Mark Staub Influenced by the West Coast "grunge" rock of the 80s and 90s, Mark took up guitar (and singing) while attending UCLA. He soon traded the laid-back life of California beaches for the laid-back life of traveling throughout Europe! In Austria, of all places, Mark honed his vocal skills, stage presence and guitar "chordifications" while jamming in Austrian bars and ski resorts. Rough life, huh?
Scott Sparks Played piano as a youngster then moved up to a much cooler instrument - the trumpet in Junior high. Played the bejesus out of that until I wanted a less cool instrument and switched to drums my senior year. For the most part I concentrated on the glockenspiel and triangle. Then I went to college and decided to major in percussion/Music. I ended up graduating with a BA in music from The University of South Carolina. I was going to be a teacher, but that required too much patience on my end. So now I work at a bank and play drums at my leisure with The Purps, and occasionally have a private student. At this point I would conisder myself a slightly above average drummer. I think? But you really need to ask Brian our bass player. He'll give you a more accurate/harsh assesment. Musical influences - Police/Sting, Incubus, Rush, Bruce Hornsby, Coldplay, black crowes, DMB, U2, and various others. Basically anyone that can make some sophisticated rock/pop stuff. Gear used. Yamaha Absolute Birch Nouveu drums. Zildjian cymbals, DW pedals and hi-hat, Yamaha hardware, Vater Sugar Maple 5A drumsticks, and most importantly my huge muscles from lugging it all around town.
Tommy Klein Lead Guitar, Background Vocals and Facial Hair Tommy learned to play guitar by jamming along with ACDC 'records' (yes, he's the old man of the band) and rockin' his high school in Richmond, VA with a band called TEMPEST. Next came college and the classic rock band, The RESINATORS. Williamsburg and Richmond enjoyed the Resinators for a couple years, but graduation was not only unexpected, but also the end of the band. Tommy continues to learn guitar and knows he will probably never get it right. . .(But knows it right enough to teach private lessons when asked!) Gear: Gibson Les Paul Standard Double Cut, Ibanez RGT42DXFM, and Line 6 Flextone 100watt combo amp. Favorite Bands: Everclear, ACDC, Cheap Trick, Van Halen (not Hagar), Jane's Addiction, Motley Crue and the multitude of other 80's hair bands.
Brian Apple Brian Apple has played bass in various bands and not-so bands since 1990, for either a gig or two, a demo tape or CD, or in most cases much longer, with such great names as: Crambo, Aichbone, Ewe Phreaks, Silent Groove, Primrose, Red Apple, Circle of Stone, Synk, Watery Groove, Smoked Apple, The Ned Project, The Wayside, Machine Seven, Karma, and Special Purpose. His main influences (on the bass or otherwise): John Coltrane, Cliff Burton and Metallica, Miles Davis, John Paul Jones and Led Zeppelin, Steve Harris and Iron Maiden, Geddy Lee and Rush, Phish, Jimi Hendrix, Victor Wooten,The Three Stooges, King's X, Alice In Chains, Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Rage Against The Machine, Thelonious Monk, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, STP, Van Halen (the Roth years), Geezer Butler and Black Sabbath, whoever wrote the theme songs to Barney Miller, The Jeffersons, S.W.A.T, Night Court, Fat Albert, and Batman, the Red Hot Chili Peppers (go ahead, sign (or grab) my sock), the Dave Matthews Band, Primus (even though he cant play any of it), The Beatles, Beck, Pink Floyd, Herbie Hancock, John Schofield, Aerosmith (before sobriety) , Oteil Burbridge, U2, The Doors, The Black Crowes, Incubus, other great bands (insert name here ___________) and last, but not least, all the musicians that he has played with and fans that have supported him and his bands over the years. On gig nights, his biggest concern is that everyone there has a great time, because when it boils down to it, that is what playing, performing, and listening to music is all about. His second concern is getting a good buzz and how aerodynamic his hair is on that particular evening.
Hey, I just wanted to let you know we are playing two shows in Charlotte this Friday, 3/22!!! We'll be playing Borders on Northlake Mall Drive at 4:00 and then we are heading over to The Evening Muse. It is an All-Ages show and we will be playing with gogoPilot. The cover is $6. We hope to see you there!
I see how you are now! Comments for Vic and Mel but none for your longer time friend! :( Guess I'll have to get Melissa to go out and do some shots with me to ease the pain!
thanks for thinking of me tonight. i was at work as usual. it has been a long couple of days, i have been partying like a rockstar!!!! lets try to catch up this week!
Hey guys! You should post Sparky's witty emails here...or at least as bulletins to the "friends"...seeing as I NEVER get them ;-). See ya's Sat. night..oh, and lookey there, I'm your first comment!!! XOXO
