
DATE: Sunday, May 25, 1997                  TAG: 9705220244

SECTION: CAROLINA COAST          PAGE: 24   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:   42 lines

GET DOWN! GET BIG GETS ON WITH BUSINESS AT KELLY'S

Formed in Virginia Beach in late 1994, Get Big has been playing its soulful blend of rock, blues and soul to growing audiences along the East Coast ever since.

The five-man band - guitarist/singer Steve Donnatone, drummer Kelly West, saxophone/keyboard player/singer Tim Varvel, bassist/singer Mike Ewell and guitarist/lead singer Chris Ambrosino - returns to Kelly's in Nags Head for two nights this week.

Get Big plays mostly cover tunes. ``We try not to do the run of the mill covers,'' Ambrosino says. ``Our sets are well thought out.''

So instead of Van Morrison's ``Brown Eyed Girl,'' expect ``Into the Mystic and ``Wild Night.'' Choice Beatles' covers include ``Dear Prudence and ``Get Back.''

``We're real strong vocally,'' Ambrosino says. ``We pay real close attention to the vocals.''

Recently, Get Big has beefed up its commitment to '70s soul music. ``We're doing some disco,'' says Ambrosino, laughing. ``But mostly it's the funky stuff.''

Ambrosino says The Ohio Players' ``Love Rollercoaster'' and Wild Cherry's ``Play That Funky Music'' are definite crowd pleasers.

Get Big is about halfway through a recording project at Fast Tracks studio in Virginia Beach. The band's album of all original material should be out by the end of July. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

Get Big from left: Kelly West, Steve Donnatone, Tim Varvel, Dave

Addis, Chris Ambrosino.

HOW TO HEAR 'EM

Who: Get Big

When: Wednesday and Thursday

Where: Kelly's, milepost 10 on the bypass, Nags Head

Cost: $5 per person

Call: 441-4116