The+Band:
Rebecca+Janelle+–+Lead+Vocals,+Guitar
Rodney+Alexander:+Lead+Guitar,+Vocals
Guy+Miskelly:+Guitar
Noel+Lesperance+–+Keyboard,+Saxophone
Rob+Allen:+Bass
Ryan+Van+Acker:+Drums,+Vocals
The+Groove+Station+is+a+“six+piece+Blues+and+R&B+cover+band”+on+the+surface,+but+there+is+far+more+to+the+band+than+that.+I’ve+seen+them+play+live+at+The+London+Music+Club,+The+Lamplighter+and+recently+as+the+headliner+at+Norma+Jeans+for+the+“Heather+Patterson+Benefit”+at+Norma+Jeans+where+they+were+exceptional+live+at+all+three+venues.
The+bands+focal+point+is+Rebecca+Janelle+(Lead+Vocals,+Guitar)+onstage.+She+is+a+singer+with+a+great+range+who+also+is+very+competent+guitarist+who+has+her+own+deserved+stature+in+a+band+that+also+features+two+local+guitar+aces+in+Rodney+Alexander+&+Guy+Miskelly+(solo/Sarah+Smith+Band).
Rodney+Alexander+&+Guy+Miskelly+are+highly+gifted+musicians,+their+guitar+work+compliments+each+other+much+like+Kaleb+and+Chris+Julke+of+Helix.+They+work+as+one+onstage+and+whether+it+be+dual+guitar+licks+or+individually+they+set+the+bar+high.+There+is+no+ego,+no+one+musician+fighting+the+other+for+his+share+of+the+spotlight+or+lion’s+share+of+the+guitar+work+–+the+coincide+as+a+“team”+and+the+band+and+the+music+is+first+and+foremost+–+as+it+should+be.
Noel+Lesperance+on+Keyboards+&+Saxophone+supply’s+the+same+high+level+caliber+musicianship+as+Rodney+&+Guy+and+his+keyboards+provides+the+added+layer+of+the+bands+over+all+sound+that+makes+it+all+the+more+compelling+to+hear.+When+Noel+switch’s+to+Sax+it+brings+with+it+a+powerful+voice+to+take+the+band+up+yet+another+notch+sonically+that+resonates+with+all+lover+of+brass+music+with+the+framework+of+a+rock+and+R&B+band.
Rob+Allen+on+Bass+is+the+concrete+foundation+of+the+band.+No+Chris+Squire+bass+runs,+no+slap+and+funk+styling’s+–+he+understands+that+his+role+is+to+be+the+bedrock+of+the+band+and+supply+the+consistent+undertone+that+allows+the+other+band+members+to+weave+their+own+style+and+signature+on+the+songs+they+are+playing.
Ryan+Van+Acker+on+Drums+and+Vocals+is+one+of+my+favorite+drummers+around+the+circuit.+Ryan+is+as+solid+as+they+come+on+the+kit,+his+grooves+and+playing+style+fits+perfectly+into+the+concept+of+what+The+Groove+Station+is+built+around.+Ryan’s+style+reminds+me+a+lot+of+Steve+Smith+of+Journey+for+numerous+reasons.+First+he+plays+to+the+song,+regardless+of+his+immense+skill+behind+a+kit+he+never+takes+liberty+to+throw+in+flamboyant+fills+for+the+sake+of+the+“look+at+me”+indulgence+that+I+see+many+drummers+make+the+mistake+of.
Secondly+when+the+situation+demands+it,+he+will+lay+down+something+that+will+make+your+head+snap+around+in+appreciation+of+his+skill+–+yet+it+is+always+measure+and+calculated+for+the+overall+quality+of +serving+the+song.+Add+to+this+his+ability+as+a+good+singer+which+gives+the+band+that+already+has+excellent+vocals,+that+much+more+power+live.
This+is+not+only+a+fun+band+to+see+live+as+you+can+tell+they+love+what+they+do,+but+they+are+excellent+musicians+with+a+set+list+that+is+geared+to+get+you+up+and+dancing+and+having+a+great+night+out.
Go+on+up+at+one+of+their+shows+and+chat+with+any+of+them,+they+are+truly+wonderful+people+who+you+would+be+proud+to+call+your+friends.
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Friday Allstage Band Highlight:The Groove Station
Allstage Page
Official Site
Contact:
The Band:
Rebecca Janelle – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Rodney Alexander: Lead Guitar, Vocals
Guy Miskelly: Guitar
Noel Lesperance – Keyboard, Saxophone
Rob Allen: Bass
Ryan Van Acker: Drums, Vocals
The Groove Station is a “six piece Blues and R&B cover band” on the surface, but there is far more to the band than that. I’ve seen them play live at The London Music Club, The Lamplighter and recently as the headliner at Norma Jeans for the “Heather Patterson Benefit” at Norma Jeans where they were exceptional live at all three venues.
The bands focal point is Rebecca Janelle (Lead Vocals, Guitar) onstage. She is a singer with a great range who also is very competent guitarist who has her own deserved stature in a band that also features two local guitar aces in Rodney Alexander & Guy Miskelly (solo/Sarah Smith Band).
Rodney Alexander & Guy Miskelly are highly gifted musicians, their guitar work compliments each other much like Kaleb and Chris Julke of Helix. They work as one onstage and whether it be dual guitar licks or individually they set the bar high. There is no ego, no one musician fighting the other for his share of the spotlight or lion’s share of the guitar work – the coincide as a “team” and the band and the music is first and foremost – as it should be.
Noel Lesperance on Keyboards & Saxophone supply’s the same high level caliber musicianship as Rodney & Guy and his keyboards provides the added layer of the bands over all sound that makes it all the more compelling to hear. When Noel switch’s to Sax it brings with it a powerful voice to take the band up yet another notch sonically that resonates with all lover of brass music with the framework of a rock and R&B band.
Rob Allen on Bass is the concrete foundation of the band. No Chris Squire bass runs, no slap and funk styling’s – he understands that his role is to be the bedrock of the band and supply the consistent undertone that allows the other band members to weave their own style and signature on the songs they are playing.
Ryan Van Acker on Drums and Vocals is one of my favorite drummers around the circuit. Ryan is as solid as they come on the kit, his grooves and playing style fits perfectly into the concept of what The Groove Station is built around. Ryan’s style reminds me a lot of Steve Smith of Journey for numerous reasons. First he plays to the song, regardless of his immense skill behind a kit he never takes liberty to throw in flamboyant fills for the sake of the “look at me” indulgence that I see many drummers make the mistake of.
Secondly when the situation demands it, he will lay down something that will make your head snap around in appreciation of his skill – yet it is always measure and calculated for the overall quality of serving the song. Add to this his ability as a good singer which gives the band that already has excellent vocals, that much more power live.
This is not only a fun band to see live as you can tell they love what they do, but they are excellent musicians with a set list that is geared to get you up and dancing and having a great night out.
Go on up at one of their shows and chat with any of them, they are truly wonderful people who you would be proud to call your friends.
#Allstage #TurnUpTheLiveMusic #AllstageCommunity #blogs #LiveMusicVenue #LiveMusicRocks #music #bands #musicians #LocalMusicScene #MusicLover #LdnOnt #LondonOntario #BrantfordLiveMusic #StThomas #sttont #stthomasproud #Windsor #Sarnia #NiagraFalls #Toronto