| West 34 - Short history of the band |
| West 34 was conceived in late Summer 2007. After performing in many bands over the years, band leader Dave Johnson decided he wanted to put together his own band and play the kind of music he wanted to play. With a little help from friends, Dave put together a band that all the players would be proud of. The result is West 34 a collection of rock solid raw talent and many years experience on the Chicago music scene. The vision for the band is to cover some of the greatest rock, blues/electric blues & pop songs ever recorded while working out some great original ideas in rehearsal as well as in front of a live audience. We are a fully equipped band that owns its own PA System and lighting rig. We are ready to play anytime or anywhere as long as there is power (we do not own our own generator). Please check out our website where you will find song samples, videos, band bios, photos and schedule information. West 34 is managed by Uncle Freddy (Fred Gade) and he is the man to contact concerning all things West 34. Email him by clicking the link at the bottom of this page. West 34 is available for private parties, outdoor festivals, corporate events and of course club work. We hope to see you out at one of the upcoming shows. If you are a fan of good music, you will be blown away by this band.....we GUARANTEE it! Click here to email Uncle Freddy! |
Visit our My Space Page:
www.myspace.com/west34band
www.myspace.com/west34band
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Website by Uncle Freddy
| Next Show - Friday March 19, 2010 Vito & Nicks Pizza - 1015 S. State St - Lemont, IL Thursdays 3/11/10, 3/18/2010, 3/25/2010 - Open Mic Jam Americas Historic Roundhouse - 205 N. Broadway Aurora, IL Americas Historic Roundhouse in Aurora. Open mic jam 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of the month Click for Details |
From the Morris Daily Herald: Taste of Greater Coal City:
“After the band started and after things started cooling down, you could see a lot of people coming back again,” Cora said. “The band was awesome
and the crowd was really yelling and screaming for them."
As day gave way to evening and darkness began to crawl in, Cora estimates that approximately 200 people were there to see the band.
“After the band started and after things started cooling down, you could see a lot of people coming back again,” Cora said. “The band was awesome
and the crowd was really yelling and screaming for them."
As day gave way to evening and darkness began to crawl in, Cora estimates that approximately 200 people were there to see the band.
| Recent Press |
| West 34 |
From www.CenterStageChicago.com:
Taking its name from Illinois Route 34, West 34 Blue is a spin-off of classic rock cover band, West 34. Led by soulful strummer Dave "Big Wave"
Johnson, West 34 sticks to a good five decades of everything from the Beatles to Van Halen, while the ‘Blue’ incarnation sticks with a more select
crew, like Howlin’ Wolf and Eddie Taylor. Either way it’s cheap, filthy, chase-it-with-a-shot of-whiskey, nostalgic fun. Consider it playtime after the
real fire when Texas-bred guitarist Dave Herrerro and his big-brass play drag-your-feet Motown numbers that will either transport you to the still of
some dock on some bay, or tickle your feet with post-war sock hop.
Taking its name from Illinois Route 34, West 34 Blue is a spin-off of classic rock cover band, West 34. Led by soulful strummer Dave "Big Wave"
Johnson, West 34 sticks to a good five decades of everything from the Beatles to Van Halen, while the ‘Blue’ incarnation sticks with a more select
crew, like Howlin’ Wolf and Eddie Taylor. Either way it’s cheap, filthy, chase-it-with-a-shot of-whiskey, nostalgic fun. Consider it playtime after the
real fire when Texas-bred guitarist Dave Herrerro and his big-brass play drag-your-feet Motown numbers that will either transport you to the still of
some dock on some bay, or tickle your feet with post-war sock hop.
Todays Date is:
| Mark Fera (West 34 fan) - Lake of the Ozarks, MO - 2007 |
From The Mokena Messenger: Rockin' In The Park
The Park District held a 'free concert in the park,' at Main Park at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2. Laurel Welch, marketing coordinator for the Mokena
Community Park District said that turn out has been strong for this years concerts in the park.
Playing on Aug. 2 was the blues and rock band West 34.
The band, "covers some of the greatest rock, blues/electric blues and pop songs ever recorded while working out some great original ideas in
rehearsal as well as in front of a live audience," according to their Web site.
http://www.mokenamessenger.com/Articles-c-2009-08-11-198532.112113_Rockin_in_the_park.html#123
The Park District held a 'free concert in the park,' at Main Park at 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 2. Laurel Welch, marketing coordinator for the Mokena
Community Park District said that turn out has been strong for this years concerts in the park.
