It should come as no surprise that the District of Rock Island has secured terrifically talented bands for its eighth annual Hornucopia festival, taking place on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15. If you've attended Hornucopia in the past, you know the drill: two stages showcasing the finest in R&B, funk, soul, jazz, rock ... basically, any genre that incorporates a little brass. As the festival's motto states, "If it has horns, you'll find it at Hornucopia."
No surprises there. But while researching the first group to perform this weekend - local favorites The Gray Wolf Band, whose set begins at 5 p.m. on Friday - I was floored to discover that drummer Tom Drabek not only served as Alpine Race chairperson for several U.S. Ski Association events, but is a former Special Forces Green Beret, to boot. And he's not the only Gray Wolf performer with an interesting history. According to the group's Web site (http://www.graywolfband.com), Kenny Carleton began his musical career at age 18, playing bass on riverboat cruises with his brother; Jim Ryan, employing the Isabel Bloom technique, has spent two decades years making original concrete sculptures; and Larry Burns has been described as "the biggest rock star that no one has ever heard of."
So much I didn't know about these classic-rock performers! What other gems could I unearth if I did a little Web-site digging on the Hornucopia bands?
- The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings have been entertaining Chicago audiences with their renditions of blues and soul classics from the '50s and '60s since 1993. But the group's Web site (http://www.bigcitieslounge.com) reveals that, years before, a batch of these same performers were dazzling crowds as the Mellow Fellows, a high-energy brass outfit that played backup for blues singer Big Twist, one of the hottest performers on the Midwest blues circuit. After Big Twist's death in 1990, the Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings were born, and among the band's current members are local singer-songwriter Ernie Peniston and Don Tenuto, who spent a year playing with Sly & the Family Stone.
- Big Twist & the Mellow Fellows are remembered fondly by the lead singer of Hornucopia performers Planet Groove; on the Web site for this eight-piece funk and R&B group (http://planetgroovefunky7.com), Planet Groove frontman Ben - no last name, just "Ben" - calls the group "inspirational." He also calls "anything grilled" his favorite food. The group's Web site also reveals that bari-sax player Hugh has 11 teachers in his immediate family, trombonist Bill coaches fast-pitch softball, and bass player Joe has written a children's book entitled Harry the Wonder Llama.
- Funk/punk/reggae rockers The Pipe Circus have played the festival circuit since 1997, have three CDs to their credit, and once appeared on the Jenny Jones Show. But do you want some really personal information on this Hornucopia band? Visit their Web site (http://www.pipecircus.com). Patrick Joseph Peterson, Michael McGavin, Michael Stocklin, Jason D. Petitt, and Hutch - no last name, just "Hutch" - will tell you everything you want to know. And just about everything you didn't. Wanna learn about their favorite movies? Check. Their favorite foods? Check. Their favorite sexual positions? Um ... check.
- The information available on the R&B/soul performers TNT (http://www.tntrnb.com) is a lot less risqué but no less entertaining. Performing covers of such groups as Blood, Sweat & Tears and Tower of Power, TNT has wowed audiences with their funky rhythms and killer horn section since 2000. But what's truly fascinating are the members' fields of expertise off stage - among the band's 10 current members, Lou "Chip" Gdalman is the director of bands at Gompers Elementary School in Chicago, Jeff "JJ" James is a department manager for an environmental-testing laboratory, and Jeff "Wally" Walroth is employed by the U.S. Postal Service.
- Described as "old school funkmasters," The Dynamics play classic R&B with strong funk grooves, and the eight musicians hail from such states as Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Louisiana. But the Dynamics are currently in the midst of a Midwestern festival tour, and their Web site (http://www.dynamicsonline.com) not only mentions their W.C. Handy Blues award and "Most Popular Local Band" commendation but describes their forthcoming Hornucopia gig thusly: "This festival showcases some of the finest, horn-based groups in the Midwest, as well as great food and vendors of fine art." If the music thing doesn't work out for them, I'm betting they could easily get a job with the District of Rock Island's PR department.
- The Late Nite Blues Brothers with Shades of Blue is a 10-piece show band that pays tribute to John Belushi's and Dan Aykroyd's famed Saturday Night Live characters - Jake and Elwood - through rock, soul, country, and, of course, the blues. Bob Balayati and Mike Venier have been channeling the fictitious brothers for 10 years now, and their Web site (http://www.theshadesofblue.com) reveals that Mike's involvement, at least, was all but predestined - he "loves Chicago, the blues, dry white toast, and he's a Catholic." And he was once part of a band called the Blues Cousins, whose debut performance fell on the night of Belushi's death. As the Web site succinctly puts it: "Whoa."
You may already love the Grammy-nominated Chicago ensemble Liquid Soul, whose trademark mixture of jazz and urban dance music has thrilled listeners since 1994. If so, you're in great company. A visit to the Liquid Soul Web site (http://www.liquidsoul.com) lists no fewer than 73 snippets from glowing reviews for the band, from such esteemed publications as the New York Times, Billboard magazine, the Village Voice ... and the River Cities' Reader. The group's Web site actually lists the Reader's rave before the New York Times accolade. Cool.
- Finally, The Edgar Crockett Jazz Band, whose members have played professionally with such artists as Ray Charles and Peabo Bryson, will run the gamut of musical genres during their Hornucopia performances: bebop, swing, blues, jazz, and funk. And what can we glean from their Web site? Well, the group doesn't have one, but a visit to (http://www.ratemyprofessors.com) hints that Crockett, who teaches music at Moline's Black Hawk College, has a hell of a fan base: among the comments posted on Crockett are "great teacher," "very funny," "loves his field," and "the most thorough, easygoing, helpful person that you will ever meet." With promotion like that, who needs their own Web site?
Hornucopia Band Schedule
Friday, July 14
East Stage
5 p.m.: The Gray Wolf Band
7 p.m.: The Dynamics
10 p.m.: Planet Groove
West Stage
6 p.m.: The Edgar Crockett Jazz Band
9 p.m.: TNT
11 p.m.: The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings
Saturday, July 15
East Stage
6 p.m.: The Late Nite Blues Brothers with Shades of Blue
9 p.m.: The Chicago Rhythm & Blues Kings
10:45 p.m.: The Pipe Circus
West Stage
5 p.m.: The Dynamics
8 p.m.: Planet Groove
10 p.m.: Liquid Soul
