Band Bios
In Order Of Appearance
The Pneumatics
Rising out of the powerpop ashes of NYC’s Lower East Side and New London, CT, come The Pneumatics. Formed in 2022, they bring the hooks and harmonies with just enough garage to keep your cynicism alive. Shake some action with The Pneumatics as they tear their way through a set of original bubblegum blasters. Featuring Dante Piacenza, Ron Lewis, Mike Pace and Chris Listorti. Not to be missed, or easily forgotten.
The Troublemakers
100 Watt Suns, John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band, The Hoolios, Whitesmoke, Soul Searchers, Brother Big Eye, Green Tea, Water St. Quartet, Crows Toes, and The Collective are just a few of the bands the members of The Troublemakers were playing in while this band formed accidentally in the summer of 2016. A band canceled on a local booker and after a few phone calls, the lineup was assembled. The lineup includes the area’s most talented, in demand and seasoned veteran players.
Ronnie Lewis plays the drums and handles lead vocals. Sitting next to him is Don “DC” Culp who plays the drums as well. Together they create a devastating pocket. The always busy - and in high demand - Dan Sherer holds down the keyboard/piano duties. Bill Light handles most of the lead guitar work and backing vocals. The band is rounded out by the younger but already seasoned Josh White (rhythm/lead guitar) and Mike Palazzolo on bass.
The Troublemakers play music and have fun, that’s actually their only real rule. No egos and none of the other nonsense that, unfortunately, has become part of being a modern-working musician. It’s refreshing to see them having fun on stage, acting like they are in the garage like when they were kids and just playing music to play music!
Mystic Dead
In 2018 a group of musicians got together for a once a month Dead night at the Captain Daniel Packer inn in Mystic,CT. It turned out to be a seriously good time that translated to more shows, more fun and Mystic Dead was born.
Deep dives into all things Grateful Dead coupled by the freedom to remain true to their own creative individuality has been and will always be the mantra of all members of Mystic Dead.
Mystic Dead is:
Toby Kniffin - Guitar and Vocals
Ian Kelly - Guitar and vocals
Jordan Giangreco - Keys and Vocals
Marty Moroney - Bass and Vocals
Jason Hartley - Drums
Eric Hyland - Drums
The Toneshifters
The ToneShifters, formerly Chris MacKay and The ToneShifters were formed in the fall of 2009
Chris was looking to form a blues /roots band where he could combine different genres into a cohesive mix of originals and obscure covers. Working with musicians from many different musical backgrounds, it soon took on a life of its own when the diversity and individual tastes of the band members began to mesh into a tasty stew of danceable roots music which the band now refers to as “Swinginrockabluesabilly”.
In early 2012 the single “Lena” was released on the Good Sponge labels Vol. 1 compilation and in April of 2012 their first c.d. “Picture On The ‘Fridge” was released in a limited run featuring Nashville’s “Super Picker” Johnny Hiland playing guitar on the title track.
After some personnel changes the band took a short break to regroup, learn some new material and in early 2013 came out with a vengeance releasing the single “Go Speed”, a tribute to Brazilian race driver Ayrton Senna and the highly acclaimed documentary “Senna” on the Good Sponge labels Vol. 2 compilation. The song was picked as one of the top 5 tracks on the compilation.
Also in 2013 the band was nominated for a New England Music Award for the state of CT and a regional Whalie Award for best Blues/Country/Rock act as well as a “Critics Choice” award.
In 2014 the band released the full length “All Washed Up” to some very good reviews and in 2015 released the single "Blue Collar Happy Hour" on Good Sponge Vol. 3 compilation.
The bands latest release Sun Set - Live! Raw! Vintage! is a 4 song Live EP recorded at the legendary Sun Studio in Memphis, TN in Feb. of 2020 featuring the bands diverse musical mix.
Late in 2021 Aldora Britain Records in the UK chose two tracks “Coming Back To You” and “Go Speed” to add to a digital compilation album of undiscovered independent artists from all over the globe called “Pretty Words On The 24th.”
Both tracks garnered “Pick of the Day” and Coming Back To You broke into their ‘Top 20 Chart”in the UK.
The band recently finished tracking at Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, AL for a six song EP due to be released in the Spring of 2023.
Chris Mackay – Lead Vocals, Percussion and Washboard
Tim Stawarz– Guitar and Vocals
Ben Perry – Bass and vocals
Tim Zeppieri- Drums
Sue MacKay – Accordion and vocals
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsSkMQ6kiAQ
https://toneshifters.bandcamp.com/album/sun-set-live-raw-vintage
The Subliminals
The Subliminals are an instrumental jazz/ groove project from southeastern Connecticut. The group is a collective of diverse musicians whose talent is truly amazing, bringing years of experience to each performance. Party jazz is a way of describing the band’s sound, by taking on compositions from Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Roy Hargove, John Scolfield many other influential artists. The Subliminals bring an uplifting feeling of joy and happiness every time the group takes the stage. They look forward to each performance with a true love of the music they create.
Glaucoma Suspect
Playing all things roots rock reggae and in between. Glaucoma Suspect - A six-piece reggae band embracing groove, positive vibes & roots.
American Nomads
American Nomads are an eight-piece American Roots Rock band out of Brooklyn, NY. Their song, “A Revelation’s Gonna Come” reached #6 on the Billboard AC chart with over 40,000 radio plays, and passed the first round of Grammy nominations for Best American Roots Single 2016. They have performed extensively in such venues as City Winery, The Cutting Room, The Bearsville Theater in Woodstock, NY, the Wall Street Theater in Connecticut and the 50th Anniversary of the original Woodstock Music Festival in Bethel, NY in 2019, preceding Ringo Starr, and Edgar Winter.
American Nomads is a prolific band that is constantly producing new music. Their most recent singles, “Running On An Empty Heart” and “My American Dream,” were produced by music legend Joe Vitale, of The Eagles, Joe Walsh and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young fame, and have received extensive radio play.
Wooly Mammoth
Gray Hallberg is the founder & lead guitarist of Wooly Mammoth. In addition to honing his guitar chops by studying with local legend Chris Leigh, Gray studied jazz performance at UVM and theory and composition at the University of Colorado.
Mike LaChance is the bassist. He lives in Mystic and also plays double bass with Cabin Fever, a local bluegrass band and the euphonium, as a volunteer with the New London Salvation Army.
Toby Halsey has played guitar for fun for 30 years. He joined Wooly Mammoth at the first Mystic Blues Festival and played at the Racer’s Jam for 5 years supporting Mudhead Benefit Cup for Hospice.
Chris Chapman has been involved in music since he was a teen. Formally trained in drums and percussion, Chris has experience playing almost every type of music, ranging from Classical to Rock and Jazz. Music is one of Chris’ true passions. He enjoys listening and playing daily, as well as seeking out and attending live performances as much as possible!
Scott Parry’s blues driven piano style was inspired by local legend, Al Copley, the original keyboardist in the local Grammy-winning band Roomful of Blues. Scott and Al’s moms were friends and Al inspired Scott to take up the piano at the advanced age of five. He had been playing in bands ever since.