Local band plays bluegrass and more at Nelson's on
Saturday
 |
|
Staff Reports
April 28,
2006
The Bar BQ Boyz consider Nelson's
Take Five, in Gardnerville, their home base. They performed there for the first
time last November and continue to play there monthly.
The Bar BQ Boyz will play again at Nelson's, 1435 Highway 395, at 7
p.m. on Saturday, with no cover charge.
The Bar BQ Boyz are a Carson
Valley-based band playing bluegrass instruments and, indeed, playing bluegrass
music. They are also playing classic rock, blues, country, and reggae, amongst
other genres.
The Bar BQ Boyz came together
early last fall, forming a bluegrass set-up that includes Paul Cutunilli on
mandolin, Bobby Smile on guitar, Johnny Walter on stand-up bass and Michael
Chambon on banjo. In addition to the instruments named, Walter plays blues
harmonica, Cutunilli plays the bass, and Smile and Chambon both play the dobro.
Walter, Smile, and Cutunilli are co-workers at GE/Bently, and have
played together annually at the GE-sponsored "Relay for Life," a charity event
for the American Cancer Society. The Bar BQ Boyz will open at this year's Relay
on Aug. 26. Chambon joined the group, forming a quartet. Cutunilli and Chambon
sing lead and harmony vocals, with Walter singing bass back-up vocals and taking
the lead on several numbers, including off-beat tunes like Commander Cody's "Hot
Rod Lincoln."
Their repertoire includes
bluegrass standards like Bill Monroe's "Walls of Time," as well as tunes from
the popular movie "Oh Brother, Where art Thou?" On the heels of the camp
classic, "The Ballad of Jed Clampett," (a.k.a., "The Beverly Hillbillies") they
are likely to break out with a Led Zeppelin tune, or "All Along the Watchtower,"
written by Dylan and popularized by Jimi Hendrix. Grateful Dead or Johnny Cash
might follow, with Bob Marley's reggae beat close behind.
Musically,
their backgrounds are diverse. Smile, Cutunilli and Walter have played for
several bands, and have toured, recorded and opened for national performing
artists. Walter led the local "Blue Dawgs Band." Smile majored in guitar at the
Berklee School of Music in Boston. Cutunilli, after playing guitar in a touring
and recording band, received his grandfather's mandolin as a wedding present and
has returned to his Telluride bluegrass roots. Chambon studied classical piano
for 10 years, traded that in for the banjo, and now enjoys jamming at Northern
Nevada Bluegrass Association events.
For more information on this
Saturday's performance, call Nelson's at 782-8287.
