Michael Nicolia - Drums (founding member of Drivin' Blind)
Erik Richardson - Keyboards, Guitar, Fiddle and Vocals
Doug Trainor - Bass and Vocals
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Dave White - Bass and Vocals (joined Drivin' Blind in 2003) is taking a leave of absence from the band. Dave is heading back to DB someday - hell, everybody does. Meanwhile, Doug Trainor joined the band on bass and will be taking over for Dave. Chris will continue to sub from time to time.
Bruce Blumberg - Lead Vocals and Harp (founding member of Drivin' Blind with Patrick, Joe, Dana and me) passed away on Thursday October 22nd in Largo Florida after a long and tiring battle with cancer. He was a brother and a great friend, ...a confidant and a very important person in all of our lives. Dave, Gregg and Chris carried on with Bruce in Drivin' Blind and Joe and Erik played out his last year with the band - we are still going and will keep going in his memory.
Bruce lived a clean and pure existence, with honesty and integrity - and although he suffered these last five years or so he never complained - always focused on the bright side - always focused on the music. He praised life and firmly believed in the day when he would meet his maker and be able to stand tall with pride in his accomplishments. He was a family man of impeccable character.
We will hold a Memorial Service in Northern Virginia in the next couple of weeks, maybe at The Sunset Grille, one of his favorite places to play...
I know that Bruce is in Heaven right now, looking down and grinning - the grin he use to get right before he ripped into a harp solo or a verse from one of our tunes. I loved him like a brother and respected him for all of his talents and goodness. He made me a better person for having known him.
Even though I will miss him, I am grateful for having known him and for being able to share in his life. Rock on Bruce... Rock on.
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I wanted to list some "Former Members of Drivin' Blind" on MYSPACE but there have been so many people that have jammed with this band for the last 10 years it was getting hard to keep track of dates... These guys have been a part of something really special, and it has been lots of fun! Their talents and dedication to local music are what set them apart from the crowd and each added a little something to the bands sound. They are all good friends and come up and play from time to time... These are some of the best musicians in town and they are remembered in some of the posted pictures.. so on that happy note - a big thanks to everybody that has made this a happenin' thang!!!
Influences
Our band is characterized as having a unique spin on that Classic and Modern Rock style combined with that Funky Jam Band - "we got a fiddle in the band sound" that makes one of our gigs a little hard to put your finger on...
We like: The Allman Brothers, Little Feat, Sub-Dudes, Radiators, Beatles, Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, Grateful Dead, Santana, Doobie Brothers, Talking Heads, Foo Fighters, 311, Bob Marley, Sublime, Big Head Todd & The Monsters, The Bodeans, The Replacements, U2, John Mayer, The Neville Brothers... hard to say when to stop.
We play a clean blend of modern, as well as established Rock-N-Roll standards, along with some really cool "Funky Jams" and spice them up so they are even more fun than the Drivin' Blind Originals. (plus we play a Sir Mix A lot song).
Sounds Like
A Little Feat/Rolling Stones blend, with some modern guitar stuff and some well-established Rock-N-Roll standard licks thrown in for good measure. We do some originals that have that honky-tonk feel, and a bunch of medleys ranging from the Allman Brothers Band to U2 and ZZ Top.
Drivin' Blind (the original since 1998), Washington DC's favorite "Classic Rock Party Band", is on the move again (now on MYSPACE.COM), and ready to rock the house with you and your friends.
Drivin' Blind is a Washington DC Area band playing straight ahead Classic and Modern Rock with a "funky Jam Band" feel. Imagine a jam with all those Classic Rock legends in one place - cool huh? The band plays a wide range of ear catching music from the 70's through the 2000's that is not your regular fare; happy, upbeat and very danceable: music you will recognize, some you won't and some ear catching Drivin' Blind originals.
The band is made up of veteran players from all over the east coast and is playing in night clubs, private events, sports bars and festivals all around the Greater Washington DC Metropolitan area. Drivin' Blind is represented by James-Turner Productions (www.jamesturner.com) and available for all kinds of gigs, special events and private parties.
Just call the boys at JTP: Rob Casey, Chip Seligman, Mike Marucci and Tom Moon at 703-548-7800... and ask for Drivin' Blind!!
Drivin’ Blind Band - Virginia's Friend Space (Top 13)
Mike, Just heard about a possible date for the musical tribute for Bruce will happen in January...2nd or 3rd weekend. When ever, where ever...I will be there. Dave White
Hey! I never check this MySpace..sorry I didn't get back to you. What's up? You can contact me at 88keysandadream@live.com....sounds like you know something I don't know. How intriguing.
Mike, hope last nights gig went well. Bushwallers is USUALLY a lot of fun. Since it is snowing today, we are staying home. Maybe we will build a snowman later. Dave
Just checkin' in to say hey!! It's been too long! Wanted to come out to the next Bushwallers gig but I am at "The Saloon" that night!!! Hit a "not so young" brother up!
It's a full-time job getting my act together, man, I tell ya. I'm around in spirit and miss the vibe of the shows more than you know. But the good news is I'm back to practicing my playing on a daily basis and honing my chops!
It's hard to leave comments from jail and detox. I guess I've been "drivin' blind" a little too long. I'm just putting one foot in front of the other until I end up in a better place, and your good music would only help.
How you Blind Boys do'in? Miss you guys and I'll be to a show soon to stomp my good foot. Annemarie says HI and I still can't get her in bed (does "shucks" motion).
