New Orleans style party music band originally formed in 1995 as a six-piece zydeco band called Gumbo Junkyard. Founding members Brian Simms (lead vocals, accordion ex-Disappear Fear), and Michael Hershfeld (drums) organized the group adding Trevor Specht (sax, vocals), Michael Sauri (guitar, vocals), Bob Laforce (rubboard, percussion), and employed several bass guitarists including Bill Pachucki, Adrian Cox (BiggerBetterFasterMore), and Steve Sachse.
Michael Sauri, Trevor Specht. Courtesy of Brian Simms
The band changed formation, adding a three-piece horn section, doing away with percussion, and began playing New Orleans funk, swing, and Latin styles in addition to zydeco. In 2001 Simms changed the band name to Junkyard Saints to reflect their new direction. The new lineup featured Simms (lead vocals, piano, organ, accordion), and Specht (sax, vocals), with new members Sterling Patterson (guitar, vocals ex-Gents), John Aversa (bass ex-Jay Jay), Todd Butler (trumpet), Eric Simms (trombone, vocals), and Tom Sabia (drums –Love Nut). Sabia was later replaced with Frank Young (ex-The Slip), who was in turn replaced with Andy Hamburger. Eric Simms was later replaced with Jeff Chiavarini (ex-Ellis Woodward’s Lazy Boy Horns, All Mighty Senators…).
Sterling Patterson, Todd Butler, Jeff Chiavarini. Courtesy of Brian Simms
With regular college and independent radio airplay across the country, Junkyard Saints have performed nationally and at most major local venues in the Baltimore and D.C. area including the FunkBox/Eight by Ten, Pier Six, Inner Harbor concert series, Golden Sports Bar, Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Glen Echo Park… The group traveled nationally and have been featured at the Ft. Lauderdale Riverwalk Blues Festival, Musikfest, First Night, Iota… They performed private events for corporate and entertainment clients such as HBO, John Waters, Crayola, and Northrup-Grumman. In 2007 the group received two WAMMIE awards from the Washington Area Music Association for Best Roots Rock Group, and Artist of the Year.
Album release by Gumbo Junkyard:
2000(EP) Big Feets
Album releases by Junkyard Saints:
2001(CD) Manic Boy Jes Like Your Mama Told You
2005(CD) Manic Boy House of Jam
