Thunder at the pump
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You better come ready to dance when country act Kentucky Thunder rolls into Sandusky Oct. 21 for a show at The Pump Bar & Grille.
"We have a good time out there," guitarist Brad Gendics said. "They have some pretty good crowds there, too. It's a lot of fun. It's a neat little place and kind of takes me back to some of the gigs I used to play when I went to Bowling Green State University and we'd play a lot of those places out in the rural areas."
Formed in 1995, Kentucky Thunder is one of Northern Ohio's most active cover acts, performing more than 120 shows annually. Normally featuring four 45-minute sets, the Lorain-based quartet - Gendics, his brother Scott Gendics (bass), Tyler Lee (drums) and Hank Meadows (vocals/guitar) - focuses on top 40 country with 150 songs in its repertoire.
While today's hit-makers such as Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, Toby Keith, Blake Shelton, Montgomery Gentry, Alan Jackson and more receive the lion's share of attention, the outfit also is capable of kicking out more traditional tunes from the likes of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings and Johnny Cash.
They've been known to play a few Southern rock tunes from Lynyrd Skynyrd to the Georgia Satellites. One song that always gets the crowd jumping and fills up the dance floor is Trace Adkins' smash hit "Honky Tonk Badonkadonk."
"We'll play requests," Gendics laughed, "if we know them."
The band also has a few originals - "Just to Have You Around" and "Home Away From Home" - that fall into the up-tempo traditional country mold.
In addition to playing in Kentucky Thunder, Gendics is co-owner of Ron Zehel Guitar Center stores, where he's also an instructor.
"I don't know if I'd even call it a day job," said Gendics. "I think I'm pretty lucky to own my own business and do what I do."
It's this fun-loving vibe that invariably permeates Kentucky Thunder's live performances, which is why Gendics said the show in Sandusky will be a festive affair.
"It's a pretty up-tempo show," Gendics said. "That's what we're trying to do. We keep people happy and keep them on the dance floor all night long. I think they'll have a great time."
Kentucky Thunder
WHEN: 9 p.m. Oct. 21
TICKETS: The Pump bar & Grille, corner of Strub Road and Ohio 4, Perkins Township
INFO: 419-621-1041 or www.kentuckythunder.com
John Benson likes to dance. He's especially good at "The Chicken Dance." E-mail him at jbenson@funcoast.com.
