The Band
Dave & The Cool Beans are a one-of -a-kind. Their tight sets combine top-class musicianship and exquisite three-part harmonies resulting in a sound that may just "Blow Your Socks Off". From the Beatles to Bowie, from Gerry and the Pacemakers to Cream and Eric Clapton, from Elvis Presley to Elvis Costello, there is no end to the hits when the Cool Beans start cooking. (see set list here)
The Beans got together in the Spring of 2014, for LeGacy theatrical production "From the Cavern and On! - playing to very appreciative audiences for 13 hip-shaking performances at the Nevada Theatre. The band gelled around their passion for the music of the 60s and were inspired to carry on the musical journey together and so "Dave and the Cool Beans" was born!
With a combined musical experience touching 150 years, the band has the chops to enthrall and the passion to inspire!
When you come to a Dave & The Cool Beans show you will be delighted by the range of 60s-era styles -- rock, pop, British Invasion and psychedelic. You are sure to be struck by the dedication and commitment of the band, one minute striving to do justice to some truly iconic tunes, the next, expanding musical horizons with those numbers you may not have heard but are sure to love.
The Beans got together in the Spring of 2014, for LeGacy theatrical production "From the Cavern and On! - playing to very appreciative audiences for 13 hip-shaking performances at the Nevada Theatre. The band gelled around their passion for the music of the 60s and were inspired to carry on the musical journey together and so "Dave and the Cool Beans" was born!
With a combined musical experience touching 150 years, the band has the chops to enthrall and the passion to inspire!
When you come to a Dave & The Cool Beans show you will be delighted by the range of 60s-era styles -- rock, pop, British Invasion and psychedelic. You are sure to be struck by the dedication and commitment of the band, one minute striving to do justice to some truly iconic tunes, the next, expanding musical horizons with those numbers you may not have heard but are sure to love.
Dave Halford
Much of Dave and Cool Beans’ unique sound is attributed to Dave Halford's soaring vocals. An excellent guitar player and vocalist, and known far and wide for his unique renditions of 50’s and 60’s music, Dave has also sung background vocals for various recording artists: Tommy Two Tone, Dirk Hamilton, and some other not so famous people. Dave also been displays his talents at Friar Tucks in Nevada City every Monday night, and is joined on the first Monday of most months by fellow Beans Steve Sheppard and Paul Turner for acoustic versions of the band's repertoire . He has appeared on the theatrical stage in Off Broadstreet’s concert series “Janis & Friends" and LeGacy’s “I Can Hear Music,” and Off Broadstreet’s “Summer of Love” (2008, 2010 & 2012), and “Last Ditch Idol”.
Much of Dave and Cool Beans’ unique sound is attributed to Dave Halford's soaring vocals. An excellent guitar player and vocalist, and known far and wide for his unique renditions of 50’s and 60’s music, Dave has also sung background vocals for various recording artists: Tommy Two Tone, Dirk Hamilton, and some other not so famous people. Dave also been displays his talents at Friar Tucks in Nevada City every Monday night, and is joined on the first Monday of most months by fellow Beans Steve Sheppard and Paul Turner for acoustic versions of the band's repertoire . He has appeared on the theatrical stage in Off Broadstreet’s concert series “Janis & Friends" and LeGacy’s “I Can Hear Music,” and Off Broadstreet’s “Summer of Love” (2008, 2010 & 2012), and “Last Ditch Idol”.
John Basa
Drumming for 48 years in combos, jazz & rock Bands, marching bands and orchestras, he has studied with Tony Monforte Modern School of Drumming in Binghamton, NY(1966-70), Len Cary in the Castlemen Drum & Bugle Corps (1967-68), & Chief Bonafonte @ the Army Element, Naval School of Music (1973). He played percussion in the musical “1776” (Baumholder Theater Group), “Jesus Christ, Superstar” (Monterey Theater Group), “The King and I “ (CATS),”The Music Man” (Sierra Stages), “I Can Hear Music” (LeGacy) and “7o Girls 70” (Lake Wildwood Theater). He also plays percussion in The Nevada County Concert Band, and can be seen behind the set in the smooth jazz/light rock group, “Cool Heat” and other local musicians. When not playing, he’s teaching the next generation of drummers, (for 10 years now) in his own Drum Studio in the Soundcheck Music Center and in The Lyman Gilmore Middle School Bomber Band.
