Uncle Pennybags

Uncle Pennybags Biography

What happens when you put three bankers and an elementary school teacher in a room full of rock instruments? The result is Detroit’s premier up-and-coming cover band-super group known as Uncle Pennybags. Nick Stewart, Hermon Barbe, Shane Boon and Pat Brown have come together with the common goal of packing venues, filling dance floors and putting on a show that leaves audiences begging for more.

With all of the experience that each member brings to the table, most are shocked to find out that the average age of the band is only 27. Uncle Pennybags’ members are veterans of the stage, having shared the stage with such acts as Sister Hazel, Bret Michaels, Finger Eleven, Duncan Sheik, Warrant, Sponge and Lucky Boys Confusion, to name a few. Each member of Uncle Pennybags comes with a plethora of knowledge, experience and expert-levels of skill.

Drummer, Nick Stewart has been behind a kit for nearly a quarter century, first jamming along to his father’s old 8-tracks in his basement. He progressed even further, diversifying his experience to perform in jazz bands, show choirs, techno, punk and heavy metal groups. His experiences have taken him to the House of Blues and have even gotten him to the UN building in New York! Nick’s major influences include Chad Smith, Dennis Chambers, Omar Hakim, and Travis Barker.

Hermon “Beethoven” Barbe has been playing and recording in bands since the age of 14. While focusing on bass for Uncle Pennybags, he remains an extremely versatile musician, performing in the rock, jazz, classical, and blues genres of music. He has taken his love of music as far as earning a degree in music at Western Michigan University.

Guitarist Shane Boon has been playing the guitar for over a decade and has been recording and performing since middle school. He and his Eric Clapton Stratocaster have played at nearly every Michigan venue from Detroit to Grand Rapids to Traverse City to Mackinac Island. His influences are Eric Clapton, Scott Weiland, Robert Randolph, and Neal Schon. He and guitarist, Pat Brown have performed together for over 10 years, through high school, college, and now, well into their careers.

Collectively, Uncle Pennybags has performed at the following venues:

The Intersection- Grand Rapids, MI
The Orbit Room- Grand Rapids, MI
House of Blues- Chicago, IL
Van Andel Arena- Grand Rapids, MI
Stagecoach Bar- Richland, MI
Kirby Grille- Grand Haven, MI
Club Soda- Kalamazoo, MI
Pub 1281- Mt. Clemens, MI
Dooleys- Sterling Heights, MI
Pizza Papalis- Dearborn, MI
The Black Rose- Grand Rapids, MI
The Pink Pony- Mackinac Island, MI
Pizzeria Venti- Detroit, MI
Hamlin Pub- Clarkston, MI
Hayloft- Detroit, MI
UN Building- New York, NY
The Filmore- Detroit, MI
The Emerald Theater- Detroit, MI
Harpo's- Detroit, MI
The Shelter- Detroit, MI
Soundboard Theater (Motor City Casino- Detroit, MI
Grosse Pointe Performing Arts Center- Grosse Pointe, MI
Grosse Pointe War Memorial- Grosse Pointe, MI

Uncle Pennybags is the explosive collaboration discovered from mixing years of experience, an unmatched drive to put on a solid performance, and some of Metro-Detroit’s finest talent. Often imitated, never duplicated, the cover band super group Uncle Pennybags is ready to pack the house, tear the roof off, and set it on fire!

For booking information, please contact Shane Boon at 313-207-7013 or email them at pennybagsmusic@gmail.com.