Playing on Aug. 2 was the blues and rock band West 34.
The band, "covers some of the greatest rock, blues/electric blues and pop songs ever recorded while working out some great original ideas in
rehearsal as well as in front of a live audience," according to their Web site.
http://www.mokenamessenger.com/Articles-c-2009-08-11-198532.112113_Rockin_in_the_park.html#123
67 MPH BABY!!!!
Lime Kitty by Kris Bouchard
| From the Suburban Life Online On The Go section: http://otg.mysuburbanlife.com/2009/10/27/west-34-concert-rock-dead#comment-174 |
| SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT!!! West 34 is the new house band at America's Historic Roundhouse in Aurora and will be hosting an open mic jam the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Thursdays of every month starting Thursday January 14th at 8pm. We are accepting most genres of music with a few exceptions. If you are interested in performing, or if you have any questions please contact Uncle Freddy at w34mail@comcast.net or you can Click here for full details!! |
| What's New |
West 34 is calling 2010 its’ breakout year. West 34 performed 40 times in 2009 and since West 34s’ inception in November 2007 to the
end of 2009 will have performed 61 shows. Our 61st performance, and last of 2009, was 12/21 at Reggies Music Joint. For 2010 we have
17 shows either completed or on the schedule. Most recently West 34 has performed at Friendly Tap in Berwyn which is owned by Rob
Pierce of the local Chicago band Yellowhammers. West 34 has also performed most recently (11/30/2009) at The Checkerboard Lounge
in Chicago as the feature band for the Musicians Network MECCA weekly jam. Checkerboard has hosted such greats as The Rolling
Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. West 34 is also being considered to be the opening act for
Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) and his project Gov’t Mule at the House Of Blues. Most recently West 34 has been selected to
host a new weekly open mic night at America's Historic Roundhouse (formerly Walter Payton's Roundhouse) in Aurora starting
January 14th, 2010. West 34s’ band leader Dave Johnson has performed with Chicago Bluesman Melvin Taylor and The Slack Band at
Navy Pier Beer Garden and at The Taste Of Chicago. That band also included the legendary Chicago rhythm section of bass player
Greg Rzab (Buddy Guy, Black Crowes, Allman Bros, Stevie Ray Vaughan) and drummer Jay Davenport (Sugar Blue, Junior Wells,
Pinetop Perkins). That rhythm section is currently with The John Mayall Band.
end of 2009 will have performed 61 shows. Our 61st performance, and last of 2009, was 12/21 at Reggies Music Joint. For 2010 we have
17 shows either completed or on the schedule. Most recently West 34 has performed at Friendly Tap in Berwyn which is owned by Rob
Pierce of the local Chicago band Yellowhammers. West 34 has also performed most recently (11/30/2009) at The Checkerboard Lounge
in Chicago as the feature band for the Musicians Network MECCA weekly jam. Checkerboard has hosted such greats as The Rolling
Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. West 34 is also being considered to be the opening act for
Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band) and his project Gov’t Mule at the House Of Blues. Most recently West 34 has been selected to
host a new weekly open mic night at America's Historic Roundhouse (formerly Walter Payton's Roundhouse) in Aurora starting
January 14th, 2010. West 34s’ band leader Dave Johnson has performed with Chicago Bluesman Melvin Taylor and The Slack Band at
Navy Pier Beer Garden and at The Taste Of Chicago. That band also included the legendary Chicago rhythm section of bass player
Greg Rzab (Buddy Guy, Black Crowes, Allman Bros, Stevie Ray Vaughan) and drummer Jay Davenport (Sugar Blue, Junior Wells,
Pinetop Perkins). That rhythm section is currently with The John Mayall Band.
| Dave Johnson interview for The Suburban Life Newspaper: http://otg.mysuburbanlife.com/2009/12/07/chit-chat-musician-dave-johnson-west-34-plugs-entertaining-audiences |
| DudeImTellinYa.com blog posta by Gmoney: http://www.dudeimtellinya.com/?p=559 http://www.dudeimtellinya.com/?s=west+34 |
West 34 fan Bob Gould (right) with the
legendary Warren Haynes of Allman Bros
and Gov't Mule fame. Rock on Bob!
legendary Warren Haynes of Allman Bros
and Gov't Mule fame. Rock on Bob!