Drumming for 48 years in combos, jazz & rock Bands, marching bands and orchestras, he has studied with Tony Monforte Modern School of Drumming in Binghamton, NY(1966-70), Len Cary in the Castlemen Drum & Bugle Corps (1967-68), & Chief Bonafonte @ the Army Element, Naval School of Music (1973). He played percussion in the musical “1776” (Baumholder Theater Group), “Jesus Christ, Superstar” (Monterey Theater Group), “The King and I “ (CATS),”The Music Man” (Sierra Stages), “I Can Hear Music” (LeGacy) and “7o Girls 70” (Lake Wildwood Theater). He also plays percussion in The Nevada County Concert Band, and can be seen behind the set in the smooth jazz/light rock group, “Cool Heat” and other local musicians. When not playing, he’s teaching the next generation of drummers, (for 10 years now) in his own Drum Studio in the Soundcheck Music Center and in The Lyman Gilmore Middle School Bomber Band.
Steve Sheppard
Steve is originally from the UK, with frequent wanderings to his mother’s homeland of Sweden. Steve has been attempting to master the complexities of the four string electric bass guitar since the age of 14. Over the years, he has performed in a variety of jazz, funk & blues bands in Europe and the U.S. While on sabbatical from his “day job,” Steve spent two seasons in the French Alps, days spent on the slopes, and nights spent honing his musical skills in the bars in the ski resort town of Meribel. A founding member of the Nevada County Regulators, Steve continues to delight in the sheer amount of music in the community. He also plays with Jimmi Accardi and the Action Zone and with fellow bean, Paul, in the Brit Rock Power Trio SpitFire!. He lives very, very quietly along with his wife in Northern California, and is reportedly “loving it.”
Steve is originally from the UK, with frequent wanderings to his mother’s homeland of Sweden. Steve has been attempting to master the complexities of the four string electric bass guitar since the age of 14. Over the years, he has performed in a variety of jazz, funk & blues bands in Europe and the U.S. While on sabbatical from his “day job,” Steve spent two seasons in the French Alps, days spent on the slopes, and nights spent honing his musical skills in the bars in the ski resort town of Meribel. A founding member of the Nevada County Regulators, Steve continues to delight in the sheer amount of music in the community. He also plays with Jimmi Accardi and the Action Zone and with fellow bean, Paul, in the Brit Rock Power Trio SpitFire!. He lives very, very quietly along with his wife in Northern California, and is reportedly “loving it.”
Paul Turner
Paul is originally from Liverpool (accent and everything!) and plays Lead Guitar for the Beans - and as luck would have it, can sing all the really hard harmony vocal parts too. Paul is a virtuoso, classically trained guitarist, comfortable in nearly all musical genres, and excels in all things Brit Invasion, including Beatles, Hollies and pretty much anything else you can think of. He doesn't even really need to think about it - must have been something in the Liverpudlian beer! Over the decades, Paul has played in too many bands to mention here, but counts the Beans amongst the best. Paul also plays in the Brit Rock Power Trio SpitFire!.
Paul is originally from Liverpool (accent and everything!) and plays Lead Guitar for the Beans - and as luck would have it, can sing all the really hard harmony vocal parts too. Paul is a virtuoso, classically trained guitarist, comfortable in nearly all musical genres, and excels in all things Brit Invasion, including Beatles, Hollies and pretty much anything else you can think of. He doesn't even really need to think about it - must have been something in the Liverpudlian beer! Over the decades, Paul has played in too many bands to mention here, but counts the Beans amongst the best. Paul also plays in the Brit Rock Power Trio SpitFire!.
Original Photography by Karen Busse