Bio

[link=\"http://www.theinstallers.net\"] ...A New Beginning... click on any text to go to The Installers Website The Installers have been rockin\' clubs around New England for over ten years. They\'ve played with some of the best, such as Roomful of Blues, Duke Robillard, and Sugar Ray Norcia. Since 2004 The Installers have been privileged to work both on and off stage with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominee Jay Geils, guitarist of the legendary J. Geils Band. Jay produced The Installers\' 2004 CD Nail It! and ...played guitar on several tracks. Jay has also been known to occasionally join the band on stage for a few numbers when he\'s available. . Like most other bands, The Installers have endured their share of personnel changes through the years, with each change bringing something new and exciting to the mix: During the recording of \"Nail It!\" they lost original member Barry Callahan (rhythm and lead guitar), but gained the highly talented Shawn McCann (keyboards) who added a new dimension to the band\'s sound. Barry rejoined the band in June 2007, re-injecting the powerful rhythmic assault that he originally brought to the band a decade ago. Barry has since moved on to other projects and will be, once again, truly missed. In October 2007 the band suffered the departure of original member Marc Rines (bass guitar). Marc played an important part in developing that \"In Your Face\" sound that helped launch the band, and we wish him luck in his future musical endeavors. The search for a new bass player ended abruptly when John Bruner showed up to a rehearsal in November 2007. John\'s meticulous, fluid and often funky bass lines are just what the band needed to kick things up a notch in the rhythm section. In the summer of 2009, after being together for almost 10 full years in one form or another, the band took a hiatus. Some of the members needed to get re-charged. Another left. And with that break and the idea brought up of having horns in the mix, the band has been resurrected. With the current line up of Stephen Clarke (vocals), Kevin Visnaskis (guitars), Shawn McCann (keyboards), Jim Burns (drums), John Bruner (bass), Pete Leveque (Tenor Sax), Roger Cagnon (trombone), and Walter Platt (trumpet), 2010 promises to be a fantastic year for the band.\"...Meet The Band\" Kevin Visnaskas - Guitar \"I began playing professionally in my late teens with various cover and original bands. Most notable of these was Eastwood Peak; the band released independent label singles that garnered favorable reviews in publications such as Melody maker and Trouser press. Prior to the Installers, I continued playing and recording, including a stint with J. Geils\' Bluestime. I reside in southern New Hampshire where I teach guitar and bass.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jim Burns - Drums \"I\'ve been playing drums since I was a kid. Playing with a lot of different bands in high school, I landed my first real gig with \"Legal Tender\" in 1982, playing the Boston circuit for many years. Soon after \"Legal Tender\" I collaborated with Barry, and Steve to form \"The No Respect Blues Band\". After great success with that project I decided to concentrate on my own business, and take a hiatus from music. In 1998- 1999 I jumped back in with original members of \"No Respect\" to form \"The Installers\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Stephen Clarke -Lead Vocals, Harp \"I have been influenced by all types of music, throughout the years. It all started when I was younger by listening to my parent’s and older brothers and sisters Record albums, Everything from big band to music from the 50’s 60’s and 70’s, My first taste of playing in a band was with some friends a garage band as it is called. We had a blast that was in the 80’s. Then in 1988-1989 I joined the NO RESPECT BLUES BAND, Which included the current INSTALLERS band members Jim Burns And Barry Callahan, We played out quite a lot but with everybody trying to raise family’s and working , we had to call it quits. Then by 1999 I was itching to perform again so with a couple of calls and a meeting or two later we formed the INSTALLERS band, and enjoying every note.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shawn Mc Cann-Piano, Organ \"I have been playing in bands ever since moving to the Nashoba Valley area in 1975. Shawn holds Bachelor of Music degrees in Piano Performance and in Music Theory/Composition from the University of Lowell. Highlights of my musical career include working as accompanist for the Nashoba Valley Chorale under conductor Johanna Hill Simpson, a concert with the Boston Lawyer\'s Orchestra at the Esplanade Hatch Shell, and of course, playing with the Installers and Jay Geils. I have been with the Installers since 2004. I also have a weekly Sunday morning gig as Music Director at First Parish Church in Groton, MA\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- John Bruner - Bass \"John has played electric and upright bass for many years, most recently doing an 18 year stint with the \"Kieran McNally Band\", and previously a decade-plus with \"Eastwood Peak\". ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Roger Cagnon-Trombone Roger Cagnon has studied jazz improvisation at URI and Berklee College of Music where he earned a degree in Jazz Composition. He is currently enrolled at Lesley University, and is working on a master degree in music therapy. Roger has played trombone and arranged for many local bands, including Brass Force, Tailor Made, and The Distractions. He has toured with the Artie Shaw Band, Solomon Berk, Howard Tate, and Mighty Sam McClain. Roger performs on Mighty Sam\'s album \"Sweat Dreams\" for Telarc records. While freelancing in the Boston area, he is now arranging and performing with the Installers. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Walter Platt-Trumpet Walter Platt has performed and, or, recorded with Alicia Keys, Aretha Franklin, B.B. King, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The O’Jays, The Woody Herman Orchestra, Cab Calloway and his Orchestra, New Kids on the Block, Bobby Brown, and New Edition. He has arranged and (or) composed for Andre Previn, P.B.S. film and documentaries, Warner Bros., Columbia, Fox T.V., Telarc, J.V.C., Audio-quest, many Korea recording companies and more. He has performed at The Montreux, North Sea, Vienna, Nice, Pori, Torino, Seoul, Kyoto, Newport and Montreal Jazz Festivals and also at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Symphony Hall, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Wolftrap.[color=\"blue\"][/color][link=\"URL\"][/link][link=\"URL\"][code][color=\"black\"][/color][b][/b][/code][/link][link=\"URL\"][link=\"URL\"][/link][link=\"URL\"][/link][link=\"URL\"]