Lil' Bastad

LIL' BASTAD @ LAZY LOUNGE 1/20/06
Friday, January 27, 2006
By DIANA BELLETT
of The Journal News
To be honest, I did not go to the Lazy Lounge in White Plains specifically to listen to the band known as Lil' Bastad. But once I walked into the bar, I knew they would capture my attention for the rest of the night.

Set up toward the rear of the bar, the band served up a mix of cover songs and originals. In my opinion, they should play more originals if they ever really want to "make it." Playing covers, no matter how well, will only get a band so far.

That being said, the band really was quite good. They transitioned tightly and jammed with a great mix of funk, jazz, hip-hop and rock. And, perhaps most importantly, it looked like they really were having a good time. The lead guitarist, Mark Bowers, engaged the crowd not only with his creative playing style, but also with his quick wit. Solos - from each member of the band - showed off their skills. The bassist even broke out into some hip-hop, which got the crowd grinding!

The band is trying to break into the "jam band" scene, saying that the vibe is really hot. (Yeah, I agree.) They've gotten off to a stellar start: Mark recently joined Robert Randolph & The Family Band (www.robertrandolph.net) for a few tunes in Atlantic City!

The story behind the band's name is pretty funny: One night, the two guitarists - Mark Bowers and Luke Michura - met up at a bar to talk about getting a band together. One of the key issues was what to call it. After a few cocktails, the guys decided to call it a night. The issue of a name was left out on the table. On the ride home, Mark had to relieve himself. So Luke pulled over, Mark unzipped and let loose. Little did he know, however, that he was watering someone's front yard! The owner of the property, upon seeing Mark, shouted out: "Get off my lawn, you Lil' Bastad!" That sealed the deal. A name was born.

That was about five years ago. Today, the band is promoting it's brand-spankin'-new cd: "Sumpthin Ta Say." Check out their Website at www.lilbastad.com for tour dates, merch and more.

So whatcha got to say about it?
"I got an e-mail saying they were playing, and I said, 'I know what I'm doing Friday night!' Every time they play here, it's guaranteed that I'll be here. ...They know how to hold a crowd, and get people dancing whether it's an original or a cover. ...They're a real player's group. These guys are tight." ~ Alan Verostick, 32, New Rochelle

The band:
Mark Bowers, guitar/vocals
Luke Michura, guitar/vocals
Ron Bostisk, bass/vocals
Dave Moore, drums
John Pahmer, keys
Scott Brown, keys
Original Link: (http://jambandsontour.blogspot.com/) - Jam Bands On Tour

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LIL’ BASTAD OPENING FOR BLUES GREAT ROBERT CRAY
AT STARLAND BALLROOM, SAYREVILLE NJ ON JUNE 19, 2007

Sayreville, NJ – The Jersey-based Blues, Funk, Soul and R&B band, Lil’ Bastad, will be opening for Blues Great Robert Cray on Tuesday, June 19th, 2007, at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ.

Lil' Bastad - The tongue in cheek name is synonymous with the winning humor and unique style that instantly connects their music with their audiences. This five piece blues based band formed in 1999 through their musicianship and great love for the Blues, R&B and Funk.

Lil’ Bastad’s new CD, Sumpthin Ta Say, contains 6 BRAND NEW SONGS written by Mark Bowers, as well as songs by Little Milton Campbell, Lowell Fulson, Howlin’ Wolf, Eric Clapton and Miles Davis. If you know Mark Bowers as the guitarist's guitarist, then be prepared to be just as blown away by Mark Bowers the songwriter. Thinking on many levels, Mark Bowers writing expresses life’s complexities in a language that everyone can easily understand: The Blues; while Lil’ Bastad's interpretation and innate execution of these songs shows there is nothing they can’t handle!

Without a doubt the driving creativity of Mark Bowers (Lead Guitar & Vox), as a live performer and studio innovator, is reflected throughout the band: John Palmer (Keys), Ronald "Boz" Bostick (Bass), Luke Michura (Rhythm Guitar & Vox), Dave Moore (Drums), who lock in syncopated blues compositions that orchestrate a fresh and innovative perspective of listening to Blues, Funk, and R & B.

