As a band, the Big Cheese performs a diverse catalog of traditional and contemporary songs and musical styles, combining them so that each song can be heard in a new, sometimes upturned, way.
In other words, they take as many musical styles as they can, throw them at the wall and see what sticks. In one night they will go from a rootsy original to some coffeehouse Sinatra to toe-tapping Klezmer to Stevie Wonder and back again!
The Big Cheese is a family band plus one. Larry Rice (Father), the musical mastermind, plays fiddle, mandolin, guitar, bass guitar, vocals and banjo if need be. Shannon Rice (Daughter) is on drums, keyboards and percussion, and Lea Rice (Other Daughter) plays guitar, keyboards, banjo and sings. Rounding out our sound with her beautiful high harmony and amazing mandolin playing is Julie Greene. Shannon is away for a two-year stint in Japan as LtJG Shannon Rice, Naval Medical officer. Larry, Lea, and Julie anxiously await her return.
Larry’s musical influences are many: Otis Redding, Dwight Yoakum, Natalie McMaster, Joshua Bell, Flatbush, Charlie Daniels, Jimi Hendrix, Dixie Chicks, and Taj Mahal.
Julie's influences are Eric Clapton, Over the Rhine, Alison Krauss and Union Station, Simon and Garfunkel, The Wailin' Jennys, Trampled by Turtles, Punch Brothers, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Nickel Creek, Rosie Thomas, Sarah Jarosz
Shannon’s ideal mix tape would have songs on it by John Legend, Paul Simon, Bongo Maffin, 340 ml, Dixie Chicks, Anthony Hamilton, Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Common.
Lea Mae lists Led Zeppelin, M.I.A., John Prine, The Pogues, Roll Deep, Mitchell Brothers, Lil Wayne, the Beatles, The Who, Erykah Badu and Uncle Earl as her favorite artists.
Show starts at 8pm and, as always, is free! (tips for the musicians are accepted)
