Website last updated : Sun 19 Feb 2007 Check out www.myspace.com/thevellotones
Photos: www.Flickr.com/vellotones (photos of the past and present)
Videos: www.YouTube.com/thevellotones (music video, making of, live RockTv)
Special Thanks for voting Big Al "Fave Local Guy" at Lokalloudness music awards show for the THIRD straight YEAR
and for nominating John "ZumaBoy" Bennett for Guitar player of the year
NEXT GIG: Some upcoming First Friday maybe or St Patty's day
Ask about our 6 Song Enhanced CD and 3 videos included on the CD 1. "No Way", 2. "The Making of the No Way", 3. "The Commercial"
Big Thanks to the local musicians and the diehard Vellotone-ians for nominating in 2003 : Big Al for bass player of the year, "No Way" for song of the year, and for CD of the year, and big thanks for voting the Tones the 2003 and 2004 Merritt Award
Booking info contact John B, zumaboy@vellotones.com
for all other issues: e-mailing list, website, inspiration... John D, john@vellotones.com
OR info@vellotones.com
**** Past gigs ****
17 Feb 2007, Private party, backyard, going away for a friend of the band...
21 Dec 2006, @ The Blue Horse Music Hall, opening for Living Room Legends, Tones crank at 8pm
11 Nov 2006, Columbia County Fair, 7:30pm till 9pm
Sat, Oct 2006 24 hour Marathon gig with Hollowmass, Another Poorhouse Gypsy, and Chairleg
Thurs, Sep 2006, deployment day (two gigs, one at noon, one at midnight)
Sat, 6 May 2006, Private Party, Athens, Georgia
Friday, 5 May 2006, @ The Mission, 12th and Broad St, "album series", The Vellotones & Friends cover The Rolling Stones "Some Girls" plus a bunch of other Stones Hits (30 total)
Sun, 11 Dec 2005, Private Wedding Reception in Evans
Thurs, 1 Dec 2005, Corporate Holiday gig at North Augusta Country Club
Friday, 18 Nov 2005, 95 Rock Can-A-Palooza for Golden Harvest Food Bank (charity)
Sat, 22 Oct 2005, Cancer Benefit @ The Playground (charity)
Sat, 31 July 2005, Cancer Benefit @ The Mission, organized by Stoney (charity)
Sat, 15 May 2005, Strawberry Festival, Our Lady of Peace (charity)
8 Apr 2005, Sat, @ The Playground, with LivingRoom Legends, Masters Week Friday, two shows: 8:00pm for those with 7am tee-times and the second show at 10:30pm for those that think "tea-time" is a British thing.
19 Feb 2005, Sat, The Mission, opening for Horsepower and LivingRoom Legends
26 Feb 2005, Sat, Charity Benefit for Graniteville Volunteer Fire department lots of local bands sponsored by Lokalloudness (Tones, LRL, Kill Radius, Pedestrian, Shameless Dave and the Miracle Whips, Josh Pierce Group, lots of other acts for this good cause) @ Biggie's, the old-Crossroads 11th street between Broad and Ellis across from the Metro Coffee House.
31 Dec, Private New Years Eve party
27 Jan 2005, Thurs, Surrey Tavern, Surrey Center, 10pm
12 Feb 2005, Sat, Evans HS Booster club Valentines dance to raise money for EHS sports
Fri-Sat 10-11 Dec, Rocking The Stocking, at the Blind Pig benefit gig, Tones Sat 11 Dec at 9:45
Fri 17 Dec, Corp Holiday gig at the Raddison Hotel downtown (for 12 bands)
Sun 19 Dec, 12 Bands of Xmas at the Imperial, 6pm to midnight
Sat 11 Dec, Rocking the Stocking at the Blind Pig sponsored by Lokalloudness
Sat 20 Nov, Can-A-Palooza V charity gig sponsored by 95 Rock to benefit The Golden Harvest Food Bank.
Sat 31 July 2003, Musicians Night Out IV "unplugged", at the Playground
Sat 25 Sep 2004, Private party (wedding)
Sat 13 Nov 2004, Private party (wedding of Mr. Vello-tone himself)
Sat 19 June 2004, Private party (birthday)
Sat 8 May 2004, Garden City Music Fest Club Crawl, Tones and LRL at the Pour House.
