Bill Devlin, banjo, vocals; Jeff Fleck, mandolin, vocals; Donn Cunningham, guitar, vocals; Ron Vance, bass; Connor Vance, fiddle.
Influences
Bill Monroe, Flatt and Scruggs, Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin, Osborne Brothers, Red Allen, Country Gentlemen, Hot Rize, Lonesome River Band, IIIrd Tyme Out, Blue Highway, and so many more. Oh yeah, and also Jim and Jesse, Blue Sky Boys, Louvin Brothers, Seldom Scene, Old and in the Way, Kentucky Colonels, J.D. Crowe and the New South, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, Nashville Bluegrass Band, David Grisman, Tony Rice, Peter Rowen, Sam Bush, and so many more. In our neighborhood, we really like the Laurel Canyon Ramblers, Chris and Herb, Bluegrass Etc., Chris Stuart and Back Country, Cliff Wagner & Old 7, the Witcher Brothers, and of course the High Hills!
It was at a local Bluegrass Festival just five years ago that mandolinist Jeff Fleck and banjo player Bill Devlin met and, after a day of jamming, discovered a shared love of traditional bluegrass of the ‘40s and ‘50s as well as an eagerness to explore the sounds of contemporary bluegrass.
At the time, Devlin, an accomplished guitar player and rock and country bassist, described himself a “closet banjo player.” Fleck, who had played guitar all his life, had recently returned to the mandolin at the behest of his high school-aged sons, who were deeply into the New Lost City Ramblers.
A band seemed the obvious thing to do, so Fleck and Devlin recruited veteran Southern California guitar picker Glen Cook, and went to work. The group spent about a year practicing and preparing and then embarked upon their first gigs: A concert for Viet Nam veterans at the Long Beach Veterans Hospital; the Signal Hill Firemen’s Annual Picnic; the SWBA (Southwest Bluegrass Association) Stage at the Huck Finn Bluegrass Festival in Victorville, CA.
Reception was positive, and soon Second Wind Bluegrass! had secured a monthly spot at the venerable Me & Ed’s Pizza in Lakewood, California. Here, amidst the smell of mozzarella, the din of video games, the squeals of kids celebrating a birthday party or a little league victory, and, of course, to the periodic accompaniment of the “your pizza is ready” announcement, Second Wind Bluegrass!, like so many of the best bands to come out of Southern California before them, developed their own musical style and (some might say) bizarre approach to stage humor.
Second Wind Bluegrass! at the West LA Farmers Market
After a brief pause as the band reorganized due to personnel changes, Second Wind Bluegrass! re-emerged with singer and guitar player Donn Cunningham, and bass player, Ron Vance. Cunningham, who has played in several Southern California bands, brings a bluesy guitar style (a la Tony Rice), a great singing voice, and an expanded and slightly more contemporary repertoire to the band. Vance, a karate champion and instructor, lays down a rock solid beat with just the right amount of jab and punch. And should the need arise, the band is sure he would make a great body guard. Ron’s young son, Connor, plays fiddle with the band when he is not too busy playing in any of the classical, jazz, or rock ensembles to which he belongs.
In addition to its monthly performances at Me & Ed's, Second Wind Bluegrass! now hosts the Bluegrass Night at the the Spot Café and Lounge in Culver City on the second Friday of the month. The band recently performed two evenings at Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Santa Monica Pier, and at the West LA and Westwood Village Farmers Markets. A May 25th performance at the Santa Monica Farmers Market will be the last one for a while -- the band will be on hiatus during the months of June and July and part of August.
But we'll see you again in September with our new CD!
Second Wind Bluegrass! brings you traditional American acoustic music the bluegrass way, featuring driving rhythms, rich harmonies, hot instrumentals, and that high lonesome sound. While the band is steeped in traditional bluegrass, the guys love singing songs from the contemporary bluegrass scene as well, so their show has something to please all lovers of acoustic music . For booking information, call (310) 390-4391 or email jfleck47@ca.rr.com
Second Wind Bluegrass! at Synergy Cafe & Lounge in Culver City, CA
Hey Second Wind... Thanks for being our newest friend... Love the tunes! Sounds Great! .. Stop by and leave us a post sometime, we'd love to hear from you... Thanks Mike Gibson, The Grass Less Traveled
Thanks for havin me pick with you recently. That was one of my career highlights for an entire evening of trad bluegrass with an entire band. Usually, I just pick fiddle tunes, rags etc. It sure sounds fine when all the pieces are there. I'm attempting to make a million dollars playing bluegrass so I am saving up for the recommended start of two million.
We are enlisting the help of all able bodied musicians to help us name our Nechville Custom Banjo. Tom Nechville called today needing the name for the name block.
The banjo has the galaxy inlay pattern with planets and stars and shooting stars. It has a full length 5th string and a radiused finger board and is all maple.
We're asking you to tell us which of the six names on this list you like best:
