Meet JP Geoghegan, Drummer of the Sound Shore's 'Grateful Dead'

On a quiet Wednesday night in Port Chester dozens of Deadheads milled around the front of Garcia’s bar and music venue anxious for the show to start. It was not during the nine-night Furthur run that brought thousands of hippies from across the country to The Capitol Theatre.

On this Wednesday night, the fans were there to see the Stella Blues Band, a group of seven local men who are dedicated to recreating the experience of being at a Grateful Dead show.

Each musician became “hooked” on Dead music as teenagers, most from going to their first live show. Decades later and they are grateful for the opportunity to be creating live shows of their own at Westchester and Connecticut area venues.

 By day the band members are working in finance, on CNBC or in music therapy, but on show nights, the collective group is dedicated to the poetic lyrics, the chance to improve, the thrill of performing live and the passionate fan base. 

The group was founded in 2009 with five original members and has grown into seven today.

The band consists of Bill Bonacci, a New Rochelle resident who sings and plays lead guitar; Steve Liesman, a Pelham resident who sings and plays rhythm guitar; Greg Solomon, a Greenwich resident who plays bass; Ken Aigen, a Hastings redisnt who plays keyboards; Marc Loponte, a Rye resident who sings; Chuck Black, a Rye resident on the drums and JP Geoghegan, a Stamford, Ct. resident, also on the drums.

During their recent residency at Garcia’s the group attracted hundreds of music lovers and true Deadheads who knew the lyrics as well as the band. They have about a 100-song repertoire and strive to avoid repeat songs. During their last night at Garcia’s the fans picked the songs.

Patch stopped in early on their final night at Garcia’s to ask the band members a few questions about their time at the venue, what attracted them to Grateful Dead music; and how they balance family, work and shows. We also made them each pick their favorite Dead song.

This is the second in a series of Q&As with each band member.

Name: JP Geoghegan

Age: 36

Instrument: Drums

Occupation: Advertising

Town: Stamford, Ct.

How has your residency been at Garcia’s?
The run has been great.  We have had an epic group of friends, family fans & fellow musicians from both in & out of the area attending each week.  It was great to have a place that symbolizes so much of this scene to provide a home base for this type of thing is just what the Dr ordered.  Garcia's is a home-run  - I am very proud to have been asked to be apart of it, even more so honored to have SBB be the first ever resident, everyone we worked with at Garcia's have been amazing. 

What do you like about Dead music?

First and foremost what I really like the diversity of the music - the Dead can be folk, rock, country, jazz, bluegrass, pop, disco or funk. As a drummer you can get bored quickly playing the same 4/4 rock stuff, the Dead has great tempo adjustments that keep it interesting. The songs themselves also have dynamic lyrics that at times are great tales of Americana written by (in some cases) poet laureates and there is a sense of intelligence & history that keeps them timeless.  To bring these songs to life for people who love it as we do, is a simply gift.

How did you get into the Grateful Dead?
I grew up in a household with musical parents who were fans of everything from Gershwin/Broadway/Peter Paul & Mary tunes to the Crickets/Bob Dylan/Jim Croce/Beatles/stones, etc. The dead simply weaved its way into my world as I sought to learn more about music.   

What is your favorite Dead song? 

Today it’s Ripple. My 4 year old calls it 'our' favorite song so I can't really compete, she is the boss.

What does your family think of the band?
They are very supportive of my playing.  You will often catch a few family members at a show.

How do you balance work, personal life with the band?
I typically balance it all with a seesaw, a rock, a slight breeze, and a lot of coffee.

Honestly, all of us in Stella Blues Band have their individual lives and we are sensitive to each other’s family and professional lives so we can keep doing this.  I think if are passionate about something you find a way to make it all work.  Did I already mention coffee? Coffee, coffee, coffee.

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Stella Blue’s Band upcoming shows:

Saturday, June 29, Stella Blue’s Bar, New Haven, Ct., 9 p.m., $5

Saturday, July 20, Uncle Henry’s, Harrison, NY, 9 p.m. $5

Friday, August 2, Monster B’s, Stamford, Ct., 9 p.m., $5

Thursday, Sept. 12, Sullivan Hall, NY,NY, 9 p.m., $10 in advance, $12 at the door

Check them out at Facebook.com/stellabluesband and stellabluesband.net