Sat 15 May 2004, Benefit for fellow Augusta Musician at the Pour House, sponsored by The Recaps and Sassy Brass.
Fri 19 Mar 2004, Aiken Triple Crown Street Festival, 9-11pm @ the bowery section in Aiken behind City Hall
Sat 17 Apr 2004, Crossroads, Vellotones and Livingroom Legends
Sat 28 Feb 2004, Crossroads, Vellotones and 212
Sat 21Feb 2004, Little Honky Tonk, Vellotones, 10:15 to 2:35am
31 Jan 2004, Crossroads, Lokalloudness Awards Show, Estrela, Jeremy Carr Band, Vellotones, Josh Pierce Band,
Sixth Hour, Turtleneck, The Big Mighty
17 Jan 2004, Crossroads, no cover charge, Vellotones and LivingRoom Legends, 9pm
5 Dec, First Friday on 10th street (outside), 6pm
6 Dec, Crossroads, Rocking the Stocking, 9pm, lots of local bands
11 Dec, Private Corporate Holiday Party
1 Nov, Soul Bar CD release party, 8pm and 1030pm
27 Sep, private party.
12 Sep, Friday, Playground, Border Bash, 10:30pm
16 Aug 2003 (Sat) Military Appreciation Day at Fort Gordon, 3:30 till 8:30pm, sponsored by MWR and local musicians with Doug James from 420 Outback as the organizer.
10 Aug 2003 (Sun) music video shoot for "No Way" at the Soul Bar (2pm)
2 Aug 2003 (Sat) Private Backyard party in Evans
4th of July 2003 First Friday at 10th Street block party, 5pm-10pm (7 bands)
Vellotones (first at 5), Elliot Holden Group, Jemani, Horsepower, Hellbinki, Turtleneck, Moniker Jazz,
sponsored by "The Downtown Augusta Music & Arts Collective". (Cancelled, probably just postponed)
27 June 2003 (Fri) Crossroads, 10pm, Musicians Night Out III (karaoke band night) come see local musicians do lame cover songs with the Vellotones, good fun, check out MNO 2 video from 9 Nov (above).
21 June 2003 (Sat) Party in Evans starts at 7pm at the pool (Glennwood fundraiser)
7 June 2003 (Sat) Private Backyard party in Evans
31 May 2003 (Sat) Playground with friends for a Birthday Party of some ladies of the Rock Board
4 April 2003 (Fri) First Friday at the Playground with LivingRoom Legends, Vellotones Birthday Party (free beer don't tell anyone), Vellotones start at 8:30, then LRL Band, then Vellotones end the evening.
5 April 2003 (Sat) Private Backyard party (pig roast) in Aiken
14 March 2003 (Friday) Aiken Triple Crown Kick-Off party at the Bowery area (6:30-8:30pm)
22 March 2003 (Sat) Garden City Music Fest downtown Augusta Ga
25 May 2002 (Sat) Backyard Party for a Neighborhood Association in Evans, 6pm - 10pm
7 June 2002 (Fri) First Friday Party for a local downtown business, 7:30pm - 10pm
14 June 2002 (Fri) Haley Rowland Charity Benefit , for the Augusta Chapter of the Leukemia/Lymphoma society @Crossroads, 11th and Broad St, 4 bands, Droplevel, Vagabond Missionaries, Optimist Prime and The Vellotones starts at 8pm.
