Geri Ciacchi~Vocals, Mike Beeble~Lead Guitar, Jim Armaro~Bass, Marty Z~Drums
Influences
Janis Joplin, Billy Holiday, The Guess Who, Joan Jett, Cat Stevens, Pat Benetar, Joni Mitchell, Beatles, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Uriah Heap, Kiss, Steve Miller Band, Judas Priest, Van Halen, David Bowie, Billy Joel, Dio, Foreigner, Journey, Cry Of Love, Alanis Morisette, and way many more than I can remember.
A LITTLE ABOUT US AND WHAT WE DO:
THE BAND'S MEMBERS: Each have plenty of musical experience ranging from over 15 to 40 years, and have been together for over 2 years, playing all across Lorain, Cuyahoga, Summit, Huron Counties and Kelly's Island. Some of the fine establishments that we have or are playing at are:
Sly Fox, Quaker Steak & Lube, Scorcher's, Shifters, Johnny Rotten's, The Handlebar, Geno's, Trading Post, Shadows, Brutus's, Whilsey's, Joshe's Place, Far West, LaPorte Inn, Sands Of South Beach, The Captains Club, Ziggy's, Tommy Rockers/Stubby's, The Grotto, Scoreboards, Quaker Steak & Lube, The Cove, Shifters, Upper Deck, Brutus's, Petey's Filling Station, Sidetracks, The Pump, Sail In, Stubby's, The Boathouse, It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere, and Bag The Moon.
WE PERFORM: a 4 hour show, of blues, rock, and Janis Joplin. Depending on the event and the demand, we will either mix the Joplin songs into the sets or you can choose to have a full hour show of Costumed Janis Joplin, (what we call the JOPLIN SHOW!) at the beginning, the middle, or the end of the show. We really get into it, through character and music! This is our favorite to do, especially when it's all ages, and we have a blast! We have done these concert shows at: Cleveland House of Blues, Elyria Arts & Culture Fest, Oberlin Chalk Walk, The Lorain Palace Civic Center, Youngstown Michael O'Malley's and Akron's 4th & 5th Annual Clay's Rock N Resort Music Festival. (At the 5th Annual Joe Retta from SWEET got up on stage with the band and traded verses to Rock N Roll with Geri! WOW!)
WE DO BENEFITS AND SHOWS:
For all kinds of causes and have performed for: The Paladin Knights, The Ohio Veteran's Home, The Ireland Cancer Research Center, The Marine Corps Leauge, The Lightning Run, The Lovey Run, North Ridgeville V.F.W. and more. We are all over the place and we practice Wednesdays so there is always fresh stuff coming out at different shows. (We want to keep you entertained!) Check for our gig dates under UPCOMING SHOWS!
THE HISTORY OF BALL & CHAIN:
This project began in my heart before I even knew it was in there!
When my father was passing in February of 2005 my Mother, two older sisters and younger brother discussed creating c.d.s of his favorite music for the funeral service. We debated which bands which songs etc. When we got to which were his most loved Janis tunes I remembered there was this one song he played all the time.
So later I'm at a record exchange checking out c.d.s to fill in the songs we didn't have already and I found an album that I had forgotten all about. As soon as I saw it, like a timewarp, it all came back like it happened yesterday! When Janis died my father played one particular album and one particular song over and over again. I would lay on the top of my bunkbed with my head next to the, at the time, state of the art intercom/stereo speakers that ran through the house and were hooked up to the turntable in the wall of the livingroom, with it turned up all the way. I went in the livingroom got the album and I would hold the album cover in my hands and flip it over and over again admiring the cover art until I knew it by heart. Marvelling at the inside open album shot of the band live on stage with the groovy acid patterened lights behind them. As I got older I recognized her voice and the songs. At first I would ask him "Daddy play me the one where the lady REALLY sings!" Then, when I was old enough to do it for myself, I would set it up and run to my room so I could listen through the intercom speaker....
The voice on the first song sang: "Whoaaaa, I need a man to lovvve..."
The cartoons on the album said:
"Playin' an' singin' fer yew the following tunes..."
1. Combination Of The Two
2. I Need A Man To Love
3. Summertime
4. Piece Of My Heart
5. Turtle Blues
6. Oh, sweet Mary
7. Ball And Chain.
The song of course was: Ball & Chain and the album was: CHEAP THRILLS Big Brother & The Holding Co. with Janis Joplin album art by R. Crumb (Approved By The Hells Angles - Frisco)
I loved the cartoon work and thrilled to the sound of her voice. I couldn't believe the things she sang and the way she emoted her feelings. It was one of my Dad's favorites and it was also mine. When it was over, I'd jump up and run to the livingroom and put the needle back at the beginning and listen again! I remember my Dad lamenting about what a shame it was that she had died, and how the world had lost a fantastic performer. So there I was standing in the aisle of the store with all these memories flooding back to me and I felt my Father on my right shoulder, and he was telling me "Ya, that's the one all right."
