THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604170143
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ISLE OF WIGHT LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
LIKE FATHER, like son - except son has more guitars.
Wesley Hunter Suter has four guitars, one for each year of his life.
His father, Tony, has only one. But he also has a band behind him.
Hole Shot, a five-piece group performing top-40 country, Southern rock and originals, will be at Isle of Wight Academy's 18th annual Pig Feast on Saturday.
Tony's brother, Roger, is lead singer. The band once paraded around Hampton Roads as the Virginia Wranglers.
Booked through August, Hole Shot is among the area's more successful bands.
It all began with - hey, hey - The Monkees.
``When we were in elementary school, four other guys and I made our own instruments,'' Roger said. ``Then, with a record playing behind us, we'd mimic The Monkees.''
Tony got into music with the help of his mother who, he said, ``showed me one chord when I was a kid. I've been playin' ever since.''
They first played rock 'n' roll.
``Country sounded better,'' Roger said. ``Besides, it's easier to sing. And, the dancing makes it a lot of fun.''
There is plenty of dancing in the clubs they play. Indeed, Hole Shot may become a house band.
``We opened for one of the most exciting people - Porter Wagoner,'' Tony said. ``We opened for Johnny PayCheck several times, and we opened for Larry Stewart and George Ducas. Our biggest was Joe Diffie.''
Wesley proclaims that singer his second favorite.
``Who's your favorite?'' the 4-year-old was asked. He pointed to Pop.
There will be a Hole Shot show May 2, when the group opens for Doug Supernaw at The Showcase in Portsmouth.
Roger's dream is to open for his country playing god, Jimmy Olander, a Diamond Rio guitarist who autographed Roger's guitar.
His singing hero is Vince Gill, famed for reaching high - and low - notes.
Saturday, you can reach for the food before the performance. Barbecue pig is on the menu, of course, as well as hot dogs, coleslaw, beans, bread and beverages.
And plenty of music. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
Tony Suter, left, his son, Wesley, 4, and his brother, Roger, enjoy
making music. The Suters perform in the band Hole Shot.
AT A GLANCE
What: Hole Shot, at Isle of Wight Academy Pig Feast
When: 2 p.m. Saturday
Where: Isle of Wight Academy, 17111 Courthouse Highway
Tickets: $15, food and entertainment. At the school, Bank of Isle
of Wight, NationsBank, First Union Bank, Chamber of Commerce,
Simpson's Pharmacy, Smithfield; Farmers Bank and Walter's Grain,
Windsor; Crittenden Auto Supply
Call: 357-3866
by CNB