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By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Kane County ChronicleThey aren’t really from Memphis, but their music sounds like it.
Big Guitars From Memphis plays a driving blend of rockabilly, swing and surf music. “We play everything at breakneck speed,” said North Aurora resident John Ivan, lead guitarist in Big Guitars From Memphis. “We keep it going, but we’re relaxed doing it.”
Big Guitars From Memphis will play a free show from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Island Park Gazebo, Route 56 and the Fox River, North Aurora.
A former member of the power pop band Off Broadway, which scored a minor hit in 1979 with the song “Stay In Time,” Ivan formed Big Guitars From Memphis in 1988. “I wanted to play this style of music, this Americana type of music, mixing together country, jazz, blues and rock and hillbilly music,” Ivan said.
Rounding out the lineup is singer Phil Gatto, bass guitarist Dave Piper and drummer Sal Monaco. Piper previously was a member of another area band, Kampfire Kowboys. “Phil has a lot of soul in his voice. He has a lot of feeling in his voice. It is a perfect fit for the band,” Ivan said.
Big Guitars From Memphis is a band that cannot be labeled easily. Ivan admitted some people don’t know what to make of their music at first. Once they start listening they warm up to it. “You can see them being won over,” Ivan said. “That gives us a good feeling, to be able to win over the audience.”
Big Guitars From Memphis also has won over people like Who guitarist Pete Townshend, who had heard the band when he was a guest on Kevin Matthews’ radio show a few years ago. While on the telephone waiting to be interviewed, Townshend heard the band playing in the background, and made the comment, “How did those big guitars get up so early and play so well…they sound great!” Ivan was honored by Townshend’s compliment. “When people you really respect say something good about you, it gives you the confidence that you are doing something good,” Ivan said.
Along with playing all around the Chicago area, Big Guitars From Memphis also tours frequently in Europe, where the band has found many appreciative fans. “They really like this kind of stuff,” Ivan said.