Tongue–N–Groove is NOT your average cover band! In fact, Tongue–N–Groove is a multi-talented, self-determined group of musicians who like to set their own standards very high. Their quest is simple: to deliver passionate, high-energy performances of classic hits with ‘dead on’ accuracy and people are taking notice!
Formed in the late 1990’s, the South Shore’s own Tongue–N–Groove has played hundreds of shows in and around New England. Their most recent shows include The Brockton Fair, a stint as the house band at the Raynham Greyhound Park Lounge, and The Kevin Brown Benefit (in which Tongue-N-Groove helped raise over $ 20,000.00 for a friend in need). They have also been known to take their act on the road and have traveled as far as Tampa, Florida to perform at corporate events. Although Tongue–N–Groove has been rocking for more than 10 years, it took a few good line-up changes (plus the addition of keyboards) to finally become geared up for the kind of success they are now destined to achieve.
To categorize Tongue–N–Groove as simply a cover band hardly seems fitting for this talented group of musicians, which is why the band prefers the alternative term “Variety Band”. “We play a very wide range of musical styles (old and new)”, says guitarist Dan Dykes. “The kind of great music everyone can enjoy, at a level not often achieved by the average cover band. We do whatever it takes to fire up a crowd and we love surprising people with our range. How many other bands perform James Brown, The White Stripes, Elton John, and AC/DC…all in the same night?”
Oddly enough, most of the band cut their teeth musically playing in heavy metal bands. Paul Wabrek was once the front man for Auditory Imagery, a signed act, while Ralph, Chuck, and Dan played together in a once popular band called Triphammer (Chuck later going on to tour the world with thrash metal titans Sacred Reich), and Brad did his own stints with both Sky Fountain and Bamboo Spoon. Those are the days the band fondly remembers as “The Metal Years”. Nowadays, the band is dead set on perfecting all the other styles of music, something they find to be equally gratifying. “Its all about the thrill of entertaining people on a large scale level”, says bass player Ralph Whittemore. “We aim to please.”
No one who witnesses Tongue–N–Groove can deny their ability to do just that, especially when they bang out the best of the classic hits. However, seeing their live act once does not sum them up. Their repertoire is constantly changing. “We really enjoy surprising people with the addition of new music every show”, chimes in singer Paul Wabrek. “A band’s act can become stale if they’re not too careful. We want audiences to always walk away feeling like they have been thoroughly entertained. Keeping things fresh can really help with that”.
