THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, June 30, 1996 TAG: 9606270204
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 30 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: John Harper
LENGTH: 75 lines
Entertainment explodes on the Outer Banks this week.
Along with the regular assemblage of acoustic players, several national touring bands and comedians are on the beach.
If you like your music down and bluesy, don't miss the Nighthawks on Tuesday and Wednesday at Port O' Call in Kill Devil Hills. Vocalist Mark Wenner, guitarist Pete Kanaras, bassist Jan Zukowski and drummer Pete Ragusa play in the band that celebrates its 25th anniversary this year.
All the players are well-versed in the blues, soul and rockabilly styles that are the foundation of the Nighthawks' brand of good-time American music.
The Nighthawks recently released the album ``Pain and Paradise'' on Big Mo Records. The band will tour worldwide through spring 1997, traveling to Japan in July and Western Europe in October.
When was the last time you heard a band play ``A Groovy Kind of Love,'' ``Eight Miles High'' and ``Ticket to Ride''?
The Richmond-based My Uncle's Old Army Buddys rocks you down the highway with faithful renditions of '60s and '70s tunes, played in non-stop 40-minute sets.
The band that boasts five lead singers performs on Wednesday and Thursday at Kelly's in Nags Head.
The progressive dance band Too Skinnee J's brings a New York attitude to the Atlantis in Nags Head on Thursday.
Fighting Gravity, the band formerly known as Boy Oh Boy, plays Atlantis on Friday. Smokin' blues guitarist Gib Droll and his band rock the Atlantis on Saturday.
Club-hoppers needing that Jimmy Buffett/Neil Young/James Taylor fix can find it at Quagmire's in Kill Devil Hills.
Michael Des Roches, Phil Chestnutt, Rich Bunguard, Scott Franson, Rob Fick and Mike Sadler are the men with the golden guitars and voices.
The jazz duo of Laura Martier and Woody Beckner offer soothing sounds every night at Elizabeth's Cafe in Duck.
Just down the road in Duck, Joe Mapp and the Coordinates (get it?) jazz up the joint at the Roadside Bar and Grille.
Buzz Bessette, the amazing one-man band, delivers the dance music nightly at the Sea Ranch in Kill Devil Hills.
With Buzz, it's possible to twist, shag, stroll, bop, and line-dance without missing his beat.
His real smart woman in a real short skirt, wife Joyce, joins Buzz on stage Fridays and Saturdays during the summer. Joyce sings songs by Patsy Cline, Bonnie Raitt, Trisha Yearwood and Sheryl Crow.
On the laugh track, R. Bruce returns for his ``Share The Laughter'' tour, which opens this week at Maione's in Nags Head.
The Nags Head singer/comedian spent the winter months playing comedy clubs in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Indiana, and recently completed a two-week stint at Coconuts Comedy Club on Grand Cayman Island.
Bruce opens his show with 20 minutes of stand-up that leads into his set of song parodies.
New material this year includes a parody that combines Alanis Morrisette and Aunt Bee.
What's up with that?
``You'll have to see the show,'' Bruce says.
Grant Turner, a regular on A&E's ``Improv Tonight'' and ``Evening at the Improv,'' headlines at the Comedy Club at the Carolinian this week.
Using an alter-ego named Rickey Mokel, Turner provides hilarious, sometimes twisted insights into modern life in general, and current events in particular.
Turner recently signed a television contract with the Disney organization.
``This guy is just too funny,'' says Comedy Club owner Anita Fletcher. ``He's destined for bigger things.'' MEMO: John Harper covers Outer Banks entertainment for The Carolina
Coast. Send comments and questions to him at P.O. Box 10, Nags Head,
N.C. 27959. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
The Nighthawks recently released the album ``Pain and Paradise'' on
Big Mo Records. The band will tour worldwide through spring 1997. by CNB