13 July 2002 (Sat) Lokalloudness Charity Event at Kokopelli's 10pm - 1am, 5 bands
19 July 2002 (Sat) Playground, 9th and Broad St, 9pm - 1am (Musicians Night Out for local band mates)
27 July 2002 (Sat) Crossroads, Blues Night, 10pm - 11pm, sponsored by El Dorado Deluxe
28 July 2002 (Sun) Green Jackets Stadium for Meltdown 2002, 11 bands. 12:30 till 9pm and Rock'n vs 95Rock softball game.
24 Aug 2002 (Sat) Pool Party for a Glennwood Neighborhood Association in Evans, 7:30pm - 10pm, public is invited
13 Sep 2002 (Fri) Playgrounds Border Bash Party, 9th and Broad St, 10pm - 1am
21 Sep 2002 (Sat) Highlander Birthday Party for the owner's wife, come celebrate with these nice Brits, 8pm - 11pm
27 Sep 2002 (Fri) Corporate Family Picnic during the day
5 Oct 2002 (Sat) Soul Bar, Broad St, 10:30pm till 1:30pm, last gig of the season
9 Nov 2002 (Sat) The Blues Jam for Golden Harvest Food Bank Charity, Crossroads, 9:30pm till 1:30pm, VIP party at 7pm
29 Nov 2002 (Friday) 95 Rock Can-A-Polooza for Golden Harvest Food Bank 2pm (across from the Regal 20 Cinema)
14 Dec 2002 (Sat) Rocking The Stocking Benefit Show @ Crossroads starts at 9:00pm V-tones at 10pm
(Final Darkness, Romeo Delight, Vagabond Missionaries, Keep)
31 Dec 2002 (Tues) Private New Year's Eve Party
Band History | Band Members
| Gig Schedule | Song List|
email
the band | Equipment we use
Photos of the Fans and Band:( Gallery1|
)
NewsFlash (30 Mar 2001): Roger Ruthberg will be back in town for a one time only gig with the Vellotones, 12 May at a private backyard party. All of his friends are invited, maybe we can send him off for good this time ;-)
NewsFlash (12 May 2001): Roger Ruthberg returns and plays backyard gig, then his car dies, sends family to Athens and plays again at The Playground on 19 May, his family thinks he is in Germany I bet ;-) Oh, almost forgot, Vellotones add a keyboard player, Dane Boue' (yes that is French) to continue the original Louisiana connection of our first keyboard player David Phillips'. All is well in Vellotone land, the balance of nature is complete.
NewsFlash (12 Oct 01): He did it again, look at the newsflash of 27 Oct 2000 above, here we go again, "Jules Stanley, X-Vellotone and in the US on a business trip from England, will sing with The Vellotones, Fri 12 Oct, at the Playground, 10pm - 1am. Come by and see what's up with The Stanleys. Like always, "ladies and gentlemen, Jules Stanley at no extra charge", that about says it all.
NewsFlash
(1 Jan 2002): While Mr Vellotone, himself,
recovers, Mr. Scott "steady" Corlis fills in on
drums and gets the Augusta Music Scene 6th Man award.
NewsFlash (Oct
2004): "Jules Stanley, X-Vellotone and in the
US on a business trip from England, will sing with The Vellotones at the Blind
Pig, one time only then off to Denver with the kids.
Band Background and History - Band started as a bunch of guys playing, as a dare, for a local talent show in 96'. We had all played team sports and were getting too old to play competitively. Most of us had played in bands on and off in our youth, so we dusted off our instruments, started practicing and playing for friends parties. The band today is the same group of friends playing songs that we always have enjoyed. We have added some newer songs to prove to our kids that old dogs....
The early name, Dr Freeband and the Vellotones, was a mix of the Scottish pronunciation for "dollar" and the fact that our drummer usually has the most equipment to lug around. If the amount of aggravation was a naming factor, we would have been "Dr Freeband and the Donnellytones". The band ended up finally being just "The Vellotones" after Dr Freeband retired and moved to Louisiana to play in two other bands. It was the fans that have kept us playing.
Mike "machine gun smith" Vello-tone - Drums
John "Zumaboy" Bennett - Guitar and vocals and also guitar player/singer for LivingRoom Legends. 
Al "Big Al" Beasley - Bass, Guitar, vocals also plays with Josh Pierce Group and the country band Shiloh
John "I always have the blues" Donnelly
Scott "Mr. Sixth Man" Corliss,
drums, filling in during Mr. Vellotone's recent illness brought on by carrying
heavy PA gear for
the last 7 years. Scott, friend of the band, filled in on drums and gave
us that recent 80's sound that has driven us crazy. Actually a talented
good guy that came to our aid and will always officially be a "Vellotone".
He still fills in as the "6th man", coming off the bench. He, along with Zuma, is a member of the local Augusta band, LivingRoom Legends, and plays drums with them also.
Roger "Mr. Mac" Ruthberg, bass, guitar, keyboards, BACK WITH THE TONES, was a Tone then went off to war, now is back. He now lives in Athens but continues to gig and practice with the Tones whenever he can.
