Duo: Toast & Jam
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada
Genre: Cover duo of popular music
Formed: 2003
Members:
Michael Uher – Vocals, guitar
Mark Slater – Percussion, vocals, guitar
Notes: Mike grew up in Blenheim and Mark grew up in Chatham, but was born in Leeds England.
The duo is highly active and in demand for many high profile events.
Links:
* Website link here.
* Facebook link here.
Watch a clip from below
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The Casuals
Band: The Casuals
Formed: Aug. 2015.
Genre: Popular rock/pop covers.
Home: Chatham Ontario Canada.
Contact: https://www.facebook.com/thecasualsck
Members:
Jesse V. – Vocals
Shawn B. – Acoustic Guitar, Backing vocals
Joe C. – Percussion (Cajon)
Bio: The Casuals are a new acoustic cover band from Chatham-Kent who perform popular music from modern rock to motown.
Members Jesse Verleye & Shawn Beaulieu have performed together off & on for the past 25 years, in several popular original & cover band line ups. Most notable works include Saint Ends (currently), Foster Child , The Janet Theory, Demo Kid & Face4Radio. The guys have toured around Canada & The U.S.A. a few times and have released several albums through the years. They have been united with Joe Carson on percussion, a young man who shares the same passion for music, and is also the drummer for Face4radio.
The Casuals are just that, casual. They prefer patio settings and a good summer time vibe where the interaction between the listeners and the band is relaxed & fun.
Specs: The band is equipped with its own sound system for the patio environment or small venue, and will roughly perform three 40 minute sets within a four hour time frame. No additional services, such as a sound engineer are required.
Song Selection Sample
Kenny Chesney, Steely Dan, Violent Femmes, Green Day , James, Black Keys, Tom Petty , Matchbox 20 , Alan Jackson, Lumineers, Nirvana, Otis Redding, Semi-Sonic, White Stripes, Kid Rock, Magic, Temptations, George Michael, The Eagles, Jimmy Buffet, Gin Blossoms, Oasis, Rixton, Hank Williams Jr., etc……
* Watch the Casuals below.
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Group: LUEY (Let Us Entertain You)
Genre: Classic Country
Year: 2015
Home: Dresden, Chatham-Kent, Ontario
Notes: Allow us to provide the entertainment for your next event. We offer musical entertainment, Karaoke, and DJ services. Very reasonable rates. We also provide entertainment FREE OF CHARGE to senior venues and rest homes!!
LUEY is a three piece harmony group providing all your entertainment needs. They use electronically provided music.
Members:
Christal Wills
Mike Rumble
Rick Clark
Contact: Facebook.
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Band: Blues On The Rocks
Genre: R&B/ Blues (Originals & Covers)
Year: 2013
Formed: 2012
Home: Chatham-Kent
Members:
Mike Copley – lead singer
Aug Polowick – guitar
Dwayne Purdy – bass, backing vox,
Rick Chrysler – Drums
Tom Starks – Hammond organ
Bio:
Between the sum of its memebers, BOTR has amassed many decades of experience on the live music scene. Although the band incorporates some blues standards, it has made a conscious effort to lean towards the rocky, funky, up-tempo side of the genre. Along with its repertoire of cover songs, the band has put a great emphisis on writing their own material and have produced a great deal of origninal songs. In a short amount of time the band has performed at the Canada South Blues Museum, Shrewsbury Ribs n Blues Festival, Grapejam Festival, Ceasars Windsor as well as logging numerous bar gigs.
Links:
* http://www.reverbnation.com/bluesOntherockes
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Click pic to enlarge
Band: The Boxcars
Year: 2013
From: Chatham-Kent
Genre: 60’s folk (covers)
Formed: Circa 2010
Members:
Brenda Kent – vocals
Glen Burk – acoustic guitar & harmonica
Noel Marentette – vocals & songwriter.
Notes: The Boxcars are Chatham-Kent’s newest Folk Trio
Website: http://www.noelmarentette.com/
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Band: Face 4 Radio
Year: 2012
Formed: 2009
Type: Cover Band
Home: Chatham Ontario
Contact: through facebook
Members:
Mat Drew – Vocals/Percussion
Mark Levitzky – Lead Guitar
Brian McDonnell – Bass, B. Vox
Dave Richie – Guitar / B. Vox
Joe Carson – Drums
Face 4 Radio is mainly a dance cover band that also plays all the popular hits you wish to hear at a party.
Two member changes happened this year.
Band: Viper Tones
Home: Chatham-Kent / Essex.
