Published: June 22, 2009 02:56 pm      

CONCERT SERIES: Lockport natives among openers

A group of Lockport natives will be among the opening bands at the first of this year’s Molson Canal Concert Series events.

Bearhunter, featuring Lockport’s own David Calos, Robert Pusateri and Mike Calos, are one of three bands opening for Rusted Root on Friday.

They will be joined by New Clear Fusion and the Steve Johnson Band, both of Buffalo.

“We all grew up in Lockport, so it’s pretty exciting for us to come back and play,” Pusateri said.

The band, signed to the record label Harvest Sun, has released one self-titled album and plans to release a second album later this year. They play mostly in and around Buffalo, Pusateri said.

The setlist during the Friday show will be half from their already-released album, and half from their upcoming release, he said.

On Bearhunter’s MySpace page, they list their influences as bands like Pavement, Modest Mouse, The Shins, Radiohead, Nirvana, The White Stripes and Queens of the Stone Age.

Pusateri said that while Rusted Root are “a little bit more of a jam band,” the members of Bearhunter are still excited to play with them.

All three members see the concert series as a good thing for Lockport, he said.

“We were talking about this last year,” he said. “We were saying, ‘What a great thing it would have been if they had these going on when we were in high school, or middle school. Especially for kids looking for something to do on a Friday night.”

Another of the openers on Friday, New Clear Fusion, features a larger ensemble.

The band includes Melissa Munno on lead vocals, Ray Barry on guitar and vocals, Shawn Duchscherer on guitar and vocals, Wade Benford on keyboards and vocals, Jim Levinthal on drums, Tad Dziekonski on trumpet, Corey Byrd on trombone and Ian Kelley on bass, vocals, harmonica and percussion.

The band mixes jazz, fusion, funk, rock and soul music.

On their MySpace page, they list their influences as Derek Trucks, Jerry Garcia, The Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, The Beatles, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich, Pat Metheny, Ween, Zappa and Phish, among others.

The Steve Johnson Band features Johnson on lead vocals and guitar, Amanda Barton on vocals and fiddle, Steve Davis on keyboards and vocals and Daniel Witherspoon on drums.

The indie band’s diverse musicians play songs with a foundation in folk, funk, roots rock, gospel and bluegrass. They have opened for Rusted Root in the past, along with bands like 10,000 Maniacs, The Wailers and Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians.

Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.