While visiting his sister in State College last semester, front man for B-Nimble & the Boys, Jack B-Nimble, other wise known as Jack McNally, said he saw Junk perform at Dragon Chasers' and decided to book a show of his own.
B-Nimble & the Boys formed two years ago in Aliquippa when its bassist Terry Tomei (junior-media studies), left Penn State's Beaver campus and their band Code Green to finish his degree at University Park. Both McNally and Tomei started their own groups after the split and headed in different musical directions. Being old friends from home, they are excited to share a stage once again tonight.
"Jack is a very good songwriter and musician, he's a driving force," Tomei said. "People can expect intense jams with an uplifting atmosphere."
McNally describes his band's sound as a blend of folk and rock. He said they have many of the typical influences such as Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan to fuel their sounds. There's also a few surprises like Hank Williams and Waylon Jennings who slip their way in on some country-tinged tracks, he said
McNally said he also plays harmonica on a number of songs, a skill he just picked up a year ago, and looks forward to exposing to a younger audience.
"We play a different style of music than what's popular today," McNally said. "People are getting sick of the same old rock songs. We're trying to make people feel good through positive music."
B-Nimble & the Boys also have a new CD out, Into the Minds, which is still a work in progress.
Copies of the album will be available at the show.
By incorporating different instruments into their music, such as conga drums, it adds more levels to the music, McNally said.
"We're developing more of a unique style to our music," McNally said. "It opens up a lot more doors and you're able to do more things."
After leaving Penn State Beaver campus, Tomei said he picked up from where Code Green left off, in search of a funkier route with a new band.
The name Junk means Jam/Funk, and the band said they're still looking for new members to play keyboard and horns.
Having played Dragon Chasers' before, Junk will be opening the show with a number of improvisational songs in typical jam band style. At practice they can improvise for almost an hour in a kind of jazz jam, Tomei said.
"We're more exploratory with our improvisation very funky and liquidy," Tomei said.
All the members of Junk are Penn State students and enjoyed the vibe of Dragon Chaser's so much they decided to play another show.
"It's very comfortable, bigger, more open, a very be-yourself atmosphere, where everyone can sit around and enjoy the show," Tomei said.
Send an 