Genre: R&B covers
Formed: Oct. 2011
Contact: Facebook
Members:
Doug Dewitt – Drums, guitar (Chatham)
Dan Thomsen – Bass (Windsor)
Bob Rankin – Guitar & b.vocals (Tecumseh)
Frank DeFrane – Vocals, percussion, flute.
Notes: Doug previously played in Leggz, Watchtower, Robin Banks, Chank, Tats Trio, Whaling Band, Fat Doug & The Sinners, Lypsy, & Border City Blues.
The band has recently performed @ Big Shots & The Jazzbah in Chatham.
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Cover Band: Bent Str8
Genre: Classic Rock
Home: Chatham
Year: 2011
Members:
Dwayne Boismier
Darryl Boismier
Terry Barker
About: BENT STR8 is a hard hitting 3 peace Band. Consisting of Lead Guitar/ Harmonica/Accoustic , Drums and Bass. All three members are lead singers which makes for sweet three part harmony and also makes the Band sound BIGGER than it really is. BENT STR8’s set list consists of anything from Pink Floyd to the Hip. Neil Young to Uncle Cracker and everything in between. The Band also has some Country roots which ables them to reach a wider range of audience covering tunes from Johnny Cash, Keith Urban and Toby Keith just to name a few.
Current shows (at time of print)
Dec 31 2011 – New Years Eve Bash @Central Hotel in Pain Court
Dec 9-10, 2011 @ Big Shots Billiards, Chatham.
Dec 3, 2011 at 7:00pm @ Ranch 2000 ( 23496 Centre side rd. Chatham )
Contact them on Facebook “Bent Str8t”.
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Send your pics & info on Chatham bands (past & present) to
Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
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click to enlarge
Band: Dixie Cats
Year: 2009
Home: Chatham-Kent
Genre: Dixieland music
The Dixie Cats are a subgroup od the Chatham Concert Band that perform for smaller or on request functions. Other sub groups include The Hungry Five Polka Band, The Jingle Bell Rovers Christmas Group and The Primitive Roots Jazz Band, an 18-piece stage band for dancing.
Members (photo above)
Phil, St. Clair Shad, Byron, John Green, John Revell, Vaughn P., John Leigh
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Send your pics & info on Chatham bands (past & present) to
Email us:
chatham_music_archive@hotmail.com
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Band: Full Frontal
Genre: Rock covers & originals
Year: 2011
Year formed: 2009
Home: Chatham-Kent Ontario
Members:
Myke Oz. Parent – Lead Vox, Rhythm Guitar
Rob Cowan – Lead guitar, backing vox
Don Brissette – Bass, backing vox)
J-Rad Sterling – Drums, samples, backing vox
Notes: The band has been playing the club scene and also is known for their ‘After Burner’ ZZ Top tribute act (formed in 2007) which includes a few members from this line up. A true party rock band making the rounds today.
Links:
* Facebook link here.
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Band: Blutonium
Home: Chatham-Kent Ontario
Style: Rhythm & Blues covers
Year: 2010
Members (L-R in above picture)
Jeff Mifflin – Guitar
Bob Wilson – Bass
Rick Chrysler – Drums
Phil Caron – vocals, harmonica and guitar
Notes: The music is high energy R&B, BLUES, SOUL and MOTOWN.The band is getting very popular in London, Sarnia and Windsor. Bob and Rick put this band together with the intention of playing the music they love,and trying to be different than any other band currently on the scene.
Currently performing @
London – WORTLEY ROADHOUSE
Sarnia – UPS N DOWNS
Chatham – RibFest, Big Shots, The Jazzbah
Visit them online @ http://bluetonium.ca/
Watch the external video below.
If video does not appear, watch it here. Video working as of oct. 1, 2010.
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Click on pic to enlarge it
Band: Teethen Freeks (Teethen Freaks)
Home: Tilbury
Genre: Rock cover band
Year: 2010
Formed: Circa 2001
Members:
Scott Barnes – Bass and lead vocals
Brian Lansue – Guitar & vocals
Eean Houchen – Guitar & vocals
Dale Montminy – Drums
Members have formerly been in the following bands – Virgil Starr, Lyra,
The Nasteez.
Music they cover: Seether, Three days grace, Shinedown, Tragically hip, Trews, Candlebox , Thornly , Audio Slave, Boston, Journey & much more
Currently playing at: Tilbury Hotel, Mr. Biggs and more
Visit them on facebook here.
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Musician: Steve Skull aka Steve Saunders
Instrument: Vocals, Guitar
Home town: Chatham
Resides: Toronto Area
Steve moved away to the Toronto area in the early 1990’s. Some may have caught him while he was playing locally in Chatham for the band Lyra (1987-89). Musically, he became a pro player and guitar teacher.
