Celebrate 30 years with The Rockaholics in Rock Hill

The name says a lot. Simple and succinct, it almost tells all you need to know about The Rockaholics, celebrating 30 years together, live Saturday in the Revolutions Bar & Grille at the Rock Hill Galleria.

I talked with Lou Lambruschi, keyboard player for The Rockaholics, looking for history like his view on the band’s overall longevity. However, answering this was going to be problematic. Pausing, he revealed, “I’m the new guy,” then laughed and added, “I’ve only been in the band for about 11 or 12 years.”

Still, that’s nearly half the lifetime of the band, so he’s been there for most of the history. “As far as the anniversary being 30 years,” Lambruschi continued, “to the best that we could research, the original Rockaholics band started around 1986.” Except for Lambruschi and drummer Foster Fegarsky, who’s the other “new guy,” the rest are all original members. Those original Rockaholics include Scott Dowless, guitar/vocals; John Griffin, vocals/guitar; Donny Martin, bass; and JT Layton, guitar/keyboards/vocals.

The music they play is classic rock. “A lot of it is just core stuff: Dire Straits, Tom Petty, Doors,” Lambruschi said.

“Many come to hear expecting specific songs, but we try to keep it fresh and play a new song every gig. We include a lot of deeper cuts from classic albums from the great days of rock ’n’ roll on our song list. ... There are a couple of songs more unique, special, obscure.”

What about any big changes for the anniversary gig? “No, not really,” Lambruschi said. “We’re always bringing in new material to add to the core stuff,” citing recently added songs by Santana, David Bowie and Johnny Cash. “We want to keep rock ’n’ roll roots going but also continue growing the range of material too. We’re trying not to bore anyone,” he added with a laugh.

Another important factor is gear. “We try to do the instrumentation right, so that requires a lot of guitars and a lot of equipment. It’s a big set-up for us to play live so we can make sure we sound right, like the originals.”

Turning to the venue for Saturday’s show, Lambruschi described Revolutions, the combination bowling alley, grille and bar that’s also a relatively new live music outlet in the Rock Hill area. “It’s a really cool set up, with a dedicated stage, lighting and video that broadcasts the live band across the room. ... Live music replaces piped-in tunes, which is nice,” he said. “It’s set up so that the stage faces the bar area, and it works well.”

But it’s all about the people when The Rockaholics perform. “We see a lot of the same faces when we play live – it’s a loyal crowd, with a lot of familiar people. We get great support,” he said. “It’s cool to have a base crowd we know well, and maybe even have someone sit in with us and play – usually it’s someone we’ve known forever, and all makes for fond memories.”

Not surprisingly as a musician, Lambruschi has been part of several bands over the years. Another current project for Lambruschi is the band Spiral Eyes in the Rock Hill/Fort Mill area.

Now, back to that clever band name – The Rockaholics – and their addiction to the music. “Well, it’s crazy fun … we just can’t stop rocking,” Lambruschi offered. “We’ve been through the ‘therapy’ – it didn’t work.”

Join the commemorative festivities and musical fun with The Rockaholics live on their 30th anniversary, Saturday at Revolutions, Rock Hill Galleria, 2225 Dave Lyle Blvd. Call 803-526-7070 for show details or visit rockhill.revolutionsbowl.com. For more on the music, check therockaholics.net.

Elsewhere

Friday: Khaos Kings Acoustic at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; Sean Carrouth Solo Performance – Songwriter Showcase at Ledo Pizza, Rock Hill; Chubby Knuckles at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, Rock Hill; Hoodwinked at Empire Pizza II, Newport; Thrown Together Band at The Handle Bar Tavern, Catawba; Lakeside Drive at T-Bones on the Lake, Lake Wylie; Jody Edwards & Co. featuring Joanna Llambias at Madison’s on the Corner, Tega Cay-Fort Mill; Little Johnny Trailer Trash Acoustic at Hobo’s, Fort Mill.

Saturday: Early Ray at Luke’s Sports Bar & Grill, Rock Hill; Bryan Porter & Jackie Fallar at Original Empire, Rock Hill; The Dunder Chiefs, Sinners & Saints, Swim in the Wild, Chase Killough & High Water, Concerts in The Courtroom, Rock Hill; Jody Edwards & Co. at McHale’s on Main, Rock Hill; Wing Nuts & David Payne at Ledo Pizza, Rock Hill; Mystery Guest at T-Bones on the Lake, Lake Wylie; Donnie Honeycutt, Robert Savage at Hobo’s, Fort Mill; Ellwood City Band at Pineville Tavern, Pineville.

Sunday: Carolina Nation for Biker Sunday at The Handle Bar Tavern, Catawba.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 11:00 AM with the headline "Celebrate 30 years with The Rockaholics in Rock Hill."