Saturday Headliner: Hi Infidelity
Saturday from 8-10pm
Over the last several years, Hi Infidelity has been playing to large audiences at festivals and clubs throughout the Chicagoland area, building an impressive fan base along the way. The band has enjoyed great success during that span, being voted Best Rock Band and Best Male Front (vocalist) from 2002-2004 in Suburban NiteLife Magazine’s Best of the ’Burbs contest.
Hi Infidelity, consisting of Virgil Neace, Brad Hollands, Gary Scofield, Jim Warren, Dave Mikulskis and Bobby Scumaci, remains a strong force in the Chicago cover band market, boasting capacity crowds at venues such as Walter Payton’s Roundhouse in Aurora, Chicago City Limits in Schaumburg, Starbusters in DeKalb, The Lodge at Four Lakes in Lisle and 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park.
With a live CD, new DVD and a CD of original material on the way, the band will spread its wings and continue to generate great music for its fans across the Chicagoland area into 2007 and beyond!
Dave Mikulskis: Lead Vocals - There were two things that mattered to Dave growing up as a boy in the 70s; baseball and music. Not much has changed since then as those things still make up a big part of his life. Cursed with being a Cub fan, he thought he’d better pursue music, turning his angst into something positive. With musical influences including, The Beatles, Foreigner, Boston, Journey, Styx, Ricahrd Marx, Survivor and Elton John, Dave has spent his time listening, learning and taking little bits from each one of these rock and roll legends to become the musician he is today. His contemporary influences include, Train, Maroon 5 and the wave of new country music, including Keith Urban and Brooks and Dunn.
With the gift of perfect pitch and the tremendous ability to mimic rock’s predecessors, he also puts the ability to play piano and guitar on his resume. As far as baseball goes, nothing beats being at the old ballpark, except being up on stage.
Virgil Neace: Guitars/Vocals - Virgil, co-founder of Hi Infidelity, has been playing guitar for over 30 years. In addition to his collection of over 50 guitars, he also possesses a vast library of music CDs and videos ranging from AC/DC to ZZ Top. It also features some of rock’s greatest guitar legends, of which, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh and Neal Schon have been the most influential. When day breaks, Virgil heads to Dominick’s and takes his place as the meat department manager where he’s worked for 29 years. In addition to his fancy fretwork, he also plays the harmonica and is an avid sports fan watching the White Sox, Bulls, Bears and Blackhawks any chance he gets.
Gary Scofield: Guitars/Vocals - The first time Gary picked up a guitar was in the 4th grade. But, it wasn’t until his band won the 8th grade talent contest and he was dating the three hottest girls in school that made him think, “This is something I can do!” His early influences include The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Boston. He’s been playing in bands since junior high but lists Snap Shot and EYZ as his most successful former bands. An Illinois Entertainer review designated EYZ as the “next band to make it from the Chicago scene.” His hobbies include riding his Harley, collecting guitars and maintaining his collection of over 5,000 Hot Wheels that he’s been accumulating since elementary school. He also has almost 50 guitars and too many amps to count!
Brad Hollands: Bass Guitar/Vocals - Buddha started his musical career in 5th grade, playing the coronet in his elementary school band. It was shortly thereafter that he began playing the bass guitar, forming his first rock band in 7th grade. Having played in several bands prior to co-founding Hi Infidelity, Brad developed the stage presence he brings each and every night. His rendition of ZZ Top’s La Grange often brings the house down more than any other song on the play list. His deep voice is deceiving, however, as he provides many of the bands high harmonies. Listed among his hobbies are getting tattoos (he’s the resident Illustrated Man), riding his Harley, fishing and bowling, where he carries over a 200 average! He also writes and performs original songs with friends, just for fun.
Jim Warren: Drums/Vocals - Having played in clubs since the age of 17, Jim is no stranger to the music scene. He remembers being told by the club owners not to be anywhere near the bar and if the cops came in, he would have to hide in the kitchen. Fortunately, he had plenty of drums to hide behind. While he may not have been seen, he was always heard. Jim continues this tradition by laying down the foundation of the band with his solid rhythms and powerful drum fills. You can also hear him lend his voice to the mega harmonies of the band, as well as singing lead on a few tunes. A member of Hi Infidelity since 1999, Jim also plays in The Core, an Eric Clapton tribute band. He plays Yamaha Maple Custom drums, Zildjian cymbals, Vic Firth sticks and uses Shure microphones.
Bobby Scumaci: Keyboards/Vocals - Born into a family of musicians and performing by the age of 10, Bobby has spent a lifetime surrounded by music. He is an accomplished musician, prolific songwriter, studio owner and producer. In other words, he’s the quintessential career musician. His credits include 10 years on the road with classic rock legend and Hall of Famer, Dave Mason (Traffic), appearances with Spencer Davis, Edgar Winter, Gary Wright, Mick Fleetwood, Al Di Meola and many others. Bobby has also composed original scores for a number of video games and films and his dynamic and enduring career as an artist has been an education that only the experience itself could provide. Bobby’s laid back style, quick fingers and vocal ability have given the band a dimension that can be seen on stage during performances. He’s extremely happy to be a part of the Hi Infidelity family and promises that one day soon, he’ll be bringing the band over to Mama Scumaci’s for some pasta and braccioli, Sicilian-style.