Above Pictures
01 Lyra 1988
02 The Flu 1990
03 Thunder Circus 1992
04 Touring guitarist for the Killer Dwarfs 1995
05 Fear Disorder 1996
06 Steve in 1999
07 2003-2004 Sandman (Metallica tribute band)
08 2009 Live shot
Brief Bio from his page 2010:
My real name is Steve Saunders, but pretty much everyone I know, knows me as Steve Skull. I have been a touring/gigging musician since I was 16 playing with some really great musicians along the way. Some of note include, Thunder Circus, The Flu, Killer Dwarfs, Fear Disorder, Mike Reno, Jimi Jamison, Alan Frew and Revolver. I’ve played in about 50+ different bands over the years.
The band Fear Disorder was signed and released one album called “In A Rage”. It was released in 27 countries throughout Europe and the U.K. in 1997. That band opened for Rob Halford’s old band, Fight and also Voivod, which included former Thunder Circus bandmate, Eric Forrest.
Most of the bands I have been in were either tribute bands or cover bands. Music is my passion. I actually had to rediscover how much it is a part of me. Now, I am ready to write again and I enjoy music all over again! Currently, I can be found playing somewhere in the GTA playing with The Intruders.
Some of the bands Steve was in.
1989 – Lyra
1990 – The Flu
1992 – Thunder Circus
1995 – Killer Dwarfs
1996 – Fear Disorder
2003,2004 – Sandman – Metallica Tribute Band
2009 – The Intruders (party band)
Visit Steve online here.
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Band: Southwest Dirt
Home: Chatham-Kent
Year: 2007
Genre: Rock
Members:
Mike Copley – vocals
Alex Polowick (Aug) – guitar (Blenheim)
Gavin Dawson – bass
Simon Coleman – drums
Former Members:
Nate Spicer – lead guitarist (2002 to 2006)
The group formed in the spring of 2002 as a soulful solid rock band called Southwest Dirt. They started off covering the likes of ZZ TOP, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and other great acts.
From 2002-2006 they played heavily at bars, parties, Stag & Does, and other events. During those first four years, Nate Spicer was the lead guitarist for the band.
In 2007, the band began to shift to writing and playing original music. It began when Mike (Vocals) entered the studio in 2007 to record an original entitled “Simple Times”. The song was played often on the Rock95.1FM Indie Show. The song was recorded with the help of Bob Hiltz (Bass), Jason Guttridge (Drums), and Aug (guitar).
Visit them online here.
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Band: O’Hara Brothers Band (The)
Year: 2010
Hometown: Chatham Ontario
Style: Rock, Adult
Members:
Toby O’Hara – Vocals, Bass
Jeff ‘Mifflin – guitars, saxophone, B. vox
Clancy O’Hara – Piano, organ, guitar, B.vox
Rod Beaudry – drums, supporting vocals, percussion
Notes: The band released their first CD in 2003 entitled “Small Town Metaphors”. Although all the members have a rich history with various bands before this, it is worth noting that the band really rolled in this direction from its roots as “the Flaming O’Hara’s”. In 1993, the Flaming O’Hara’s released a CD that included Clancy & Toby.
The group played Jersey’s many times during 2009 along with shows in other cities.
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Name: Rene Brosseau
Instrument: Pedal Steel and slide guitar
Year: 2007
Home: Chatham Kent Ontario
Rene plays with the Montreal based band ‘Desert Heat’ in 2007. Gigs consisted of fairs & festivals in the Ottawa to Montreal area, from being opening acts for Amanda Wilkinson, George Canyon & The Road Hammers to being the main act.
Desert Heat’s brand new CD “Tail lights and Love” was just named in the Top 5 of 2007 by Country Music News in Canada. The CD features a formidable selection of songs written by Desert Heat, and co-written by Nashville’s top songwriters and produced by the multi-platinum record-smiths Joel Feeney and Jeff Nystrom.
Desert Heat has just been nominated for TOP NEW GROUP in Canada at the 2008 Canadian Country Music Awards.
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Band: Manpower (Man Power)
Year: 2009
Home: Chatham Kent Ontario Canada
Year Formed: 1983
What: Good time rock & roll cover band.
Yesterday’s Classics… Todays Hits.
Current Members
Rick Rankin – Vocals, Guitar
Brent Hunter – Bass
Pat Crone – Drums
Original members
Rick Rankin – Vocals and guitar.
