Todd's Band History Page

These pages were created in a fit of insomia sometime in 1994, and has been added to here and there ever since. Why? Good question...It's fun to remember these things, I guess. Also, perhaps long-lost former band-mates will send me harassing email recalling how anal-retentive I can be on a variety of issues. If you act now, you could be the 3rd person to be offended by something on the page!

There's a lot of sociology and interpresonal intricacies in bands. It's fun to remember them all.

Triple Threat (2/2001 - present) | songlist

My friend and former coworker Steve Bergstedt got hooked up with these boys a few years ago. When I saw them, their SRV-playing guitar hero front-man Dean Granatelli caught my attention--great voice, great guitar playing, and I don't imagine the ladies find him too hard to look at either. When their bassist Larue left the band due to a relocation to Texas, Steve had asked me about my bass playing. At the time, I was having too much fun drumming and was too unconfident in my bass skills to play in such a good band, so I referred them to Jim Billmeier who has a long history of playing blues bass--SRV stuff especially.

Shortly after Jim's arival, Steve left the band (which we would later see as a pattern), returning Triple Threat to its trio roots. Simultaneously, Dean put TripleThreat on a bit of a hiatus to pursue some other summer interests. Months later, Steve Bergstedt mentioned to me that he was back in Triple Threat and they were still in need of a bassist. He inquired about my availability. I had a blast at that first practice, and was pleasantly surprised to hear someone enjoy my BASS playing...so here we are. I'm playing bass in a full rock band with a solid drummer (Tony Granatelli) and I only have to bring 3 items in to any given gig--amp, bass guitar, and gig bag (okay, and 2 large PA cabinets now that they've found out I have a PA). I even get to play drums on a couple of tunes when Tony is out front singing and wowing the ladies. I guess that guitar trade-in in 1989 has finally paid off! :-)

Dr. Jamm (July-October 2000) | Click for Songlist

Mike Zatezalo, guitar slinger from RLB joined Dr. Jamm a few months earlier and enjoyed it sheerly for the gigging and the song selection that contained some unique things in the rock-n-roll genre thanks to the opportunities afforded by the keyboard playing of Dennis Provo. Dennis also played lead and rhythm guitar as well as backing vocals. Jason Shreeram was the bassist, and Ron Lofton led the band on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.

Their prior drummer evidently left the band due to some friction between him and Dennis. Mike pitched the band to me stating that they were under some duress with a gig coming up in just 2 weeks. I agreed to check it out since I was so familiar with most of the songs. We played the first gig with me as their drummer--a moderatly large festival in West Chicago--with just two practices! To my relief, all went well and it was a swimming success by most accounts. We also played a successful gig at Miss Kitty's Saloon in Naperville where we packed the dance floor with an interesting cross-section of Napervillians.

Unfortunately, though, the band didn't survive the recording of the ensuing demo tape. Dennis became rather defensive and came to dislike me rather profusely during my engineering of the demo tape (I now have PTSD episodes whenever I hear "Layla"). Dennis quit the band as a result. Continuing the band as a 4-piece outfit was briefly considered, but abandoned. Without a keyboard player/singer/guitarist, there was too much ground work to re-do given my waning interest in this level of mainstream classic rock. Mike moved on to focus on the original band he had recently joined.

Last I heard, Ron Lofton and Ron LaFleur have been working together--both are acoustic guitarists with solid voices. The working title of their acoustic duo is rather funny -- "Two More Rons." If you happen around Winfield, IL or West Chicago, you may catch them at the Mill Race Inn or John's Buffet.

The Ron LaFleur Band (7/99 - 1/2001) | Click for Songlist

I met Ron and Fuzz (Greg Enterdonato) as an acoustic duo during open mic nights at Durty Nellie's bar in Palatine. I sat in with them on my SPD-11 electronic drumkit (henceforth dubbed the "Starbeats kit" after a local radio commercial). I also met Jim (Fish) Billmeier at Nellies on a separate open mic night, though I only vaguely remember it--Jimmy continues to make fun of me for my seeming stand-offishness in our conversation that night: "Jim: So you lookin to play? Me: Nope." (I met Jim at an open mic while I was completely buried in a hell quarter of grad school with no time to spare.)

Ron called on long-time friend Johnny "mack" Mackniskas to fill out the sound of the new band with lead guitar. Fuzz bowed out of the band in September of 1999, not long after Jim took over the bass guitar position. Fuzz was a horn player by training, a drummer second, and a bassist third. He became the "utility fielder" of the band. Fuzz's departure left us without the tasty harmonies he added to Ron's lead, and without a backup bassist or drummer, but there just wasn't enough to do to justify a backup vocalist.

