Bob Crerie - Lead and Rhythm Guitar;
Paul D'Angelo - Drums;
Mike Terpak - Keyboards;
Howard Brundage - Bass Guitar;
Chad Noble - Rhythm Guitar
All members are both lead and harmony vocalists.
Influences
Jimi Hendrix; Cream; Stevie Ray Vaughan; The Who; Little Feat; Allman Brothers and many others.
Yes, this is an actual historical outline of the people who made up both "Mudlark" and "The Catch", two legendary Northern Virginia bands (at least in our own minds). This history covers the entire history of the band, which spanned three decades, from 1976-1999. Our love for each other was boundless, right up until the new millennium.
Now there is the new millennium. Mudlark is back for the 21st century and is better than ever!
The band started out as:
Kelly Elder - Lead vocals. Now working as a generalist. Good old friend we hardly ever see.
Al Gagne - Bass Guitar. Don't know where Al is.
Greg Smallwood - "Papa Mudlark". Keyboards and Guitar. Living in sunny Florida. We'd love to have him and his wife Patty up here with us.
Mark Vandenberg - GREAT drummer/percussionist. No longer with us.
This changed into:
Paul D'Angelo - Current Drummer and Songwriter.
Kelly Elder - Lead Vocals.
Gary Shallcross - Lead Guitar. Don't know where Gary is.
Greg Smallwood - Keyboards and Guitar.
Albert Suddueth - Bass Guitar. Big Heart. No longer with us. Love you, Albert.
Which turned into:
Paul D'Angelo - Drums.
Kelly Elder - Lead Vocals.
Jim Miner - Rhythm Guitar. Now a computer analyst in North Carolina. Best of friends from way back.
Greg Smallwood - Keyboards and Guitar.
Albert Suddueth - Bass Guitar.
The above two versions of the band have provided me with enough stories to fill many a cold evening. Our original practice spot was Albert's house in Herndon (when Herndon was in the sticks), the house having no indoor plumbing, and the room we practiced in had the window broken out, even on the coldest winter evenings. We played outside on the front porch (which had a generous sag) during the summer, and amazingly, this is how Bob Crerie originally became aware of the band. Karma. Some of my best memories of being alive come from those days at Albert's house.
Specializing in bars and field parties, this band could party with the best of them. This is the lineup that performed the famous "P Street Beach" gig. Helped along by the Yippies (that's right, Yippies, not Yuppies), the electric power was freed from the bonds of the capitalist government (i.e. this long haired Yippie guy breaks the lock off of the power supply, and we play for a couple of hours). I feel compelled to mention the names Tripp Carpenter and Mike Walker, as they had their own historic impact on the band. In order to get the perspective on Tripp and Mike, we simply remember "Bumpass, Virginia".
After a year's hiatus, the band returns as:
Bob Crerie - Guitars. Can't say enough about what a great guy and good friend Bob is. From a drummer's standpoint, writes rock and roll that's a BLAST
Karen Kurzeja - Only female lead singer in our history. Well, for that matter, the only female member of the band ever. No, we're not male Chauvinist pigs, that's just the way it worked out. Karen has just showed up in our lives after only 25 years! Great to be back in touch, Karen!
Paul D'Angelo - Drums.
Ron Shambaugh - Bass Guitar. Old friend. No longer with us. Award winning barbeque expert. THE ONE AND ONLY ROCK BARBEQUE!! We love you, Ron.
Greg Smallwood - Keyboards and Guitar.
This band's true mark was appearing at a well known local bar's battle of the bands, and upsetting the apple cart by getting to the finals, to the consternation of the people running the contest, as they had already obviously chosen the winner.
After a little time off, the band returns as:
Milton Bullock - Bass Guitar and Songwriter. Living and writing music in Virginia, baby baby. Wrote some of the best stuff The Catch ever recorded.
Bob Crerie - Guitars.
Paul D'Angelo - Drums.
Skeeter Phillips - Bass Guitar. Living an artist's life in Virginia. Long time good friend and Mudlark jammer.
Greg Smallwood - Keyboards and Guitar.
Which then evolved into:
Milton Bullock - Rhythm Guitar
Bob Crerie - Lead Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Skeeter Phillips - Bass Guitar
Kenney Smith - Sound, transportation, place to practice, support. Long time friend. Now living in his houseboat out in Woodbridge. Interestingly, he's a (warning, pun approaching) lockSmith. We see Kenney every now and then when he ventures onto land.
Ok, at this time, the band mentioned above, for no apparent reason, changed their name to The Catch and began a new chapter in local rock and roll history. The four guys mentioned above pursued rock and roll as The Catch for the next couple of years. One of the highlights of this particular version was winning a battle of the bands that allowed us to record a set of original songs at the famous Track Studios in Silver Spring (Linda Rondstad'ts "Heart Like a Wheel" was recorded there). The band plays the famous "Fred Party" gig, and Milton moves on. The band is now known, for a short time, as Poz.
