Summer Fun A Bit Early
/By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Jimmy Kenny and The Pirate Beach Band is primed to be welcomed back to The Paramount Friday night after lighting up the stage with a sold out show in January.
The band is a beach party tribute to country music greats Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney and The Zac Brown Band.
Paul Cuthbert, also known as Jimmy Kenny, lead vocalist and acoustic guitar player, said the theme the band takes away from these artists and their recordings is the beach lifestyle.
“The whole combination of the three artists has led to success of the band because it’s targeted to that particular fan base, which is a fan base that loves to sing along and enjoy adult beverages and hanging out at the beach,” Cuthbert added.
Performing as a band for six years, Cuthbert and his bandmates have steered away from the country band billing, instead embracing the moniker of an “Americana band.”
“Even though two of the primary artists that we cover are country artists, we select and pull particular tracks from their catalog for the mix,” Cuthbert said.
For the performance at The Paramount, the audience can expect to hear Zac Brown Band songs like “Chicken Fried,” “Knee Deep” and “Colder Weather;” Jimmy Buffett songs like “Margaritaville,” “Volcano” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise;” and Kenny Chesney songs like “Setting the World on Fire,” “Summertime” and “I Go Back.”
With his company, Rock Beach Music Co., Cuthbert said Jimmy Kenny and The Pirate Beach Band is made up of various musicians who have previously played together in corporate and tribute bands.
“I just developed this primary act as a way for us to kind of go into this lifestyle,” Cuthbert said. “I was able to create the right mix.”
With eight members, including Cuthbert, the band is also made up of Colleen Angerami (AKA Lady Colleen) on lead and backing vocals; Luis Rios on lead guitar and backing vocals; Frank Stainkamp on keyboards and backing vocals; Yan Izquierdo on the fiddle; Mike Vecchione on drums; Dan Prine on bass; and Lyndon Achee on steel drums.
“The true essence and the formula of success for this band is staying true to the artists and the theme,” Cuthbert said. “It’s not even about us as performers. It’s about the music. It’s about the songs. And it ultimately is about the fans, because they love it and we know that they love it.”
Friday night's show is set to begin at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. Tickets ($15-$35) are available at the box office or at Paramountny.com.