THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 13, 1994 TAG: 9410120160
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
HE'S PLAYING country, but prefers rock. Country is where the money is, and that's why Steve Westnedge is picking his bass guitar and singing at The Country Club in Virginia Beach.
What a name.
``I don't care for country music, I just do it,'' Westnedge said, taking a nip from the hand that feeds him. ``I like the newer country. It's more progressive. It has more punch because a lot of rock 'n' rollers are playing it.''
The 41-year-old musician is a member of Blackstone, a three-year-old group fronted by Tommy Estes, performing at The Country Club in the lounge of the Wayside Motel on South Military Highway near the Chesapeake-Virginia Beach city limits.
But, back to the country-vs.-rock thing.
``We play a country format, but we do a lot of pop,'' Westnedge said. ``We have 184 songs of every category. The band is talented and versatile.''
All of its members play more than one instrument, but Chuck Louckas concentrates on piano, Danny Lee on guitar, John Pittman on drums.
``The guys are like me - more into rock 'n' roll,'' Westnedge said. ``But if it's good, we play it.''
They play cover songs - items made famous by name artists - but hope to edge into original material.
``I have some songs, but we're not singing them yet,'' said Westnedge, who writes the lyrics, usually to Pittman's music.
The musicians write when they can. All of the band members have day jobs. Pittman is a contractor, Lee an auto-parts salesman and Louckas a director of church music.
Westnedge, the father of two - the family lives on Bosley Avenue - teaches voice. For 15 years he worked for a General Motors dealership, returning to the music scene four years ago.
``I'm not going to get out of it again. It never lets you down,'' he said. ``People let you down.''
Westnedge listens to the country people featured on Eagle-97 ``mostly for my job. I have to keep up with the new songs.''
He would rather keep up with Elton John.
``He's my all-time favorite. He's a great vocalist. I have almost every one of his albums,'' said Westnedge, who says he is not interested in such fame.
``There are no egos in our band, no ambition for stardom.'' MEMO: Steve Westnedge and Blackstone perform at The Country Club in the lounge
of the Wayside Motel, 402 South Military Hwy., from 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Talent shows are presented
Sunday nights. For information, call 399-3593. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Steve Westnedge plays with Blackstone at The Country Club in
Virginia Beach's Wayside Motel.
by CNB