Sue Prodell
Sue has been singing, playing, and writing songs for over 20 years. Raised by transplanted Iowans, she grew up in sunny Fredonia, Wisconsin, which is almost but not quite the same thing as SUNY Fredonia, because that’s in New York, which is the only notable difference; also resembling but not equivalent to Freedonia from the 1933 Marx Brothers film Duck Soup.
She lives in Madison with her nifty husband and two lovable Labradors.
Thomas Burns
Thomas Burns has been playing some instrument or other since he first studied slide whistle and pinecone shaker with Seth “Rutabaga” Collins in his hometown of Gnawbone, Kentucky. He played bars and coffee houses professionally for several years on both coasts before hitting it big in Gatlinburg, Tennessee opening for the automated Elvis at the wax museum.
When wallowing in the decadence of fame began to overwhelm him, Thomas decided to get a real job. Thomas is a songwriter of no repute. He did, however, have some success with the songwriter contests sponsored by the Madison Songwriter’s Group. In 2005 he took Honorable Mention in the Jazz/Instrumental category. In 2004, he took third place in the Jazz/Instrumental category. In 2003, he won first place in the Country category and second place in the Bluegrass category; and in 2002 he took 2nd place in the Country category. So, as you can see, his songwriting skills have progressively deteriorated over the years. He is hoping to continue that streak by not only coming in last place, but also by being asked please not to submit any more entries to that particular songwriting contest. He’s looking forward to it. He lives in Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin with his adorable wife and two adorable children.
Occasional and Past Members
We’ve passed the 5 year mark, which, as you probably know, is a long time for a band. Heck, four days is a long time for a band. We’ve known bands that couldn’t survive their first Saturday-night-gig-for-tips. We’ve had some interesting people play with us, and some friends come and go, and here’s homage to a few of them:
Marty Coonen, drums, June, 2008 to January, 2009:
From his original bio: Marty was born, appropriately enough, somewhere between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers while his parents were fleeing some sort of political oppression. His given name, Mwenemutapa, roughly translated means ‘Sandals without socks is better than the alternative’.
His is a punishing life. He runs and bikes and races all while carrying his drum kit on his back; which, while handicapping him considerably, does allow him the luxury of being able to play no matter where he is. He picked up the guitar just before moving to South America for a couple of years, a couple of years ago. Be sure to ask him for his rendition of ‘Brandy’. It’s the sailor in him . . . he can’t help it.
What he’s doing now: Marty lives in Illinois. We do not hold that against him. He is also a lawyer. We don’t hold that against him either. We don’t get to see him near as often as we’d like… which means. . . uh. . . well. . . never, really. We’re hoping he comes north some day soon to sit in on a show.
Mark Goad, percussionist, March, 2006 to March 2008:
From his original bio: He enjoys playing with Suzy and Tommy and sees a bright future ahead. ‘We have as much fun practicing as we do playing out, that seldom happens in a band’.
What he’s doing now: You might be able to catch him at Johnson’s Gentleman’s Club in Biloxi, Mississippi. He recently joined up with Desiree’ (a real professional dancer, whose motto: ‘Art and tips and hips and lips and dips and slips and art’ is in prominent display during her runway act. So is she.). If you’re passing through the Delta, be sure not to miss this one.
Kevin McConeghey, harmonica, March, 2005 to February, 2006:
From his original bio: Kevin got bitten by rock and roll and blues when he was 6 years old and first heard it on the radio. The sound of the harmonica grabbed him from the first time he heard it. He has been playing harp since high school,
What he’s doing now: He has been spotted at a David Bromberg concert at the Barrymore recently, and at a coffee shop on Madison’s West Side. He hadn’t cut his hair as far as those two spottings can attest. He still has an authentic Pakistani accent and uses it frequently to sing along with Lucinda Williams records.
