With tastes as diverse as the culture they celebrate, the members of Uncle Shoehorn infuse their performances with a deep and abiding love for American roots music. (Heck, our initials are U.S.!)
Uncle Shoehorn pays homage to the indelible mark made by American heritage music on popular culture, exploring selections from across the wide spectrum of American musical styles including Blues, Funk, Soul, R&B, Folk, Country, Bluegrass.
A Shoehorn show takes listeners on a unique journey through their musical homeland including selections from all notable US regions. From New Orleans funk selections from the Funky Meters, Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Galactic and Allen Toussaint to classic folk selections from Arlo Guthrie to Bob Dylan to Pete Seeger – from California classic rock sounds like the Doobie Brothers, the Grateful Dead, Ry Cooder, Jerry Garcia Band the Doors to Southern fried swamp rock like Little Feat and Lynyrd Skynyrd, Uncle Shoehorn covers it all with a loving attention to the spirit of the music.
Uncle Shoehorn also proudly performs a solid catalog of blues music including Delta-style blues from Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton and Muddy Waters to Chicago blues from Butterfield Blues Band, Son Seals, Magic Sam, Little Milton and many more.
The band is known and loved by its devoted fans for exceptional improvisational ability and lead guitar prowess – taking the jams to ecstatic heights – and for polished, soaring, three- and four- part vocal harmonies. Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young songs, selections from the Band, the Eagles and other vocal groups provide outlet for Shoehorn’s love of vocal harmony.
Lead guitar and vocalist, Tony Vee has played with several current members of Furthur, Zigaboo Modeliste (king of the funky drums), Steve Miller and Brian May during the twelve years he lived in the Monterey/Carmel/San Francisco Bay Area.
Rhythm guitar and vocals, Todd Lapenna holds a Master’s degree in music and brings an encyclopedic knowledge of chord inversions and other theory that he applies to playing the amazing textures and rhythmic variations, driving the band’s dance-ability.
Drummer and vocals, Warren Congdon is a founding member of the Hudson Valley’s legendary jam band, Unexplained Bacon. His tireless groove and energy propel the band’s momentum all night long.
Bassist, Max Aronov is an aficionado of bass styles and provides a rock solid, lyrical underpinning to the jams. He is especially proficient at taking the improvisational portions of songs through meandering musical planes while never losing the central pulse of the song.
Keyboardist Michael Fossa is a veteran professional player who has performed or recorded with (among others):Nanci Griffith, Robbie Krieger (Doors), Tommy Shannon & Chris Layton (SRV), Little Milton, Onnie McIntyre (Average White Band) Eric Burdon, Cesar Diaz (amp guru and Dylan guitarist), Robert A Johnson (Memphis great),George Recelie (BobDylan), BobbyKyle (Johnny
Copeland), Jimmy Vivino (late nite w/ Conan, Al Kooper) and many others. No one rocks the keys
harder.