
Performances expanded beyond Baltimore to cities such as Washington DC, Philadelphia, and New York, places eager to be the first to check out new music from up-and-coming acts. They played at the 8x10, CBGB and Lion's Den in New York.
In time, life caught up with the members of Ideal World. Starting families, new careers outside music and other pursuits led everyone to go their separate ways. Without a doubt the band members were sad that things had seemingly ended...
A new chapter started in 2018. The remaining founding members, Dave, Sherman and Neal re-united to play. They had always remained friends. They discovered that the band chemistry was still there.
With the addition of a new bassist in 2023, Roberto GIberti – the lineup was complete. Today, the band is busy – recording new material and playing local shows.
Older and wiser, they look forward to expanding their repertoire and sharing their music with a new generation of fans.
For Dave – music has sort of always been there, providing a soundtrack for his childhood in the form of pop music from the seventies (it turns out the BeeGees were indeed cool!).
During this time on the weekends, he would stay at his grandmother's and, on Saturday mornings, he would go over to one of her neighbor's while she made her weekly trip to the beauty salon. He would sit in front of their stereo and have a set of headphones placed over his ears. Elton John’s Greatest Hits Vol I. would hit the turntable - set to repeat – those powerful melodic tracks playing over and over.
It simply never got old, lighting a lifelong fire.
Move forward ten years to the purchase of his first guitar - an awful Les Paul copy. Bad wiring and even worse tone but still enough to start moving towards his passion for creating music. Strangely enough, Dave stumbled on that same guitar years later and came damn close to buying it, just for the hell of it !
After being involved in several bands – Endecy, Bleak Oktober, Navassa, Dave joined Ideal World which was comprised of people whom he had worked with in the past and some new faces.
After playing numerous shows along with writing and recording original music, Ideal World ultimately called it a day as life caught up with everyone, Dave included. Priorities changed - starting families; other challenges and increasing responsibilities that life tends to dole out.
At this point, Dave figured that he was done with performing music.
Yet there was a reunion once again years later, Ideal World members were closing their previous chapters and looking forward to starting new ones.
Dave found himself once again working with former members and it was as though nothing had changed. A little older and little wiser, the band has achieved new successes, entertaining a whole new generation of fans.
And Dave still finds it surreal to see his own kids in the audiences critiquing his performances...
Neal started his musical journey playing classical piano at the age of 4.
By age 12, he also had also learned the guitar and the trumpet.
While playing piano at college, he met a fellow musician that also played keyboard.
They formed a group and began playing together in Baltimore clubs.
After the two disbanded, Neal heard about a new band, Ideal world, that was in need of a singer and attended a practice session with them. The chemistry was amazing, and the Ideal World band was formed.
The group wrote original songs right out of the starting gate.
Not only are the fellow band members incredible musicians - They have remained best friends over the years.
Dr. Sherman Canapp began playing drums at the age of five. He graduated from high school with a music scholarship, entering college as a music major.
He joined his first “rock band” - a heavy metal group named “Cry Mercy” - at age 15.
At age 17, while he was getting his hair dyed jet black for an upcoming show, his stylist mentioned that a friend, Auria McAllister, was putting together a band and that she would love to introduce us….and so it began …the path that lead one day to Ideal World!!!
Aria was playing 80s New Wave music, such as Depeche Mode, New Order, Flock of Seagulls, Duran Duran.
He suggested that they both get together with his good friend, guitarist, Dave Walter… and band “Bleak October” was formed!
The band played around the Baltimore and DC scene and writing original songs. They created quite the following.
During his undergrad time, Dr. Canapp joined a band “Dial-9” which was became a house bands for one of the largest nightclubs clubs in Baltimore, PT Flags.
Soon after that, he got back together with Dave and formed a new band that would become Ideal World.
He changed majors from music to biology/chemistry, as he now desired to pursue veterinary medicine.
While attending Kansas State Vet School, Dr. Canapp was living in an apartment complex where he happened to meet guitarist, Rick Davis. Rick was playing live shows solo and was now searching for band members. Whereas he had never played country, Rick’s songs were amazing and he was all in, practicing drumming parts from Rick’s CDs!!! Together with other members they formed a band, “Longshot”
Longshot’s first big show was as opening act for a professional singer Kevin Sharp at a very large concert venue in Topeka Kansas, called Remington’s. Their next show was even bigger opening for Blackhawk.
After vet school and residency, Dr. Canapp reached back out to Dave. He and Dave looked at each other and said, “yep it’s time”…and they brought back Ideal World!!!
Roberto Giberti's musical journey kicked off in the quaint setting of his church in Italy, where he first plucked the strings of a guitar.
His early attempts to grace the church service with his tunes were met with a lukewarm reception and, after a few months, the Church musical director politely asked him to leave!
What better inspiration to forge a different path?!
Roberto decided to co-found a rock cover band, the Travelin' Band, which, for 15 years, brought its music to several pubs in the area between Bologna and Venice, Italy.
Venturing beyond the borders of Italy, in 2009 Roberto packed up his '73 Les Paul Deluxe and a bunch of other guitars, and moved to San Francisco.
Fueled by a desire for something different, he not only switched to playing bass but also delved into crafting original songs.
His '72 Fender Jazz resonated through the streets of Oakland, CA with the Hodges, marking a new chapter in his musical exploration.
From Toronto with the Morning Fame band to diverse projects in San Diego, Roberto's journey eventually led him to plant his roots in Washington DC.
There, he co-founded Zen Warship, a nine-member band delivering a fusion of rock and funk in their original compositions.
He toured many DC/VA venues including Gypsy Sally, Pearl Street Warehouse, Bossa Bistro, The Pocket, DC9, Pie Shop, and Jammin Java.
In 2018, Roberto found himself amidst the grandeur of the Rockin' 1000 project, rocking the Florence soccer stadium alongside 1,500 musicians, including a feature with Courtney Love. The electrifying performance played out in front of a colossal audience of 20,000 people.
Fast forward to 2023, and Roberto has embarked on a new chapter by joining Ideal World, where the beats continue to echo and evolve.
Pictures: Roberto Giberti ; Julie O … www.julieofilm.com