SKANIC is an energetic
group that will bring any audience to its feet by mixing traditional ska beats
with innovative
melodies. Originating in the San Diego beach communities,
SKANIC's soulful horn lines, upbeat harmonies and
insightful melodies appeal
to people of all ages! Their high-energy groove has brought this group of
skanksters to venues
from the underground in Santa Barbara to the famous Belly
Up Tavern in San Diego. Original pieces, traditional covers
and songs with a
ska flare reflect the unanimous audience response: SKANIC = FUN!
Their
wild antics on stage will
leave audiences with sore feet and thirsty mouths from
a performance
that will not soon be forgotten...
Axel Clarke
DRUMS
Originally from Scotland, Axel Clarke has been
playing drums & percussion
for 22 years.
He holds Bachelors & Masters
Degrees in Percussion Performance from CSU Long Beach
where
he currently
teaches
lessons. Axel has performed throughout LA and Orange County with groups ranging
from
Rock to Steel Drums
to Avant Garde Classical. He has played and/or recorded with Long Beach
Symphony, Pacific Brass Ensemble,
Kim Richmond Jazz Orchestra, Robin Cox
Ensemble, Stefana, Pology, Mehdi, McCrea Adams and many others.
Axel also plays with the popular Oingo Boingo tribute band DEAD
MAN'S PARTY with band mate Bruce.
Darren Conway
TROMBONE / VOCALS / KEYS
Darren Conway, a Connecticut native, journeyed to San Diego for vacation in 1991 and
has been hooked ever since.
While in the fifth grade and still a young piano
student, he saw the school's music teacher demonstrating the
trombone,
and he
just had to have one. Through high school, he played feverishly in Concert, Jazz
and Marching
bands.
During a rehearsal of the San Diego Bay Bones Trombone
Choir, Darren heard that a local ska band was
looking for a
trombone player. He auditioned with SKANIC, and his talent won him the
coveted spot. Well, that, and
the fact that he was the only one who auditioned.
Darren has played with popular
Oingo Boingo tribute band DEAD MAN'S PARTY,
and Mikey Dread's
Dread at the Controls
Band. In addition to SKANIC, he currently plays trombone in
San Diego R&B band Soul Camp, and with San Diego's Vamp.
Among Darren's early horn influences are
Earth
Wind & Fire and the Saturday Night Live Band. When he isn't
playing
with the
bone,
Darren, a chronic smiler, works as an engineer at Jenny Craig International.
Chuck Gross
GUITAR / KEYS / VOCALS
Playing keyboards has been a life long endeavor for Chuck. In addition to adding organ and guitar to SKANIC,
he's currently playing in a jazz quartet called Randy Fontaine and the Swingers.
By day, he's an agricultural official for the County of San Diego. Chuck enjoys all music...
...and club DJ's are not musicians.
Eric Murphy
LEAD GUITAR / VOCALS / EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
This native San Diegan graduated from Poway High School and received a (reverse)
psychology and biology major
from University of Colorado at Boulder. A
sibling of the producer of This Is Spinal Tap and Best In Show,
his musical
influences include The Police, The Beatles, The English Beat &
Yanni. As a former member of the eclectic band
Blisterchicken (not to be
confused with the famous food chain), he has focused on an unconventional song
writing style
mixed with a ska influence that has become an integral part
of SKANIC song writing. Eric is a self taught guitar player
since the age
of 13 and is the owner of a real estate development company, He enjoys
being a dad, surfing, skiing,
mountain biking, sleeping and the color
blue........no red.
Russ Schutz
LEAD VOCALS / RHYTHM GUITAR / BASS
Growing up in Poway, California and Hawaii, Russ Schutz is a true Californian. A
Senior Lifeguard and Junior Lifeguard
Instructor for over seven years, Russ has
enjoyed the outdoor lifestyle of surfing, mountain biking and snowboarding.
As a lifelong music lover, Russ has played
in numerous bands including the ska influence Blisterchicken which
evolved into SKANIC.
Russ' attributes include his walking bass lines, stage presence and songwriting
skills.
An unconventional style with a ska flare has produced over 75 songs in
collaboration with guitarist Murphy.
As a bass player for over 15 years, his
influences include Menudo and anything with a technical base line. Russ's lead
vocals are an exciting mix of power and energy that has emerged since being able
to sing without a bass in his hands.
His artistic creativity (Fine Arts degree -
Long Beach State) has transcended into a unique style of all music he is
involved in. When Russ is not playing music or surfing, you can usually find him
at the border waiting for El Nino.
Jody Sillstrop
BASS / VOCALS
Jody Sillstrop is a resident of Encinitas and has been playing bass for about 13 years. He
has been life guarding in Solana Beach
with band mate Russ for over nine years.
This is where the two first met and began working on what was to become SKANIC.
His other interests include coaching Lacrosse for Torres Pines High, surfing,
and gravity boarding.
Jody is a graduate of Torrey Pines High and
San Diego State University, where he learned the value of friends in high places and covert
brown-nosing. You can also find him behind the bar at Chief's Burgers &
Brew, his restaurant in Solana Beach.
Jody has a natural feel for the bass and
incorporates a smooth simplicity to his style that is felt from his soul.
His
stage presence transforms audiences from spectators to being part of the show.
Bruce Zimmerman
SAXOPHONE / VOCALS / KEYS
Bruce Zimmerman, primarily a jazz musician, influenced by such artists as Roland Kirk and
Mark Russo, he sought out and
studied under local jazz great Hollis Gentry.
Bruce played in reggae bands for 8 years before being invited to audition
for
the
San Diego-based band SKANIC. His jazz influence and reggae background is
apparent in the richness, texture and
depth
that he brings to SKANIC.
Bruce also plays with the popular Oingo Boingo tribute band
DEAD
MAN'S PARTY
with band mate Axel, and for Mikey Dread's Dread
at the Controls Band.
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