I always used to hum and sing her songs but never for real. Then a friend/blues gutarist forced me on stage years ago. Telling me "Come on girl. You can do this! I've heard you!" Of course one of the first songs I did was Summertime. I was scared to death, my voice was shaky, but I kept trying. Then with encouragement like my sister Sheri telling me " You can do it! It's Janis Baby! Sing it like you do for me!" Then my brother, and friends like Teddy, doing Karaoke with me. The more I sang the better and more confident I became.
I always loved Janis's music and enjoyed singing her songs. Sometimes I felt what I knew she must have felt. A lot of times I can't finish a song without beginning to cry. There's times where I skipped a song because I KNEW if I did it I would cry. That's how I knew she had influenced me greatly, and she is STILL my favorite female singer of all time. But I never REALLY realized how much she influenced me until after my father had passed. People have often stated that I sound like her and request me to do her songs the most. I feel I do the songs justice, but, nobody I mean NOBODY could do it like Janis. I don't know how else to explain it except, that when I sing her songs it's like I'm lifted out of myself and I'm somewhere else for awhile.
I have quite a few of her albums but never realized until I saw and heard Cheap Thrills again that I had every song on that album memorized in my head in the order that they put them down. It was then that I also realized that the songs I chose to sing with the band are mostly the ones off that album. Coinicidence or subtle childhood brainwashing? Either way I am SO blessed to have had a Father and Family that played such incredible music to warp my young mind, and helped me find my voice and the strength to try it out. Thank You Dad! Thank You Janis! You will Rock On FOREVER in my heart and Many Many others!
So when I first started singing it was at a Jam Nights in 93-94? at the Warehouse, Downtown Elyria. And that blues guitarist friend that put me on stage for the first time was the host, my mentor and good friend "D.C." Carnes. Playing with him were two more of my good friends Kieth "Skully" TenEyck, & Billy Sugg. Anybody else and I probably would have been too nerveous to try. I am endebted to you all forever for beleiving in me and making me do it! THANK YOU & I MEAN THAT! They played Burning Sky by Bad Company, (I adore Paul Rodger's voice!) shoved me out of the nest and made me FLY!
After that I forced them and other friends and aquaintances to learn Summertime & Bobby McGee. I sang with D.C. and pleaded for him to include some Joplin in our sets! We would do this on and off for about 12 years performing 3-4 Joplin songs during the shows and ALWAYS ending with Mercedes Benz.
So one afternoon when D.C. and my boyfriend Jason: My Knight In Shining Tattoos! approached me and told me " People always ask you to do her, you already dress like her, you love to sing her music anyway, why don't you do a Janis Joplin Tribute Band." I thought I was ready, and I knew the name of the band HAD to be BALL & CHAIN!
Now don't get me wrong I COULD NEVER BE AS GREAT AS JANIS! She was the pioneer in female rock vocals! But out of everything we do the Joplin songs are the ones that SPEAK to me the most and the ones I FEEL the NEED to perform the most.
Now I've got to say thanks to ALL the JANIS FANS, because for YEARS I have stalled about this project, because I didn't know if other people STILL felt as strongly about her NOW as they did THEN. You know just because I think she was GREAT doesn't mean every one else does. I was WRONG! People STILL LOVE HER! (AS well they should!) As MUCH as I and then some!
When we rented DIXON'S Hall for our Debue. The last live Music show there ever! About 400 people came to see us for our FIRST TIME PLAYING OUT! To ALL those folks: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You inspire us to continue in our efforts to portray Janis and her bands as acurately as we can! We do this because you love the music. Music & love, powerful stuff! If you keep loving the music we'll keep playing the songs! Thanks for all the support through these years. Here's to all the wonderful people at everywhere we play for making us feel loved and welcome. Thank you to all our friends, families, and fans who put up with, encourage, reality check, & support us. YOU KNOW WE LOVE & APPRECIATE YOU TOO!
What else can I say? Thank you Janis for your wonderful contibution to our lives and the music world, you will LIVE in OUR HEARTS ALWAYS!
JANIS JOPLIN FOREVER!
holy cow what a pic! aww thank you guys! we thought we'd all meet up there for drinks and some good food.. after all, i finally got off work that night!! miss ya! can't wait for Nov. 7th!
yeah... ill probably book a party... just give me the info. yeah... i heard that hours and that were getting cut... im so glad to be gone... but i do miss a few of you guys. haha. north olmsted is soo much nicer and there really laid back. well ill come visit you soon! ♥sondra
