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"Chipper Dove",
the band, the story
Registered Writers of BMI, 320 West 57th Street,
New York, NY 10019, Reg #20015959. A Smelly Egg Production Company
1997-1998 The Band Register,
65 George Street, Oxford, OX1 2BE, United Kingdom.
The History of Chipper Dove
Part I
The original band as see in the above photo were (from
L-R) Jack Reustle, Drums; Craig Dragotta, Guitar; Freddie Locke, Vocals and Michael Evans, Bass.
"Chipper
Dove" formerly "Lynex" took the name while in the middle of recording their first CD at
Big Blue Meenie Studios for Black Pumkpin. With the changing music that developed in the studio, they felt the name should
change as well. So by the end of the recording of their first CD "Power's On", Chipper Dove was born.
The
band played in many venues to try to promote their new CD. Some of those venues included the Cove, Loretta's, Connections,
CBGB's, The Rat Pack, Images, Orphan Annie's and Love Sexy's to name a few. They have had entertainment articals written about
them in local and entertainment papers. They were not really sure where they were headed, but they hoped that they were on
their way to some place.When
the CD was completed, it contained twelve tunes that were writen and performed by "Chipper Dove". It was a highly
charged CD. The Aquarian called it "Chipper Dove own cool rock sound". Of course, the guys didn't know
what that meant. They thought they were Rock and Metal.
The
History of Chipper Dove
Part II
Changes started to happen to the Dove. Still relying on their day jobs to make the mortgage, jobs started closing down forcing
Jack Reustle to work further North West Jersey, and Michael Evans to leave the state completely, relocating in Williamsburg,
Virginia.
Still determined to keep things together, Jack still booked the band as often as he could, and Michael
drove for hours up and down the coast to make show dates or to go into the studio. He became married to the road.
They had just finished a show in Flemington, NJ when Michael's back, which was injured a few years prior, finally gave
out. He knew in his heart of hearts that he was going to be out of it for some time. But time couldn't wait and neither could
the Dove.
Nick Scarano (pictured above) was brought in to Chipper Dove after
Michael had spine surgery in Virginia. Nick took the roll of bass guitarist, giving birth to generation 2 of Chipper Dove. The band continued to play venues like Baggot's Inn, Stone Pony,
Connections and The Cove, and even made a music video of "When the Weekend Comes" while Michael dove deep into writing
his own type of music. Knowing that the long road trips were done, he started performing in the Virginia Beach area while
Chipper Dove continued to work the NY and NJ scenes.
But there was still trouble brewing. The sound was going
away. The same old songs were becoming tired old song and the only way to keep it alive was to add new music.
The band added a couple cover tunes to their show, trouble was already a foot. Freddie was working vocals in another band
besides the Dove and Craig was looking into other avenues as well.
The History of Chipper Dove
Part III
As hard times struck the band, and getting work was becoming
a task for Jack. It seemed that the demand was for a stronger mix of original and cover music. Craig soon started looking
at other bands to jump into. Freddie was already there. Nick started to fade out of the picture almost as if he went into
hiding.
Jack picked up the phone
and called Michael in Virginia and announced that it was over. The band was finished. Jack had mentioned that Craig and
Freddie were no longer interested. Michael told jack to find Nick and we'll try to pick up the pieces and reform. So the
following weekend, Jack, Michael and Nick were back in Pearl Studio's in Jersey City, running over some old and new songs.
The next couple of weeks, Michael and Jack got together to rehearse, but Nick never showed up. He was done.
Jack put an ad in the local paper for a lead guitarist and got two calls. One
was Hector and the other was Dave Bandinelli. They both came to rehearsal and they both sounded great. So Jack selected
them both. This would be Chipper Dove the 3rd. Third version of the band that is.
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 Pictured above are from left to right,
Michael Evans, Jack Reustle, Hector and Dave Bandinelli.
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The History of Chipper Dove
Part IV
Chipper
Dove was getting back on its feet. Soon there after, Michael asked Jack to try to find another bass guitarist and a singer,
and if Jack didn't mind, Michael would be a fill in performer. At this point, the constant trips up and down the Eastern coast
was not only wearing his vehicle down, but him as well, not to mention his day job.
Jack told him it was
ok, but he still wanted Mikie as a part of the Dove. Jack always called Michael, Mikie. So Jack reached out again and picked
up a singer named Rene Avila, and Ruben Morales, who took over as bass player for Chipper Dove.
After getting their
show put together, their first performance came at a street carnival in Jersey City for St Ann's. The fourth version of Chipper
Dove was booked. Jack had everything he needed. Just needed to do one more thing. Call Mikie. Jack called Michael in Virginia
and told him about the show and asked him to play. So on the day of the show, Michael loaded up his guitar, and headed back
to Jersey.  (from left to right) Dave Bandinelli on guitar; Michael Evans, behind Dave, on guitar;
Rene Avila on vocals; Jack Reustle in the back on Drums; Ruben Morales on bass; and Hector, also on guitar.The band now started to think about a second CD project and set their sites on some new tunes.
But on the same note, they wanted to take some of the tunes from the first CD and re-recorded them to make them a sort of
‘up to date’ make over. They were going to sell these CD at shows and wanted to add the original tunes they had
been playing to the CD. No harm, no foul. A new sound, a new taste, but with one small change. Hector decided to move on to
another band.
Once again, Jack reaches out to find another guitarist. That’s when Joe Grano joined
the band.
The History
of Chipper Dove
Part V
With Joe in the band, the sound of the Dove was full again. So what was the next move? Simple, Jack and the guys
were composing new stuff and were ready to make a new CD. This one would mix up some old Chipper Dove tunes with some new
ones. So the project starts at Music Machine Studio in Hackensack, NJ. Chipper Dove always did their best work in the privacy
of a studio. Oh wait, did I mention that Jack had to make another phone call? Yes, he called his friend Mikie in Virginia
and asked him to make that trip again back up to NJ to put some tracks down on the new CD, oh and he told him to bring his
Sitar. Michael did just that, loaded the Sitar in his car and started out for NJ for Jack and the Dove.
(from left to right) Rene Avila,
Jack Reustle, Joe Grano, Dave Bandinelli and Ruben Morales.
Liz, Jack's wife, was
wondering all over the studio shooting some great shots of the guys while they were working. Once the band took a break, she
formed them up for a band photo. She wanted Michael in the picture, but he stayed out of the band pictures because he felt
that the main band should be featured and he was only a part time performer with the Dove now. But Liz did get a great shot
of him on the Sitar.(Photo Below)
More on "Chipper Dove" to come soon!!!
Smelly Egg was placed on-line: Sunday, May 21st, 2000 @
22:18:15
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