Side Hustle Band to revive the bustle Saturday
Stallions Bar and Eatery in Arawata St is looking to reignite the Te Awamutu music and entertainment scene, as people are shaking off the effects of the lockdowns, and getting on with life again.
This includes hosting the Side Hustle Band who play a wide range of genres including rock, pop, funk and, most importantly, well-loved covers that you might not have heard for a while.
The Side Hustle members are mostly from the Waikato rural region, close and local to Te Awamutu.
This will be the start of many nights of live music action and entertainment at Stallions, after trying to kick off in January with a night of rock before Covid slowed the process down.
Close to the main street and a purpose-built venue, Stallions, originally the Rose & Thorn Bar, was a go-to place for touring bands in the 1980s.
The Side Hustle Band made their debut in the Waikato in May 2020 and have been a part of the Waikato pub music scene since then.
How it came about:
When lead singer Steve Cox, after many years, reconnected in 2019 with a guitarist colleague, the two shared a goal to become one of the best covers bands in the Waikato region.
After many months and searching for key members, the band began rehearsals as Side Hustle in early 2020, effectively establishing a repertoire to match its main mission. The band members are scattered throughout the Waikato region.
Steve says being a part of the Side Hustle Band and its ambitions is what motivates them to deliver.
Steve grew up in a musical family with a jazz guitarist father who later went on to play bass for Peter Posa, The NiteBeats, Red
Hewitt and The Bucanneers (1960-1970s Auckland).
Steve began playing bass at 14, eventually jamming with local musicians and bands, before heading to Australia from 1981-1994.
In Melbourne, Steve played bass for blues/soul bands, including rock covers band Partners in Crime, alongside drummer Jeff Denny from Strange Tenants, acknowledged as the godfathers of the Ska movement in Australia in the 1980s. On returning to New Zealand, Steve undertook vocal training and began singing, forming his own covers band Velocity. The band finished in 2000.
After a long hiatus, Steve was approached to perform at an event in 2018. This opportunity reignited Steve’s passion for music and performance, and led to reuniting with a previous fellow guitarist.
Backing vocals and part lead vocalist Fiona “FiFi” has been singing all her life and has a range of genres that she enjoys performing, including classical, blues, ballads and rock. Beginning in a choir at age 6, she rapidly gained the ability to harmonise, which, over the years, became her speciality in providing backing vocals.
At 18, FiFi won the Female Vocalist Award at the Gold Guitar
Awards, New Zealand’s biggest and most prestigious country music event. She has continued her experiences in choral works, including solo performances.
She has also had the privilege of singing with the Waikato Rivertones Chorus, New Zealand’s chorus acapella champions, twice travelling with them to the US to represent New Zealand on the Sweet Adelines International competition stage.
FiFi joined Side Hustle as a backing vocalist in January 2020.
New Zealand-born and Japanraised drummer Coleman “Coles” began drumming at 13, inspired by his favourite Beatle — Ringo Starr.
Coleman has played in pop/ rock bands ever since, performing in bars, music festivals, on cruise ships and television.
Bass player Aaron loves playing funk, disco and classic rock. He was born into a musical family with a big inspiration being his dad, a multi-instrumentalist who specialises in piano, the first instrument Aaron picked up at age 10.
Aaron has filled in as a bass player with 2 Dollar Jugs and Who Da Funk! But being a part of Side Hustle is nostalgic to him as many of the songs they play were songs he loved growing up.
Guitarist, bassist, pianist and composer Caylen performs for a wide range of visual media and has had the privilege of working with accomplished musicians from around the world.
Caylen studied music at the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) where he was a student of worldfamous jazz instructor Jody Fisher and Tariqh Akoni (musical director for Josh Groban).
Caylen has worked with Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, Elton John, George Duke, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston and many others. He worked as a session musician in Los Angeles.
Harp and keys player Derek “Haggis” started his musical life as trumpet player. However, life had other ideas, and after jamming with local bands on harmonica, Haggis ended up touring much of Australia as Elwood in a Blues Brothers tribute show.
Over the years Haggis has earned a reputation as an innovative and widely versatile harmonica player.
Side Hustle Band play Stallions Bar and Eatery this Saturday, 8.30pm onwards.