Sly Poonce
Excerpt from article by: Rick Grant in "EU" magazine.
Just when I thought that there was nothing new happening in the Jax music scene, I was surprised to find two hot original bands at Brewsters last Saturday night–Nimble Jim & The Ointment and Sly Poonce. In the past, only cover bands played Brewsters, but adult attitudes are changing in the local music scene. Audiences are younger and have more tolerance for all-original bands in clubs that previously only booked cover bands.
When I arrived, I was blown away by Sly Poonce’s high level of musicianship. They looked punk–the lead guitarist and singer was sporting a spiked Mohawk—however, they were playing sophisticated originals more in the Funkadelic bag with a raw punk overview. Nonetheless, their music is quite eclectic with grabber hooks and catchy melodies–reminiscent of Frank Zappa’s early work.
The SP lads came together in the summer of 2005 in the hills of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. The four-piece power-grinder consists of Randall Roman on guitar on vocals, Al Taylor on bass, Brent “Gutter” Tenzar on guitar, and Mark Balawender on drums. Together these experienced players are inventive, bold, and exhibit a savvy stage confidence. The band’s originals are diverse and innovative, using a variety of rhythms from reggae to funk to blues to jazz. Wow, SP was a refreshing change to my tired ears.
