NEWS4U OCTOBER 2022 | MUSIC
THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID! New tri-state dance band gets everybody moving with an irresistible, energetic set-list
S
inger TJ Tanoos is no stranger to
to life.
the Evansville music scene. As a former frontman for the city's
Tanoos first reached out
biggest ever cover band, The C.R.O.W.D.,
to Mike VanBibber, a
through to his recent stint with Tastes
ferocious guitarist who's
Like Chicken, his musical projects have
previously played with
proven to be a huge draw at tri-state bars.
Nine Stitches and Stolen
But after the latter group called it a day
Remains - both heavy
last year, the ambitious entertainer found
outfits a mile away from
himself languishing on the sidelines for a
the dancefloor; yet, the veteran scenester
spell, eager to get back in the game. And
jumped in head first. Next, former TLC
he knew just what direction to go, having
bass player Jonathan Gluff signed on.
noted that the best elements of TLC were
Unfortunately, his responsibilities with
the danceable segments of the set - the
Stackin' Eights, an in-demand southern
songs that got everybody moving. Like
rock band, became an impediment to
Ginuwine's "Pony" and virtually anything
his participation; however, he helped to
by Bruno Mars. "We would sequence
land a fantastic drummer for Tanoos in
those songs so they sounded full - not
the form of Jeremy Lewis. And the open
just with guitar, bass and drums but with
bass position was quickly filled by Nick
all the bells and effects because we were
Wildeman, former player with Bombshell
playing to a click track," Tanoos explains.
- the Rock Show! That left only a vacancy
"We saw how much that worked more than
for a female vocalist - the key piece to the
anything else." Then he asked himself a
puzzle. Tanoos' girlfriend, Denise Adams,
simple question: What would I want to
suggested Lakyn Kingrey, her daughter's
hear if I went out to see a cover band? The
best friend. Primarily a country singer, the
aforementioned artists, of course, but also
budding talent was all ears when it came
classics by the Jackson 5, CeeLo Green,
to taking direction, easily mastering the
Journey and even Neil Diamond. With a
more pop elements of the proposed set-
danceable concept in mind, Tanoos simply
list. And her country background meant
needed to find the right mix of local
that Tanoos could broaden the appeal of
musicians to help bring his musical vision
the band, too, adding some of the biggest
Photo Credit: Mustard Seed Photography
hits out of Nashville. After a trial run at TJ's Stockyard Inn on August 5, That's What She Said! (a totally Tanoos band name) rocked KC's Time Out Lounge to the tune of 500 people a few weeks later. Then Tiki On Main a couple weeks after that - another runaway success. The dance-centric concept is clearly catching fire with the band booked twice a month through 2022 - no surprise to Tanoos who just knew this approach would have mass appeal. "You could be in an old folks home and they're going to eventually creep out of their walkers and wheelchairs and figure out how to twerk with canes to the songs we're playing." Catch That's What She Said! at KC's Time Out Lounge on October 29.
We would sequence those songs so they sounded full - not just with guitar, bass and drums but with all the bells and effects because we w e r e p l ay i n g t o a c l i c k t r a c k .
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