Tom Starks – Hammond organ, keyboards
Mark Wood – Keyboards and Bass
Rick Chrysler – Drums
Manpower have been rocking Chatham Kent & surrounding areas since 1983. With top notch players and a good sense of humor, they survived and seen it all. I met up with them tonight (July 4th 2009) as they were opening up for David Wilcox at Rib Fest here in Chatham. When asked how they managed to stay together for so long, Rick said in a joking way that none of them have been sick yet. Cheers to good health.
From 1977-1983, the band was named ‘The Force’ before the name change to Manpower.
Pat shares his talents through teaching drums at Strings and Things and his father Ken has been a huge part of the music scene also.
The best part of being in a band is the events you get to be a part of. I asked Manpower what was their favourite gigs or places they have played. The answer…. Boogie Till You Puke 1978.
The band is very active and can be seen at clubs, festivals, and major events all around Ontario.
Mr. Rankin also performs in a new duo with Waide Holland named “Texas Tee”. This more intamite presentation of music fits nicely into the local scene, providing more live music into venues that cannot host full (loud) bands.
Below – Manpower was kind enough to answer some history questions for us about past local venues and bands in and from Chatham.
If video does not appear, watch it here.
The interview with Manpower above is what really got this website off the ground. It wasn’t until I talked to them that I realized I didn’t know anything. Quadrant? Turf Room? Jack Austin Trio? Wilf Lancaster? Pickadilly? Well since then, the website has filled up nicely and there is lots of musical history and genres going on that most of us do not even know about, but know now. Thanks to Manpower for being cool, fun, and informative.
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Band: That Whaling Band
Home: Chatham Kent Ontario Canada
Music: Originals and Covers
Year: 2009
The band is:
Ray Whaling: Songwriter/Lead-Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals.
Andy Martin: Bass Guitar/Sound, Lights & Effects/Backing Vocals.
Joel Laprise: Tub Smasher.
Daryl Denault: Lead-Rhythm Guitar/Lead & Backing Vocals/Percussion
Notes: So you want to rock & roll like the guitar legends did of the 70’s? The Whaling Band has been around for years & still owns when it comes to this style. Along with playing covers & acoustic gigs, they have been releasing original CD’s too.
Introducing, rockin’ on two decades, title holders in both light weight and heavy weight divisions, 20 yrs and 0, all wins, coming by way of knock out, or should we say rock out, with their nature of” brute force and ignorance!!!”, Southern Ontario’s pride, That Whaling Band! We are “The Hardest Working Rock N’ Roll/Blues Band in SW Ontario”……no kidding!!!! Presenting to you a ride, up classic rock drive. With their deep rooted motown and rhythm & blues influence, three part harmony vocals, and if you were thinking metal or country, fogetta ’bout it; it’s just another card in the joker deck.
They do it all. An unexpected “FLASHBACK” to their forever growing fan base; who remember when bands had to be excellent, and that want to get out and FEEL a good night of music from a tried,tested and true rock band. Are you experienced? Check out their new cd, JACK’S GALLERY(2008), and 2005’s GRATEFUL,recorded live, no fluff no jive. All original songs; Classic Rock/Hard Rock/Blues cast for the 21st Century. Currently playing on your favorite radio stations in Mid and Southwestern Ontario.
Their Gig schedule is on the road; hitting it hard, dodging the bumps, and riding the humps, at bars, festivals, private parties, and concert settings. We’ve had the humble pleasure of performing in concert with the likes of Great White, Jeff Healy, Colin James, Powder Blues, Jason McCoy & the Road Hammers, Tiny Tim, Chuck Jackson (Downchild Blues Band), Five Man Electrical Band, The Paul James Band, Gordon Lightfoot, and Barbara Payton(Kid Rock/Bob Seger). We’ve also shared the stage at memorable performances with many Tribute acts such as Hells Bells, Black Diamond, Bat Out of Hell, Destroyer (KISS tribute) various Tragically Hip tributes, etc.
Whaling is very passionate towards performing blues shows, with The Ray Whaling Blues band hosting Blues & Bones at Dove’s Bayside Bistro in Rondeau Bay Ont. two summers running. They also have a full throttle Neil Young/Crosby, Stills, & Nash tribute (“RUST”) in their joker deck. With That Whaling Band you never know what the night of music is going to be, for Jack has hundreds of songs in his court jester’s box to deal out……. When Jack comes out of his box, it’s always time to rock!!
Discography.
2008 – That Whaling Band – JACK’S GALLERY
2005 – That Whaling Band – Grateful
1999 – Ray Whaling – Party Train
1994 – Whaling – 3 Pieces
Below: Ray Whaling – 3rd AnnualCK Guitar Summit, performing an origianl song.
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Chatham Music Archive 