Bob Crerie - Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Skeeter Phillips - Bass Guitar
After a one gig appearance at George Mason University, Poz once again went through a change. This time the band brought Jimi (yeah, just Jimi) on board as keyboard player and the band changed the name once again to Phil 'n' the Voids: Phil's highlight was a TV appearance on "Rockin' Fairfax". We got to experience take after take of our hostess trying to look as good as possible in a feather boa. Jimi retains the title of "most mysterious" band member. He likes it that way.
Bob Crerie - Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Skeeter Phillips - Bass Guitar
Jimi - Keyboards
We get to the time that Bill Rose arrives on the scene. .
At this time, the band gets back to being The Catch:
Bob Crerie - Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Skeeter Phillips - Bass Guitar
Jimi - Keyboards
Bill Rose - Guitar
Ok, at this point, Skeeter steps out of the picture, and in steps Milton (yes, the one from an earlier version of the band). This time Milton takes over Bass Guitar duties. This version of the band produced three collections of original music "Thc Catch", "On", and "All". Milton, Bob, Jimi, and Bill participated in the songwriting on these collections. Appearances include The Bayou in Georgetown.
Milton Bullock - Bass Guitar
Bob Crerie - Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Jimi - Keyboards
Bill Rose - Guitar
This band lasted for quite a while. But then, life got in the way again. Bill moves to Texas then to North Carolina, then back to Virginia. During his travel odyssey, The Catch continued rocking with the following personnel:
Milton Bullock - Bass Guitar
Bob Crerie - Guitar
Paul D'Angelo - Drums
Jimi - Keyboards
This version of the band turned out to be the most prolific, up to this point. The band appeared more than 100 times in the Washington DC area. They also produced the CD "Still Like to Rock and Roll". The band also opened for the likes of Leslie West, Foghat, Edgar Winter, Blue Oyster Cult, John Hall, and Tom Principato.
Mudlark returned in 2006 with a great lineup. Bob and Paul, of course, joined by Scott Wells on guitar and vocals and Steve Cooper on bass guitar and vocals. This version of Mudlark rocked for a good two years, appearing mostly at The Pub in Culpeper. Many a great show, many great memories shared with these guys. Steve and Scott have moved on as of the first of 2008 and we wish them only the very best with their new endeavor (see the "where are Scott and Steve" link on our website).
As of the beginning of 2008, it looks like Mudlark is back to being Bob and Paul, continuing to share the art of playing music together.
Mudlark is now joined by guest musicians:
Mike Terpak ..boards and vocals. Paul and Mike go back to 6th grade together at Layton Hall elementary school.
Howard Brundage on bass guitar. Mike and Howard go back a ways and he plays one heckuva solid bass guitar.
Chad Noble on vocals and rhythm guitar. Chad has appeared a couple of times already with Mudlark at The Pub in Culpeper.
Bob Crerie - Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Harp;
Paul D'Angelo - Drums, Vocals
Thanks for the add. You guys have some fantastic music. I actually lived in Culpeper from 1998 through 2000; there is a soft spot in my heart for Culpeper. I played bass with Crossroadz. Anyway, if I'm ever in town I'd like to check you guys out. Word!
Hey Paul, It would be great to play some music in the future . Me and Peggy and Mick love music and we will be in Florida until at least 2010. Times have been tough here though with Peggy losing four family members in the last two years.(brother Joseph- 58,sister Cheryl- 58, mother Dot-86 and father Joseph Sr.-88 ). I read the Mudlark bio and found it very interesting. Is it true that Ron Shambaugh has crossed over ? He was my best friend for awhile( back in the late 70's. We played a field party for the high school graduation class of our drummer( Kurt Gibbs ) and my little brother (Joey) was on guitar.It was a 30 kegger with the Fairfax cops directing traffic and shining a spotlight on the field from a helicopter. It was a hell of a party. We tried to keep that band together with big Ron but it just wasn't meant to be. Our love of playing and listening to music has helped our family get through all of the sadness.We are working on a second CD of originals but it is kind of on hold right now as Peggy and I are charged with settling her mother's estate. We have a good solid set of songs though and we want it to be better than our first CD so we will take our time and do it right. Peace, Mike and The Renters
I am collaborating with Dubwise Consortium out of Arizona on a tune and I don't want to put it on my space because then i will lose my hit count and my ego as well.
Mudlark, thanks for the invite.
Hoppng song you guys have posted here.
I get to be the first comment
For some reason I cant get this through to the Cafe.
Send a bulletin when you post more music.