If you're ever in the mood for an amazing live show, see Lil' Bastad, and experience the rapport the band has with its audience; that's what makes you come back for more ... from Freddy & B.B. King to Jimi Hendrix ... to Robert Cray, Stevie Ray, and George Benson ... their musical influences are "uniquely styled" and this band has "Sumpthin' to Say" !!!

Starland Ballroom is at 570 Jernee Mill Road, Sayreville NJ 08872, (732) 238-5500.

This is an all-ages show, and 21 to drink. The doors open at 7:30 PM and show is at 8:00PM.
Discount tickets are available through Lil’ Bastad’s website at www.lilbastad.com. - Self

Lil' Bastad: A band whose performance holds no boundaries
Thursday, February 24, 2005
By MARYANNE CHRISTIANO
of The Montclair Time
Diverse musicians who come from diverse backgrounds, that's the gist of Lil' Bastad, a five-piece Montclair-based band that runs the gamut of blues, soul, jazz, funk and maybe even a Frank Sinatra song if they are feeling it. They can be heard live when they return on Saturday, Feb. 26, to Tierney's Tavern on Valley Road.

Lil' Bastad is made up of Mark Bowers, lead guitar, vocals; Dave Moore, drums, vocals; Ronald "Boz" Bostick, bass, scat; John Pahmer, keyboards, vocals; and Luke Michura, guitar, vocals. They formed six years ago when
Bowers met Michura at Tierney's.

Bowers was performing an open mic night at Tierney's and Michura was in the audience. The musicians struck up a conversation and ended up starting a band together. Each band member had played with major acts and Bowers thought it would be best for the musicians to be the captain of their own ship.

"You spend time with major artists, you can miss your call," he said. "That's how the band came in to play. We got the right musicians and started booking gigs."

Growing up in a musical household, Bowers picked up the guitar by the age of 5. "My mother used to play all these blues records. I automatically gravitated to that. B.B. King inspired me to become a guitar player. We had a family band. My father was our manager. We played local gigs at the Peppermint Lounge in Orange."

When Bowers got older, he wanted to see how far he could take his dream and ended up touring gigs with The Manhattans, Kool and The Gang, and Wilson Pickett, to name a few.

"On my latest excursion I went to England with J.T. Taylor. We did a wedding reception for British royalty. Elton John was friends with the groom. After the reception, we all went back to his mansion. He had pianos in every room, even the bathroom," Bowers said.

Bowers rubbed elbows with some big names, but according to the number of hits on Lil' Bastad's Web site, it looks as though they may be becoming a name themselves. Michura said, "We average 15,000 hits on our Web site a month."

"We're gaining steam," Bowers added. "We have a very loyal fan base."

Lil' Bastad has released two CDs, "Hoot'n an a Holler'n" and "N' Then Sum," and has another one in the works called "Sumpthin' ta Say." Bowers said, "Common words for common folk."

But the real excitement comes from their live shows, where Bowers will go crazy, playing the guitar with his teeth and tongue. He said, "Little tricks I picked up from my uncle who's a blues guitarist, Bo Diddley Jr., and
watching guys like Hendrix. You gotta give people something to hear and something to see."

According to Bowers, their band's live performance reflects their CDs, which he said hold no boundaries. He said, "You'll hear blues, soul, jazz and funk. On a good night you'll even hear me sing, 'Fly Me To The Moon.'"

The band is exactly where they want to be in their career. Michura said, "If you want to make a point, we got our line-up basically where we want it to be. We got our Web site and our CD ready to come out of the gate, and the merchandise."

The only thing missing is management to complete the winning team, according to Bowers, but in the meantime Montclair resident Stephen Trushell is acting as temporary manager. "He's the glue, more or less," Michura said.

Bowers added, "He's the guy that stays up late drinking lots of coffee, making sure everything is all right for us now."

Lil' Bastad will be playing on Saturday, Feb. 26, at 9:30 p.m., at Tierney's Tavern, 136-138 Valley Road. For more information, call Tierney's at (973) 744-9785, or go to www.lilbastad.com.

Contact Mary Anne Christiano at christiano@montclairtimes.com - The Montclair Times