American roots and pop-rock and roll band formed in late 1994 by Jay Filippone (guitar ex-Fit of Frustration, Generic Art Ensemble) and John Spokus (bass ex-Neo-Quasi, Blunt Force Trauma). The two began writing, rehearsing, and trying out potential new members. Drummer Pete Kuhn began rehearsing with the group in early 1995 and by August the Beltways officially became a trio. They began performing covers and original music at private parties and then on to night clubs including Café Tattoo, Club Midnight, Memory Lane, Asylum In Exile (D.C.), Wyatts Saloon, Fletcher’s, Eight By Ten, 9:30 Club (D.C.), The Mansion, E.J. Bugs, Cultured Pearl, Mum’s, Brass Monkey, Sud Suckers, The Vault, Hal Daddy’s, Side Bar, Bohager’s, Ottobar, Recher Theater, Frazier’s, The Depot, Mojo, Full Moon…
The Beltways performed at many local festivals including Gimme Shelter Benefit Show, Baltimore Blues Festivals, SoWeBo Festivals, Winterfests, All About Music, Hampden Fest, Hon Fest, Night of 100 Elvises (Their performance of “His Latest Flame” was included on the 1999 Night of 100 Elvises CD)… They performed at the Barn Stomp Fest (Martinsburg, WV), The International Pop Overthrow Fest (Hollywood, CA), The B&H (Knoxville, TN), Beachland Ballroom (Cleveland, OH)…
Most of their local performances were on multiple billings with groups such as The Martians, Landlords of Mobtown, Put-Outs, Splitsville, Mother Jefferson, Spitshine, Lost Incas, Garage Sale, Barn Burners, Swiv-o-Matics, Love Riot, Circle 9, Jones Falls, June Star, Georgie Jessup, and many others.
The Beltways also toured nationally and shared the stage with artists such as Jonathan Richman, Mojo Nixon, The Records, Albert Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult), and others…
Their 1996 debut album “The Beltways” featured Filippone (lead vocals, guitar), Spokus (bass), and Kuhn (drums). The Beltways performed for their debut CD release party on February 8, 1997 at Memory Lane with Spitshine, and The Martians.
The same trio also collaborated on their 1998 set “Stella on Mars.” In 1991 Freddy Mascaroni (piano) joined the group. As a quartet they released the 2001 EP “Leftovers,” and a 2002 limited edition box set CD “Greatest Hits Until Now.”
Mascaroni left the group in December 2002, and in June 2003 they added Gregg Simmons (guitar, mandolin ex-Unprovoked Moose Attack). In December 2003 Filippone began working concurrently with the band June Star. Spokus left (later joining George Brigman’s group) and was replaced with Andy Grim (bass). Grim performed only a few gigs with the group before leaving and was replaced with Billy Patrick (ex-Mother Jefferson). This lineup was featured on their 2006 CD “black and white and… red all over.”
In February 2007 they added pedal steel player Sully, although he departed later in the year. Bob Kannenburg (guitar, vocal, harmonica -Barn Burners) later joined and is featured on their 2012 CD release.
Additional studio and/or road musicians have included Chuck LeMasters (pedal steel guitarist from Virginia), Al Dahlstrom (sax -Mary Lou & Untouchables…), and Jeff Conlin (keyboards).
In addition to the discography listed below, original songs by the Beltways have been included on the various artists compilation albums “Fuzzy Logic” (1997 RPM USA Records), “Bawdamoor” (1998 Original Spin Records), “Night of 100 Elvis’s” (1999 Hungry for Music Records), Invisible Sound Studios Sampler Vol. 1,” “Songs from Our Circle, Volume 4” (2003 Baltimore Songwriters Assn.), and “International Pop Overthrow” (2007 Not Lame Records).
1996(CD) Sawng Mfg (no #) The Beltways
1998(CD) Sawng Mfg 1102 Stella on Mars
2001(EP) Sawng Mfg 2001 Leftovers
2002(CD) Greatest Hits Until Now (limited edition 3 CD box set)
2006(CD) Sawng Mfg 1105 black and white and… red all over
2012(CD) Sawng Mfg 1106 Chasing the Sun