With Jim's rock-solid bass work, and Johnny's capable lead guitar, all recruited under the "OQP - Only Quality People" requirement, Ron had assembled a very promising rock and roll band playing a wide variety of tunes including Johnny Cash, Lyle Lovett, Matchbox 20, The Wallflowers, Mellencamp, Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, and even Greenday!

Friction in the working relationship of Ron and Johnny led to a change of guitar slingers in mid-November, 1999 when guitar wizard Mike Zatezalo joined the band. Mike's chops and experience really raised the musical bar of the group...perhaps to the peril of the Ron LaFleur Band.

The band went on hiatus at the end of February, 2000 and reformed Summer of 2000. Given the overextension of all members' time schedules, hiatus threatened again at the end of 2000, but was averted with a focus on playing more live shows and spending less time in the rehearsal room. An overextended Jim Billmeier indicated a severe shortage of time in January 2001, so hiatus is again upon RLB...not to say it won't ride again.

Hair Flick Experience Band, 1996 | Click for songlist

This classic rock band was formed by Dimitris Pantelakis, a coworker and Ph.D. at Motorola FSRAM Division in Austin. I was recruited as a replacement for a bass player who left the band (and, later I think I came to realize why he left). To read all about this band, follow the link above.

HFE played classic and contemporary rock. Although it was hands-down the most social band of which I've ever been part, it was also the most turbulent. The band broke up before playing its first slated gig. I was out of town due to an illness in the family. A rift had already formed in the band over a variety of issues.

I did hear ~1998 that they're back together in some capacity. "...Man!" Live on the world ranches and metrodomes. :-)

Interesting note: the band had its own psychiatrist/guitarist on staff. Every band should have one!

Second Nature, 1994

• Dave Brown--lead vocals, guitar
• Scott Ray--bass guitar
• Todd H.--drums, vocals
• Dave's gal (name escapes me) --keyboard, vocals

This was my first stab at an Austin band. I learned of them by answering a "Drummer wanted" ad in the Chronicle late in 1994. They played (surprise!) classic rock and some harder rock and roll. Tom Petty, Doors and the like.... All I remember is that the bassist Scott Ray (a Motorolan) was quite solid and we cut a mighty groove together.

The band folded shortly after I parted with band over time issues. Given finite free time, and a budding addiction to Volleyball 3 nights a week, I opted out of the 2-hour round trip drive to south Austin for bi-weekly practices. The parting was mutual in that Dave was getting ready to give me the boot for two reasons. First was my inability and unwillingness to practice more than twice a week, and I'm pretty sure he didn't appreciate my unrelenting suggestions on controlling the frequent feedback problems with the PA in his practice studio. I tend to get kinda cranky and vocal when things aren't mixed correctly.

Cheap Entertainment, late 1993 | Click for songlist

• Russel Hardie, Ph.D.--lead vocals, acoustic guitar, keyboards
• John Westerkamp, Ph.D.--acoustic guitar, harmonica, vocals
• Todd H. -- electric bass

This all-electrical engineering band got its start at the 1993 University of Dayton Electrical Engineering Faculty dinner. I was taking an independent study Musical Instrument Signal Processing course from John at the time. He knew I played bass in addition to drums and asked if I was interested in playing the ELE Faculty dinner with him and Russ. I agreed and took my first leap into a band as bass guitarist. The band's name came from the amount of money we received that inaugural gig at the EE faculty dinner! Cheap often opened for LWF (below). This double-duty kept me busy during gigs!).

The band played a number of older folk and classic rock tunes including Simon and Garfunkle, The Grateful Dead, and John Gorka in addition to more contemporary pop rock tunes such as Indigo Girls, REM, etc.

My membership in the band ceased when I moved to Austin to work for Motorola. As a funny side note, my replacement, Joe Gillette was also a former student of Dr. Westerkamp. He eventually left the band to take a job in Dallas for Texas Instruments. I guess if you play bass in Cheap Entertainment, you end up moving to Texas to work for the semiconductor industry.

Lousy with Flowers 1992-93 Click for songlist

• Joe Gillette--bass guitar, vocals, founder
• Mark Farrelly--guitar, vocals
• Julie Goodwin--lead vocals, percussion
• Todd H. -- drums, vocals

Joe Gillette founded Lousy with Flowers in 1992. I'm told the unsual, but catchy name is rooted in a line of a poem by Silvia Plath, "...she was lousy with flowers."

The original drummer (1) reportedly had a great deal of rhythm difficulties. Joe complained that he as the bassist had to keep time for the group. Try that one at home! This led to the drummer's eventual replacement.

