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Section: Arts
Bravo to WNY’s Blues Bravuras
By Anthony Chabala
Every Wednesday from 8 to 10 p.m. at Flying Turtles restaurant near the corner of Sheridan Drive and Military Road in Tonawanda, a local blues band called the Bravuras is ready to channel your mid-week angst. They’ve had this effect on audiences for years, but to the group, each show is still special.
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The Bravuras, ready to play the blues; photo by Anthony Chabala.
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The Bravuras are made up of Western New Yorkers who are all over age 50, and are all extremely dedicated to their craft. Headed by John “J. Bones” Puccio, the Bravuras bring their unique touch to blues tunes that you might not know, but should.
Along with playing the occasional original song, you’ll find the Bravuras covering the likes of Leadbelly, Bo Diddley, Albert King, Albert Collins, Howlin’ Wolf, Jimmy Reed, and Willie Dixon, just to name a few. This is the kind of music that blues players and aficionados respect and adore. This is the form of blues that has a true groove to it, not the “Mustang Sally” type.
The Bravuras line-up looks something like this: Puccio, a material handling analyst, is in charge of vocals; John Hufford, a correctional facility engineer, is guitarist/harmonica player; Mike Donaghue, a purchasing agent, is drummer; George Mort, an electronics technician, is bassist; and Felix Mayer is an internet consultant who, as a trained eye will notice, blissfully blends jazz chords into his blues progressions. He’s a wiz on lead guitar.
The musical relationship between the drums and bass guitar is a key element, and one that separates them from a number of other local bands. This solid foundation created by the drums and bass provides the groove that allows an experienced guitarist like Mayer to really take off with his solos and blues licks, and then return safely to the heart of the song. “I’ve seen this lineup change quite a bit, and this is by far the strongest yet,” says Tony, Flying Turtles’ famous bartender, a man who will gladly fill you in on the band’s history.
Puccio’s vocals are unique, and at moments even evoke the tone of the great Jim Morrison of the Doors, minus the pomposity. His impressive front-man resume has included opening for the likes of Albert Collins and one of my own personal heroes, Albert King.
When performing in his signature fedora, Puccio has his own little age-appropriate pogo bounce that can assist the musically challenged in finding the beat.
After all, the Bravuras produce the kind of groove that makes you want to move. Audience participation is a large part of what makes being in the band so enjoyable for the front man. “We love it when we can really feel the audience starting to get into it and we get them moving,” says Puccio, a.ka. “J. Bones.”
“We have a following that are into motorcycles and classic cars, and they all love old-school blues,” he adds. When the Bravuras are playing, the outside of the restaurant can look like a bike and antique car show all at once. Their audience is a hodgepodge of ages, races, dancing styles and incomes, and it all makes for a great time.
One thing the band continues to pride themselves on is the volume of the music they play. “We are loud enough to hear and to feel the music, but when we play you can still carry on a conversation at your table,” says Puccio.
I can attest to that. While attending my first Bravuras show, I carried on a conversation with the bartender, took notes and ate wings, and not once did the volume of the music interfere with anything. One of the main concerns when going to see live music with friends is the volume, and the Bravuras have taken that annoyance out of the equation.
When you attend a Bravuras show, you’ll see five solid musicians playing their instruments, having a great time, and most importantly, happily acting their age. It’s good to see a group of guys playing music because they simply love doing it.
Come to Flying Turtles and check them out one Wednesday night. But be sure to bring your dancing shoes.
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