Volume 33 Number 8 , September 1, 2009

Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys mesh well
together; new CD now available

by Shelby Green

It wouldn’t seem that a laid back, jazzy rock ‘n’ roll style band would be at the Hawthorne Theater, but that is exactly who performed in the lounge area of the theater on this particular Friday night, as Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys took to the stage.

The venue itself is interesting in that the interior has theater-style seating near the stage, mixed with regular bar tables staggered throughout the remaining bar area. The entire lounge exudes a feeling of dive bar mixed with a little corner café. The bartender seems to have a few regulars moving between the bar and private tables and people converse freely while listening to the music. Overall, it is a little dark inside, but there is an outdoor patio sectioned off right in the front facing Hawthorne, perfect for people-watching. Though the larger venue of the Hawthorne Theater is directly attached to the lounge, it is easy to sit and listen to music in the lounge and forget there is another show going on directly next door.

Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys have played the Hawthorne Theater in the past; he likes to play here because with the larger theater directly next door, there tend to be “bigger acts that draw in a large crowd.” Tonight, it seems there is a mix of regular fans and people who just came on a whim and seem to be very happy they did. The murmur buzzing through the crowd is that there is also a large handful of people who, though originally here for the main performance next door, have decided that Rodin & Da Good Guys are putting on a much better show and start flooding in to settle at a table to take it all in.

The performance at the Hawthorne Theater is a mix of a few covers, but mostly originals. The harmonies between the three men is a bit reminiscent of Crosby, Stills and Nash, but with much more upbeat, lively music. The band switches smoothly between slower songs and faster songs, which focus on the guitar solos and steel guitar riffs. The only disappointment is that a harmonica sits next to the band all night, but it does not make its debut. With the effortlessness the band seems to exude on stage, it comes as a surprise when they say they don’t really practice. Apparently, the numerous gigs and bands each member is a part of is enough to keep them tuned.

Overall, Steve Rodin and Da Good Guys have a very comforting, welcoming feel as a band and as individuals. Happy to be playing as a band, it is apparent that they mesh well with each other and with their friends and fans. The members are here to perform, just as much as they are there for the company and atmosphere and to have a good time.

Rodin & Da Good Guys is normally made up of four members, but tonight only three are performing. Missing from the lineup is drummer Paul Love, but with Rodin on the acoustic guitar, Kevin Eastes on fretless bass and Albert Pomar on electric guitar, the band still sounds complete. Right away, Pomar’s electric guitar is something to envy. As the newest member of the band, Pomar’s quiet demeanor in person is forgotten when on stage, particularly when he solos in the band’s rendition of The Weight. What is normally performed as an acoustic guitar heavy song, Pomar changes into an amazing danceable tune presented perfectly, even without percussion.

Each member has an interesting story about joining the band and experiences in the past. Drummer Love was a fan first. As a member of two other bands, Rodin would occasionally sit in on gigs with both bands and Love would look forward to each time they would play together. After enough times, Love joined Rodin’s band permanently, but still divides his time between Da Good Guys and his two other bands Time Ryder and The Aspen Meadow Band. Love is not in it just for the glamour; his latter band performs for different charities such as Relay for Life, MDA and the Chris Dudley Juvenile Diabetes Camp.

Pomar also joined the band a few months back after filling in for about a year in random gigs. He meshed so well with the band, the other members decided he needed to be a permanent fixture.

At over three years, Eastes has played with Rodin for the longest. While playing with a different band, before Da Good Guys, Eastes realized he didn’t have the musical freedom he craved. He claims there were too many restrictions on him from his previous band, so he quit and joined Rodin. Eastes biggest claim to fame and excitement as a musician was playing with Gigi Love at the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. Eastes also plays in a trio at The Senga-tera Ethiopian Restaurant on Thursdays featuring guitarist Lloyd Allen.

All four members of the band have clearly been playing for the vast majority of their lives. Rodin, a self-taught guitarist, picked up his first guitar at the young age of 17. Between school, work and life in general, he realized he had taken a long hiatus from music and at the same time was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. Instead of using this as an excuse to quit playing, Rodin decided it was time to get back into music. Four years ago, 25 some odd years after picking up the guitar, Rodin wrote his first song. He has performed in the recording studio since then, creating his first original CD; Rodin & Da Good Guys plan on releasing two more CDs by 2010; another CD of original songs and one of live cover songs.

Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys play regularly at a few different places all over town. Some regular spots for the band are Pastimes Sports Bar at 22605 N.E. Halsey; The Perch’s open mike nights on Wednesdays at 7505 N. Lombard; and Roots Organic Brewery located on 1520 S.E. 7th. In addition to their regular weekly gigs, Steve Rodin & Da Good Guys will be hosting a few CD release parties for their new CD Independent Man on the 3rd of September at the Mississippi Pizza Pub; and the 12th of September at Slim’s in St. Johns. Bass player Eastes also plays with guitarist Lloyd Allen at Senga-Tera on Thursdays. For a complete list of upcoming shows, check out their Myspace at www.myspace.com/srdagoodguys. Also see ad and Bandstand this issue.