LWF played a wide mix of alternative, pop rock and even some 80's rock including REM, Sting, Pearl Jam, U2, the Clash, Go Go's, etc. This experience forced me to actually recognize the music of the 90's. We also did as many "fun" tunes as our image-conscious front-person (2) would allow. "Time Warp" from the Rocky Horror Picture show was one of the highlights of the set list.

We played countless parties for friends in the University of Dayton ghetto (now known by its more politically correct name "student properites district") Our standard deal: "You want us to play your party? Okay--You help us move the equipment, you buy us dinner and bring us refreshments, and we'll play your party!"

Frustration due to those ubiquitous "musical differences" (refusing to play Copacabana on artistic grounds, for instance) held by the lead vocalist coupled with my move to Austin caused the dis-band-ment of the group in May of 1994.

Some band with Mark Andrews, Chad, and ??, 1991-92?

We practiced in the basement of 313 Kiefaber in Dayton, OH. I remember playing "Friend in Low Places" a lot of times, as well as some Tom Petty, and good ole' guitar jams. I wasn't in the band for very long, due to time issues. That darn schooling got in the way somehow. I think they needed a drummer for an engineering fraternity party gig they had set up.

The Young Urban Musicians, 1989-1991 Click for Songlist

• Todd H.--drums,vocals
• Gary Grundei--lead vocals, keyboards, rhythm guitar,horn arrangments
• Steve Wurzelbacher--bass guitar
• Dave Freedy--lead guitar, horn arrangements
• Amie Campbell--trombone
• Todd Davitt--trumpet
• Chris Rotsching--alto and tenor sax
• Jessica Wethington--vocals

Former members:

• Tim Richter--guitar
• John Zappa--trumpet
• Jay Akers--alto sax
• Rick Porotski--trombone
• Steve Richardson -- baritone sax

The Young Urban Musicians was a 8 piece band assembled in 1989 comprised of trumpet, t-bone, alto sax, guitar, bass, keys, drums and a lead vocalist. We played a lot of Motown and a lot of the stuff covered by the Blues Brothers band.

This was hands down the most talented and correspondingly highest maintenance band I ever assembled. The horn section represented top players at the University of Cincinnati College Conservatory (John Zappa, Amie Campbell) of Music, and Chris Rotching, a music major from XU. The guitarist, Dave Freedy, was a top tuba player at CCM and fine guitarist in his own right. High school friend Gary Grundei, a jazz composition major at the Ohio State University, played keys, rhythm guitar, and sang the male lead vocals.

As an interesting sidelight, my brother in law Tim Richter, was the original YUM guitarist. I had the dubious honor of dismissing him from the band. He wanted to drink beers and jam on old blues tunes he already knew while everyone else had illusions of ramping up new tunes very quickly and getting paying gigs on a regular basis. I guess that would be considered a musical difference. Tim still tells me that it's the only time he's ever been fired from any job.

Joining me among the non-music-majors in the group, Milhaus's Steve Wurzelbacher took care of the lower registers on bass. Jessica (who, I believe, still has my tambourine) sang female lead vocals.

This was an awful lot of talent in a band that practiced far more than we ever played out for money! It's hard to keep pro musicians happy when the money just isn't rolling in... The Young Urban Musicians dissolved in 1991.

Milhaüs 1984-1989?

• Paul Kriemer--lead guitar
• Todd H.--drums
• Steve Wurzelbacher--bass guitar
• Chris Reddy--guitar
• ????? --lead vocals and guitar

With or without the umlaut over the U, they're now a very-successful cover band in the Cincinnati area. Milhaus's humble beginnings trace back to the grade school friends Paul Kreimer, Steve Wurzelbacher and Todd H.. The band plays a wide range of tunes from classic rock and roll to pop rock.

As the original drummer, I split with the group in 1986 upon entering high school. I had the overwhelming feeling of "boy this is goin' nowhere" only to return to the band a couple years later around 1988 when an adequate vocalist had been recruited. When college drove me to Dayton, Ohio in Fall of 1989, I left the band a second time. The other founding members of Steve, Paul, and Chris Reddy are still in the band today. Their CD "Sick Again" received a fair amount of radio play in Cincinnati. They remain unsigned.

Milhaus made an appearance at the 1989 St. X MusicFest as Milhaus+ --the core group with the addition of a horn section, keyboards, and backing vocalists. After recruiting Wurzelbacher's bass stylings for a new band, I said goodbye to the Milhaus guitarists, recruited horns and a guitarist from Kings Island Entertainment, and The Young Urban Musicans (above) were born. The calling towards the horns, was just too strong!

Paul Kreimer and Chris Reddy put out an album in Dec 2001 as The Sweet Impala.