Vellotones' "Hall of Fame", don't forget the guys that helped you get where you are today. Mr. Carl "I could have been the 5th or 6th Beatle" Knoll, an original Tone, bass, guitar, vocals, still noodles around with the Tones on even numbered years, provided the steady rhythm side of the tones. Mr. David "Dr Freeband" Phillips, original member of the tones, keyboards, sax, vocals, owned the first band van, now lives in New Orleans and working 12x12, still, for Katrina relief for with Coast Guard or Fema or whoever needs the help. Has been back to play with the Tones on 4 special occasions since his retirement in 2000. Ladies and Gentleman, at no extra charge, Mr Jules "the Brit" Stanley. Jules was the band stud, from Britain, rugby player, soccer player, surfer, ski 'er, could even play softball, played harp, cowbell, sang and provided that "hey mate" kind of attitude to the early Vellotones. Dane "Mr. Bayou" Boue' - Keyboards, vocals - photo finally available due to legal reasons that we can not go into at this time. Something to do with the "Musician Witness Protection Program" (MWPP) administered by the GBI. PA and monitors : Peavey mixer/power amp, Crate powered monitor, Peavey monitor amp, Naddy monitors
Some of the Songs We Play
"If the House is a Rock'in don't bother Knocking" - Stevie Ray Vaughn-like
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Guitar and Bass, (Head Roadie,
bag holder, Web-nug) (John-1998 and John-1969,
same guitar strap, wish I still had the old-50's strat back)
Bass-rig : Fender Super Deluxe Expensive bass, G&L (SB-1), wireless Shure, Hofner Beatles bass, Ibanez Gibson Classic, Fender Jazz/Pbass, Peavey 15" with a 67' Silvertone 15" Cab extension or Whatever is at Jay's to rent, and now "Glynn's custome' cabs" 4x10 and 1x15 with SWR 350 head, recently added 4x10 SWR cab.
Guitars : Fender Strat Deluxe Plus, PRS McCarty, PRS Swamp Ash Special, Gibson ES335.
Keyboard: Korg something or other, borrowed SWR acoustic combo amp.
Guitar Amps :Fender
Hot Rod Deluxe, Sears Silvertone 1483, Messa Boogie Mark I,
Peavey Delta Blues
Harps : No one is brave enough to try harp fills since Jules left, but if we did it would likely be an "A" or "C" or "D" I bet.
Drums : Slingerland with Zildjian cymbals and one
expensive small splash thing he picked up recently.
Mic's : SM57s,SM58s
Pedals - Boss SD-1, Boss CS-3, Boss CE-2, Boss CS-2,Ibanez
Chorus, Ibanez Tube Screamer, Crybaby Wah, Roland ME-30, DOD overdrive (boost)
Mic the guitar amps and drums, DI on Bass, DI (mic) on Harp, DI
for keyboard from SWR amp.
"3 am" - Matchbox 20 - in the style of Johnny Bravo
"Addicted to Love" - Robert Palmer
"All Along the Watch Tower" - Bob Dylan's song done Jimi Style
"Back in the USSR" - Beatles
"Back to Louisiana" - Delbert McClinton style
"Beast of Burden" - Stones version not Bette's
"Blue Suede Shoes" - Johnny Rivers style
"Born on the Bayou" - CCR with the Peter Gunn Theme thrown in at no extra charge,
find the AC/DC hook
"Born to be Wild" - Steppenwolf (most of us grew up with this one)
"Breakdown" - Petty's version done more like a punk cover
"Brown Eyed Girl" - Van "the man" Morrison
"Come Together" - Beatles with a little Aerosmith thrown in
"Crossroads" - only the first solo of the Live version
"Day Tripper" - Beatles
"Dark End of the Street" - Commitments style
"Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding
"Drive My Car" - Beatles done in a jazzy Classic Four "Spooky" kind of
way
"Everything is Broken" - cross between Kenny Wayne Sheppard and Bob Dylan (who
wrote it)
"Every time I Roll the Dice" - Delbert McClinton in the style of Robert Palmer
"Fins" - Jimmy "Parrot Heads unite" Buffet
"Gimme Some Lovin" - Spencer Davis Group
"Gimme Three Steps" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Good Golly Miss Molly" - CCR style
"Hard to Handle" - Otis Redding song done in a Black Crowes style
"Hey Jealousy" - Gin Blossoms
"Hurricane Blues" - Roger "Hurricane" Wilson, Bluesman from Atlanta (check
out his Live CD), played the "Garage"
"I Feel Good" - James Brown in the style of Eddie Murphy
"I Got a Line On You" - the short version not the Spirit 4 min version
"I heard IT through the Grapevine" - CCR style
"I Saw Her Standing There" - Beatles
"Is She Really Going Out with Him" - Joe Jackson
"It Don't Come Easy" - Ringo Starr
"It's Not Unusual" - Tom Jones
"Jailhouse Rock" - Blues Brothers style
"Jealous Again" - Black Crowes with dropped "d" high "e" tuning but
trying to change this to standard tuning
"Johnny B Goode/Blue" - turned this into a slow blues number, some
slide, come hear it and let us know what you think.
