Troy Heinz -
Acoustic Guitar / Mandolin / Harmonica / Vox
David Wanie -
Electric and Acoustic Guitars / Vox
Tom Clay -
Piano/Organ/Vox
Jerry Sparkman -
Upright and Downlow Bass / Vox
Scott Brown -
Drums
Influences
Just to name a few: The Grateful Dead - Uncle Tupelo - The Flying Burrito Bros. - Steve Earle - Gram Parsons - Son Volt - The Talking Heads - Phish - The Rolling Stones - Ryan Adams - Johnny Cash - Widespread Panic - Pink Floyd - JJ Cale - Cracker - Camper Van Beethoven - oh yeah did I say Steve Earle. Let me say it again! Too many to List
It all began with bar room conversations between Troy and David about the raw roots alt-country music scene they had been introduced to, which included such bands as Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Gram Parsons and Steve Earle. Throw in a love for jam bands like Widespread Panic and The Grateful Dead, and you have The Bar Tab Band. A blue collar rock and roll band which speaks the language of life in the midwest with telecaster twang and hillbilly stomp.
Bar Tab formed in 2003 and were soon playing at a host of great Wisconsin bars and clubs. BTB had the opportunity to play some outdoor festies since emerging on the scene, including The Grickle Grass Jam and The Grateful Garcia Gathering which featured Melvin Seals and The Jerry Garcia Band, along with some of the finest jam bands in the midwest. We traveled throughout the state and have been writing a few tunes along the way.
Troy brings an enthusiasm for bluegrass and gritty country-rock together with a voice as deep and dark as a holler' and provides the acoustic guitar and mandolin. David's playing makes it seem as though his guitar is trying to hurt him, and it's all he can do to avoid injury every night, which makes him holler lyrics with reckless abandon. The Right Honorable Judge Clay oversees the rich textural rhythmic moodscapes of The BTB, and would like us to play more Dylan. A fine idea, Tom! With Jerry and Scott laying down a groove that mixes Jazz and Rock with raw aggression, this band will force you to dance and be constantly HAVING A GOOD TIME!
This band would not be without the loyalty of the fantastic folks who come down to dance and have a good time and celebrate the shared experience that happens when a live band truely feeds off the energy of an audience. Thanks alot, We Love Y'all!
The anniversary couldn't have been the same at all without you all! Nothin' but Love, Soul, & Funk! One of a kind show! I am so glad I was apart of it! THANK YOU! ;) ~Be Well & Much Love!
It’s hard to believe, but FGC’s only Wisconsin show of the fall is this Thursday 10/29 at the Miramar Theater in Milwaukee. We’re planning on making it a good one, so hope to see you there!
In other news, FGC is very excited about the band's new Video Blog, a weekly series featuring a behind the scenes look at FGC performances and touring. Check out the YouTube playlist for the last few editions, and stay tuned for more in the coming weeks!
FGC is back in Wisconsin this Saturday 8/29 for a special show at Tanner’s Grill and Bar in Kimberly, WI. The second annual “Family Affair” will feature several bands, a free pre-party, vendors, and more, all benefitting the Huntington’s Disease Society of America. This is an ALL AGES show! Click the image below for details and advance tickets, and we hope to see you there!
In the meantime, check out all three of our Summer Camp Festival sets on the Live Music Archive for free stream/download! Visit our MySpace blog for the links, and click here to check out some photos from the weekend.
We also want to invite our Myspace friends to connect with us on Facebook. Click the links for the FGC Group and FGC Page, both great ways to stay in touch with the band and link up with other fans.
The Bar Tab Band is now apart of our family! Thanks for a real good time at the Grateful Garcia Gathering '09. We hope you had as much fun as we did having you perform. Your band (and the other bands) truly knows how to throw down really great music vibes! Much respect & love to all of you, as well to the other performing artist at the 3G's! www.GratefulGarciaGathering.com
TICKET PRICE AT THE GATE: $40 DAY OF SHOW FOR THURS, FRIDAY(good for the whole weekend). TICKET PRICE AT THE GATE FOR SATURDAY THU SUNDAY ONLY $35. FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE FEE: Payable in cash at entrance gate. $16 per person. ($11 per person SATURDAY ONLY!) # THE FESTIVAL ATTENDANCE FEE COVERS: #Camping, # Parking, # Trash, and Waste Management Services. PARTY W/ "FAMILY GROOVE COMPANY"~"ROOTSTAND"~"IFDAKAR", AND MORE! AGES 18 + EVENT. Hey now! The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A grateful place where Garcia fans will be gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. We have leased the campground venue for July 30th though August 3rd 2009 for our 6th annual music festival. Other great music festivals have hosted at this venue such as Weedstock, Farmapalooza, Big Wu Family Reunion, Campout Roots Festival,just to name a few! Artists included: Family Groove Company, Rootstand, Ifdakar, Boney Fingers, Baghdad SCUBA Review, Fungus Garden Reverb, Jam and the Playground Kids, In the Dark, MMC Trio, Elf Lettuce, Vinny Weible & Soul Logic, Groovitational Pull, The Reggie, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, The Bar Tab Band, John Statz, Mr. Cab Driver, Brok'n Arrow, Greyleaf, Wook, and more Jambands to be added soon! O
Indeed boys...indeed. Please spread the word. We'll have flyers and handbills this weekend if we can stop and meet you in GB on the way back from DC?!?
FGC hits the Memorial Union Terrace at UW-Madison for a FREE SHOW on Saturday July 18, with special guests, The Bridge, opening the night. This is sure to be a fun night of music in one of Madison’s most beautiful settings, and we hope you can join us!
Also coming up in Wisconsin at the end of the month is The 3G’s Music Festival (aka Grateful Garcia Gathering) in Black River Falls. It’s the 6th annual celebration of Jerry Garcia’s birthday, and FGC will be headlining the festivities on Saturday August 1. Tickets for the entire weekend of music and camping are only $30 in advance. More info and tickets at www.GratefulGarciaGathering.com.
GET READY TO PARTY HEARTY WITH FAMILY GROOVE COMPANY~ROOTSTAND~IFDAKAR,AND MORE! *18 + YEARS OF AGE* Hey now! The 3Gs ('aka Grateful Garcia Gathering), is returning back to the Camp NCN Venue in beautiful Black River Falls Wisconsin July 30th though August 2nd 2009 where it all began over 6 years ago! A grateful place where Garcia fans will be gathering! It also marks the celebration of Jerry Garcia's 67th Birthday, plus the 14th Anniversary of Jerry's untimely passing. We have leased the campground venue for July 30th though August 3rd 2009 for our 6th annual music festival.
Other great music festivals have hosted at this venue such as Weedstock, Farmapalooza, Big Wu Family Reunion, Campout Roots Festival,just to name a few!
Artists included: Family Groove Company, Rootstand, Ifdakar, Boney Fingers, Baghdad SCUBA Review, Fungus Garden Reverb, Jam and the Playground Kids, In the Dark, MMC Trio, Elf Lettuce, Vinny Weible & Soul Logic, Groovitational Pull, The Reggie, Grateful Beth and the Volunteers, The Bar Tab Band, John Statz, Mr. Cab Driver, Brok'n Arrow, Greyleaf, and more Jambands to be added soon!
Our friends at Mystix Toyz will be on board at the 3G's for tons of freakin fun with juggling demonstrations, including juggling workshops, face painting, plus drum circles and fire dance jams every night! WOW! Advance tickets ONLY $30 online for all four days three nites! *18+ YEARS OF AGE* www.GratefulGarciaGathering.com