Tökken, 1988

• Andy Kim--Chapman Stick (in a bass style), lead vocals, zebra spandex
• Todd H -- drums, black/white print spandex
• Gary Grundei -- keyboards/vocals, leopard skin spandex, Casey Casum (sp?) impressions
• Kevin Slack -- screamin' lead guitar axeman, leather
• Mike Tittel -- announcer ( "Yeah, thanks Wildman. You're cool.")
• A Kind St. X physical plant employee -- Chauffeur for Mr. Kim
• "Gomer" -- pyrotechnics and special FX
• Miscellaneous women from St. Ursula -- Tökken groupies
• Dan Okenfuss -- Tökken Security from said groupies

Created solely for St. X High School's 1988 MusicFest, Tökken was a show band that played token heavy metal tunes--perhaps the most irreverent band ever assembled. As it was unable to get into the show on its own merits, Tökken's demo tape was surreptitiously produced by Mike Tittel's band and submitted as a (you guessed it) "Tökken demo tape."

We opened with our zebra-striped-spandex-clad lead singer entering on the back of a Harley with his Chapman Stick strapped across his back as we played "Wipeout." Gary and Todd completed the ensemble with leopard skin, and black/white print spandex respectively. Each spandex-wearing band member's mid profile was augmented with a strategically placed, rolled, full-size bath towel.

David Lee Roth's "Yankee Rose" opened our 30 minute set which included a rousing rendition of the Beastie Boys' "You've Gotta Fight for Your Right to Party," a senseless use of flash paper pyrotechnics, as well as a poignant long-distance dedication for a poor little girl whose dog Sparky had run away from home. Gary (who donned a plain blue sweater to complement his leopard skin) delivered the dedication:

...I do so miss Sparky, and I know he's out there somewhere. So, for Sparky, could you please play..."Funkytown?"

I'm told a videotape exists of this show. If you know of its whereabouts, PLEASE let me know!

St. X High School Marching Band 1987-89

Okay, it's not a rock band, but no single experience sharpened my drumming chops more than this. Paul Brehm directed the percussion section in 87-88 when the drum feature was a rather cool arrangment of usually-overdone tune "Wipeout!" What was cool about this arrangement was a heavy use of para-diddle-diddles. I never knew I could play such a thing at those speeds over 3 skins (I marched a very very heavy set of Slingerland tri-toms that year). In 1988-89, I marched snare drum next to Curt Rekow and Dan Allaire, when Doug Hurst from the Sun Coast Sound took over the percussion director duties. Doug, AKA "Grimace" was a beast. He worked us hard on drills until that sweet oscillation of a perfectly synchronized double stroke roll would come over the three of us and our brand new Yamaha marching snares. His gentle words of encouragement, in the familiar vernacular of DCI marching band alumni, were: "You guy's are gonna do this right, or I'm goin' up in ya." Doug's a very funny guy.

This drum line was often-decorated that year taking a few "Best Percussion" prizes in competition. Nothing amazing, but my rudiment chops have only deteriorated since this high point 1989. Thanks to Greg Gehring who piqued my interest in this...

Group Therapy, 1986-1988

• Todd H.--drums
• Gary Grundei--keyboards, rhythm guitar, vocals
• Paul Kreimer--guitar
• Steve Wurzelbacher? Tony Seeta? -- bass

Group Therapy was created in 1986 as a venture with my new high school friend Gary Grundei. I came to learn that he played piano since he was like 4 years old. He had 3 synths and a zippy MIDI sequencer. The guy had toys to fix toys! The tune I remember best was playing along to the click track of the Who's "Babba O'Rielly," as he had the entire song sequenced using MIDI. He would load the sequence onto his Yamaha music computer from cassette!. Yes, we were hard-core geeks in the magnetic tape days of computing. We also recorded a "Joke of the Day" theme song that was submitted to local radio station WEBN. I think we also entered that "Billy and Boingers" contest put on by a national cartoonist. Needless to say, we didn't win.

Gary, however, is now a successful pro musician and musical director in Colorado.

Corrupt Justice (1984-ish?)

• Bill Flowers--guitar, vocals
• Todd H.--drums
• Paul Kreimer--lead guitar
• Tony Seeta--bass guitar

We called it a band, but we never really played anywhere. It was a bunch of junior high kids hacking around in my parent's house. No, I take that back. We did have a single gig at the St. James parish festival in Cincinnati. I remember us being puzzled how to end a particular song. Tony's suggestion was comical: "Just fade out, man."

Bill was an interesting character. He had a keyboard, and he was the first muscian I'd met who could actually sing. Tony was interesting too. I remember him claiming "A slide is always in key." He slid to notes a great deal, especially when he was lost. The band was formed in the grade school years around 1984 (back when Loverboy and Asia made it big). We played classic rock and roll like Boston, Beatles, the Who and other three-chord wonders.

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