About Me
Here we have excerpts from our live shows, warts and all. Covers, originals, jams, whatever happens in the night that sounds interesting, I'll post some of it here. Just a little fun for those who might be entertained.
UPDATE: I broke my bloody recording device in a frickin' automobile accident...so, I won't be uploading new tunes for a while. Oh, I'm fine by the way.
ABOUT THE BAND...PATRICK BETTISON is easily one of the most respected musicians in the Tampa Bay area.
He is a world class bassist, pianist and chromatic harmonica player.Patrick has performed with
the very best Jazz and Latin artists around including Gumbi Ortiz, The Reinhardt Brothers and
performed concerts with the likes of Chick Corea, Acoustic Alchemy and the Florida Orchestra
to name a very, very few. I'm not going to go into his recording credits. Though he was born in
England, Patrick spent much of his youth in Australia before moving to the States. And boy am
I glad. What an outstanding musician!CRAIG BENSON is an excellent drummer who also has been playing in many of the foremost
bands in the St. Petersburg area when he's not touring with the Florida Orchestra. Rock 'n roll,
blues shuffles, country beats, latin rhythms, reggae or african inspired grooves there's no feel
Craig can't create. Trust me, I've tried to stump him many times! I'll point out that he has recently
returned from a drum recital with the world reknown Peter Erskin ( Stan Kenton, Weather Report
etc.) and a few years back he was the backbone for our local, critically acclaimed Zappa cover
band Bogus Pomp. Which is only to name a few of his musical accomplishments.KIRK ADAMS is terrible at promoting himself but here he goes...I've been playing music for
many years across the state of Florida from Miami and Fort Lauderdale to Orlando and
Gainesville but I've happily settled here in St. Pete where I've been lucky enough to fall in
with some great musicians in a community the really seems to enjoy live music. My guitar
style is typically considered bluesy but through the years my love for many styles of music
has allowed me to expand my repertoire well beyond the blues. I grew up listening to the
British invasion bands and know a ridiculous amount of Beatles and Stones songs. I have
a great appreciation for various world music styles and enjoy injecting anything from Reggae to
a Raga into a nights show. My blues repertoire is expansive covering the history of blues
from Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters to S.R.V. and Keb Mo. Throw in a handful of classic
country and some 70's dance tunes and I feel I have a well rounded show capable of keeping
it fresh for locals and something unique for our friends the tourists. In the interest of full disclosure
I offer three warnings. 1) I don't follow a set list. I either take audience requests if I'm up to it or play
what I'm feeling at the time. 2) I am not an imitator. I inject my own style in to what I do and I am
confident enough to do Got To Get You Into My Life without horns if I want to. And finally 3) my
songlist is not what I'd call current. With the exception of only a few songs, my repertoire is classic
and eclectic.
JOE PORTER is a terrific bass player, schooled in Jazz but equally capable of laying it down
for rock n roll or perculating under a rich blues shuffle. Joe also plays with a lot of local
luminarys like Larry Camp, The Dan McMillan Big Band and Buster Cooper at the Garden
downtown. Not too long ago, Joe spent a year or two touring the world with the incomparable
Maynard Ferguson. I consider myself very lucky to have been playing with him on and off over the
years including our long house gig at the Don Cesar with stellar guitar/vocalist Gale Trippsmith. What was it Joe? Seven years? As a point
of interest, Joe was featured playing the upright bass on a commercial for something or other
recently and you might remember seeing him on a billboard as well. Ah, fame...If you've made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to check out my band.
