THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 5, 1995 TAG: 9503020186
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
Just about a year ago, Buddy Allison, Craig ``Rollo'' Rollinson and George Tsonev decided to form a band. Nothing earth-shattering there.
But this band was to be different: Instead of playing cover songs, all of their material would be original.
At the initial meeting of the three musicians and along with talk about each other's musical philosophies, a name was decided on: Manday Huge.
``It's kind of a tongue-in-cheek thing,'' lead guitarist George Tsonev says. ``Although we do hope to be huge.''
And the boys in the band are hoping to find success with the band's decision to play original material.
They know it's limiting as far as playing live goes.
Only a few clubs on the Outer Banks book such bands. But Manday Huge is looking for other things.
``We feel real good about our material,'' Tsonev says.
Tsonev recently returned to music after a long layoff - caused, he says, by playing in too many cover bands.
``I couldn't find anybody to play with,'' Tsonev says. ``Rollo and Buddy are the first guys I've run into down here that wanted to play originals.''
Manday Huge has a wealth of material. So far the guys have written 32 songs.
And the range is amazing.
The songs have traces of jazz, blues, funk, rhythm and blues and heavy metal.
``Our music is our own,'' Tsonev says, ``but it sounds familiar.''
Manday Huge already has an eight-song demonstration tape they send to booking agents, club owners and record companies. The tape says a lot about the band.
``We're pretty much in your face,'' Allison says.
What does that mean?
``We're loud and aggressive,'' says Rollinson, the band's lead singer and main lyricist.
Not all of the band's music is angry, however.
One of Manday Huge's audience pleasers is a ``souped-up'' Gilligan's Island theme. Allison, the band's drummer, raps some of the lyrics, although he prefers to call his performance ``backchatting.''
Allison, Tsonev and Rollinson practice at least five times a week, and the rehearsals are convenient. The men rent three houses in a secluded Nags Head cul-de-sac, just off the Beach Road.
``It really works out living in this little community,'' Tsonev says. ``It takes some groups years to write an album worth of songs. We've written over 30 in less than a year.''
Manday Huge plans to enter ``Wally Cleaver's'' studio in Fredericksburg, Va., in the next couple of months to record an album. They'll then distribute the CDs to record companies, hoping for a break.
The band also plans to tour. Most of Manday Huge's bookings have been on the Outer Banks and in Tidewater Virginia, but now the band wants to expand into Richmond, Greenville, Baltimore, D.C. and Atlanta.
After years of playing in cover bands and a couple of garage bands that never left the garage, Allison, Tsonev and Rollinson are ready for a chance to show what they can do.
Rollinson is perfecting his bass playing. Tsonev, for the first time, is learning the business of music. Allison is working on his songwriting.
The band already has a ``huge'' following on the Outer Banks. Tsonev says audience members often sing along with the band.
``They know our songs. People like our songwriting. This music is logical.''
And the music begs for audience participation. On more than one occasion, there have been both stage diving and slam dancing. But it's under control.
``It's a safe way to let out some aggression,'' Rollinson says.
Manday Huge has also done some charity work, playing for a benefit in Virginia Beach called ``Project Voice.'' The project was billed as an ``alternative to drugs.''
But one thing the band doesn't want is the label ``alternative.'' They prefer ``new.''
``For the first time in my life,'' Tsonev says, ``I'm proud to play my material. We share an energizing spirit on stage.'' MEMO: John Harper covers the Outer Banks music and entertainment scene for The
Carolina Coast. Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags
Head, N.C. 27959.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by DREW C. WILSON
The members of Manday Huge are, left to right, George Tsonev, Buddy
Allison and Craig ``Rollo'' Rollinson.
WHERE & WHEN
Who: Manday Huge
Where: Woody's, milepost 11, U.S. Route 158, Nags Head
When: March 11 and 25
For information: 441-4881.
by CNB