"Jumpin Jack Flash" - Johnny Winter style
"Keep Your Hands To Yourself" - Georgia Satellites in the Style of Roger Ruthblues
"Knock On Wood" - Eddie Floyd in the style of Eric Clapton
"Little Sister" - Elvis Presley style
"Long As I can see the Light" - CCR style, actually think it was written by
a Confederate soldier.
"Lovin Touchin Squeezin" - Journey
"Margarettaville" - Jimmy Buffet
"Mary Janes Last Dance" - Tom Petty and the Bob Dylan Clone Band
"Messin with The Kid" - in the style of Rory Gallagher mainly
"Midnight Hour" - Wilson "the wicked" Pickett
"Money" - great early blues song covered by the Beatles
"Move on Over" - Hank Williams Sr song done in a George Thorogood Style
"Mustang Sally" - Commitments Style Wilson Pickett song, one of our
audience participation numbers
"My City was Gone"/Rush Limbaugh Theme song - Pretenders
"Oh Darling" - Beatles song you don't hear many bands cover, more Elvis then
anything
"On the Road Again" - Willie Nelson
"One Headlight" - Wallflowers
"Paint It Black" - Rolling Stones
"Peace, Love, and Understanding" - Style is a cross between Elvis Costello
and Lou Costello
"Pretty Women" - Roy Orbison but a little Van Halen-ish also
"Ramblin Gamblin Man" - Bob Seger like
"Red House" - Pure Jimi H blues
"Roadhouse Blues" - Doors style and some Jeff Healey thrown in for
good measure
"R.O.C.K. in the USA" - John Cougar Mellencamp
"Rock Around The Clock" - Stevie Ray Vaughn like I think
"Rockin in the Free World" - Neil Young all the way
"Runaway" - not the Bon Jovi one, more like Bonnie Ratt or Alex Harvey
Band
"(you can't get no) Satisfaction" - Rolling Stones probably HOB style more
then anything else
"Slow Down" - a song the Beatles covered except with Wah-Wah
"Something" - Beatles
"Stand by Me" Medley (includes Cupid, Every Breath You Take, Under the
Boardwalk) - Johnnie Love style
"Statesboro Blues" - Blind Willie Mctell (originally from Thomson GA), covered
by the Allman Brothers
"Sultans of Swing" - Dire Straits and only under dire circumstances (meaning:
Roger plays it)
"Sunshine of Your Love" - Cream, in the style of Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
"Sweet Home Chicago" - Blues Brothers style
"That'll Be the Day" - Buddy Holly, done like Linda Ronstadt before
she gain all that weight
"The One I Love" - REM
"The Thrill is Gone" - BB King
"The Way" - Fastball in the style of Runaway
"Twist and Shout" - Beatles style, always need backup singers from
the crowd on this one
"Use Me Up" - Bill Withers (my kids like this song)
"WereWolves of London" - Warron Zevon, come howl along with us
"What I like about You/R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A." - Romantics with some
John Cougar Mellencamp at the end
"When a Man Loves a Women" - Big Chill like
"When The House Is a Rock'n" - Stevie Ray Vaughn, in the style of Brian
Setzer
"Wonderful Tonight" - Eric Clapton, probably our best "belly-rubbing" song
"Workin' at the Car Wash Blues" - Jim "the legend" Croce
"You Shook Me All Night Long" - AC/DC done only when someone things
they are Brian, most think Bon sang this one
"You Wreck'd Me" - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
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send
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