TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Suncoast Pinellas News

No chicken wire

ADVERTISEMENT

BY CHERYL BENTLEY

SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF

Published: September 13, 2008

Sunset Beach doesn't have chicken wire.

So noted Chuck Motta, drummer with Roadhouse. The band will play next Thursday, Sept. 18, at the monthly Sunset Beach concert.

The absence of chicken wire is important because the band's name comes from "Road House," a 1989 film in which a bar's band was protected from irate customers by a chicken wire cage.

Such humor is that of a musician who is sure enough of his music to be able to joke about it.

It pops up often in a conversation with Motta, who has chalked up about three decades of playing in bands.

But his band mates can equal his record.

According to the band's Web site, all of them started playing at young ages.

Road House will show off all that experience at the Sunset Beach concert.

The band specializes in rhythm and blues and 70s rock, but members can play all kinds. "We read the audience," Motta said.

Although a familiar presence on the music scene of Pinellas and Pasco counties since Roadhouse was formed in 2006, Thursday will mark the first time the band has performed at a Sunset Beach concert.

"As long as they're not throwing things, we're fine," Motta joked.

Motta grew up in a musical household in Albany, N. Y.

His father was a drummer in a 17-piece big band in the 1940s.

Motta took up the drums as a 15 year old because "my mom got tired of me banging on pots and pans." By the time he was 17, he had joined a band.

Guitarist Phil Austin got his first guitar at 9 and started playing in bands at 16. His musical tastes range from Jimi Hendrix to Billy Joel.

Keyboardist Larry Bracone started playing at 14 and has played in bands in the New York resort circuit.

The late bloomer in the group is bass guitarist Dudley Mays, who didn't pick up a guitar until he was 21.

Mays made up for lost time by touring with blues band Bangkok Rooster, a group that opened for Kansas, Santana, Rick Derringer and Robben Ford.

Band members feed on their spontaneous interaction with audience members, Motta said.

"It's all about the music," he said. "We're not in it for the money. We're in it for the fun."

The free concert will be 7 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 18, at Sunset Beach.

The beach is at the western end of Gulf Road.

Many concert goers bring chairs, blankets and picnic dinners. Alcohol is not allowed.

For more information and samples of the band's music, go to www.rdhband.com.>

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT