By Jaime Elliott
St. John Tradewinds

Dave Gerard is bringing his signature
eclectic, funky but down-home sound back
to St. John this month.

The New Hampshire-based musician
with his band Groove Thang has been rock-
ing crowds on Love City for almost a de-
cade and this year’s tour is sure to be an-
other treat.

Groove Thang — composed of Gerard,
who sings and plays guitar, along with
David Bailey on bass and vocals and Kent
Raine on drums and percussion — will be
playing material from their new CD “Zoomy
Trail” which the group recorded over a few
months last year.

The new CD showcases Gerard’s passion
for beautiful organic music juxtaposed with

Also performing are other local musicians.

Tickets $20 for Adults
$10 for ages 17 and under
Free for ages 5 and under

experimental industrial sounds.

“T feel like this new CD is very much
what I’m all about as far as the sound,” said
Gerard. “It’s basically a live organic kind
of vibe and on top of that we’ve added this
dreamy experimental sound. It’s really fun
and shows our range I think.”

“There is everything from some solo
acoustic guitar to full band stuff and then
the industrial sounds, so it’s a really a good
representation of what we do,” Gerard said.

The group kicks off its ninth annual U.S.
Virgin Islands tour on Thursday, March 11,
at Jack’s on St. Thomas and will play eight
confirmed gigs, with a ninth night possible,
before heading back up north on March 22.

Groove Thang will entertain on St. John
on March 13 at the Beach Bar, March 14 at
Skinny Legs, March 16 at Shipwreck Land-

Location: VI Montessori School
& International Academy Sports Field
For more details call 775-6360

St. John Tradewinds, March 8-14, 2010 13

 

Groove Thang on the beach.

ing and on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, will
be back at the Beach Bar.

All those gigs won’t leave the band mates
much time for soaking up the tropical sun,

but they don’t seem to mind.

“We play a lot while we’re down, but this
is what we do for a living,” said Gerard. “We
can’t leave our families and go tour the Vir-
gin Islands and only play half the time. We
have a lot of overhead getting down there so
for us to make it work financially we have
to play a lot.”

While Groove Thang’s trip is definitely a
working vacation, the group looks forward
to its USVI tour each year for more reasons
than just sneaking out of the harsh New
England winter, Gerard explained.

“Tt’s laid back down there and it’s just al-
ways nice to come and enjoy a place where
life moves a little bit slower,” he said.

Don’t miss Groove Thang on its ninth
USVI tour this month across St. John and
St. Thomas.

TICKET OUTLETS NEAREST YOU!

Connections, Cruz Bay

Messages, Mail & More, Crown Bay

CET Business Services, Buccaneer Mall

Urban Threadz, Buccaneer Mall

Dockside Bookstore, Havensight Mall
Natural Food Grocery, Mandela Circle

Phils Paradise, Fort MylIner

East End Secretarial Services, Red Hook Plaza

Evolution Surf & Skate, American Yacht Harbor

Keep Left, American Yacht Harbor
Lattes in Paradise, American Yacht Harbor