Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05

Legendary Party Band The SpongeTones Play P.B. Scott’s Reunion May 12

Story by David Brewer

On Saturday, May 12, High Country Press will sponsor the second annual P.B. Scott’s Reunion Party. Taking place at Canyons in Blowing Rock, the party will feature the pop mastery of the one-and-only veteran quartet The SpongeTones.

More than likely, the name The SpongeTones will jog the memories of longtime High Country residents back to a time when Blowing Rock was known more for the droves of party-hearty students and residents that frequented the music club P.B. Scott’s than for its fine dining and great shopping.

The SpongeTones represent a golden time for live music in the area, serving as the best-drawing band in the history of the incredible P.B. Scott’s Music Hall. Playing their first show at one of the club’s legendary Halloween parties, the band instantly gained more than 1,000 fans who continued to pile in to see the band for years to come.

“Every event after that, it was either a packed house or sold out,” said former club owner/manager Randy Kelly. “They were always the #1 party band at [P.B. Scott’s].”

Unfortunately, the dome-shaped club that hosted Gregg Allman, B.B. King, John Prine, Leon Russell, R.E.M., Hank Williams Jr., Bonnie Raitt, Harry Chapin, Emmylou Harris and Muddy Waters was forced to close its doors in 1983. The SpongeTones brought a fitting end to the club’s incredible run, playing a final sold-out show.

Though P.B. Scott’s may physically be gone, many of its patrons are not. Fortunately, neither are The SpongeTones, who continue to write, record and tour behind their unique brand of British invasion-influenced pop rock and are extremely excited to be performing at the P.B. Scott’s Reunion.

“There was something unique about P.B. Scott’s,” said SpongeTones drummer Rob Thorne. “Even if there were 1,500 people there, they seemed to be real close to the stage because of the arrangement of the building.”

Preparing to record their tenth CD for Sony Records, The SpongeTones rock harder than ever, playing their long catalog of original material and outdoing many “tribute” bands with their “incredibly dead-on covers” of classics by The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The Yardbirds and others. Thorne estimates that The SpongeTones have 500 to 600 songs in their repertoire.

“We’re a lot different than most bands out there. We try to put all those nuances in those cover songs,” said Thorne. “We try to be as accurate as possible with the arrangements and the sounds.”

After talking with their friends and occasional co-conspirators Cruis-O-Matic who played the inaugural P.B. Scott’s Reunion, Thorne said that he and his bandmates can’t wait to take the stage on May 12.

“It’s going to be fun at Canyons,” said Thorne. “We are very happy to be a part of this reunion show.”

As with last year’s P.B. Scott’s Reunion, Kelly will be armed with P.B. Scott’s t-shirts, including the much-requested long sleeve shirts with the band names extending down the arm. Prizes will again be awarded to those sporting original P.B. Scott’s t-shirts in categories including most tattered but wearable, best preserved, worst fitting and more. The top winner overall will receive $100.

“So many familiar faces came out and stayed up past their bedtime last year,” said party organizer and High Country Press Publisher Ken Ketchie. “We want to see all those people and more for this year’s party.”

Call Canyons for more P.B. Scott’s Reunion info at 828-295-7661.

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday, May 12
Time: 10:00 p.m.
Location: Canyons
Cost: $5