Bluestone

Meet The Band….

Phil Flewallen grew up in California listening to the 60’s rock that poured out of the Central Valley, along with San Francisco acid rock, Bakersfield country twang and a touch of traditional Mexicana. Phil’s earliest musical influences included the Allman Brothers’ dual guitar artistry, Jimi Hendrix’s cosmic guitar torrents, and Cream-led Eric Clapton’s British burning 6-string masterpieces. In 2005 Phil formed Bluestone to be a “big, barreling force of blues, jazz and rock, distinguished by top musicianship and exciting performances”. Phil continues to channel influences from Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Danny Gatton, Robben Ford, and Joe Bonamassa. Phil knows how to raise roofs and tear down walls with his infectious, intelligent and deeply emotional brand of roadhouse blues, southern boogie, rollicking rock and roll, and heartfelt ballads. Phil has earned a loyal following over the course of his two decades playing in the DC area. His passionate guitar playing has been described as "a little rock, a lot of roll, a pinch of rhythm and a handful of blues.“

Kay Finnerty has been singing all her life. Prior to joining Bluestone, Kay has been the lead vocalist for a variety of top performing Northern Virginia bands, including Thunder Road, Hurricane Johnson, Music Box, West on 66, The Fabulous BelAirs, and The Rick Sickman Band. Kay delivers the vocal power, emotion and excitement of such artists as Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Stevie Nicks, Patsy Cline, Eva Cassidy, Tina Turner, Susan Tedeschi, Janis Joplin and Bonnie Raitt.

Estel Dillon for more than 30 years Estel has combined emotional feel with technical virtuosity to convey the musical ideas of his band mates in a wide variety of musical venues, while evolving into one of Northern Virginia’s most talented drummers. After moving to the Washington D.C. area in the early eighties, Estel began playing with groups such as Legacy, Kaleidoscope, and entertainer Tom Saputo’s bands among others. Estel’s influences include Ringo Starr, Buddy Rich, Billy Cobham, Ginger Baker, Tony Williams and all of the other great drummers in music today and yesterday. Estel’s meticulous timing and solid grooves provide the foundation for the powerful driving sound of Bluestone.

Tom Bonaquisti hails from the Rochester, New York area and has been playing the bass since he was 13 years old and enjoying it each and every day. Tom has played in many and varied situations and venues throughout college and eventually landing in Los Angeles. In LA, Tom was the bassist with the new wave band "Little Itch" that performed at venues such as The Troubadour, The Whiskey, and the iconic Madam Wong's. Tom has played and recorded with Bert Sommer (of Woodstock and HAIR fame) and also guitarist Jack Sherman, formerly of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Tom has worked on the same venues and opened for national acts to include The Outlaws, Ray Charles, Roomful of Blues, and several others. Tom's style is influenced by such greats as Ray Brown, "Duck" Dunn, James Jamerson, Alphonso Johnson, and Tommy Shannon. Tom believes that the essence of rock and blues, has been and always will be adherence to the groove and locking in on the pocket, both powerful forces that makes you want to move your feet!