The SKEETERZ

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The SKEETERZ
Who says good things don't come from the swamp?
2005-12-08
Article Written by: Dan Lang

After a long friendship back in the mid eighties, two High School friends parted ways, only to reunite 15 years later to form one of Central Florida 's hottest original bands - The Skeeterz.

After graduation, Dave Ware (Bass Guitar/Back Vocals,) joined the army and was relocated to California . Years later, after Dave had served his country, he found himself missing his friends and family, so he returned home and reunited with his childhood friend, Jeffrey Sapp (Lead Vocals/Guitar.) The two rekindled their friendship and their musical relationship. While Dave was hard at work relearning the bass guitar, Jeffrey set out to find a drummer and a lead guitar player.

After searching countless classified ads, Jeffrey came across an ad from a drummer that had just moved with his family to Daytona Beach , and was looking for an original music project. After sending an email to Dan Lang that basically said, "YOU NEED TO BE OUR DRUMMER!" Dan answered the call and joined the yet nameless band.

Still searching for a lead guitar player, the three began work on songs that had been written by Dave and Jeffrey over the years. The band worked on their music at a place that was affectionately referred to as "The Budio." The Budio was a barn on Jeffrey's property that was transformed into a hang out and rehearsal space for the band.

One night while the band was practicing, a neighbor that had lived down the block from Jeffrey for the last 3 years ( Mike Fisher ) heard the band playing and took notice. Mike was a guitar player originally from West Virginia , who had also relocated to Florida some years back. It just so happens that Mike was looking for a project. The next day Mike approached Jeffrey about an audition and the rest is history. Mike Fisher joined the band and the four worked on perfecting their set and writing new music. Then the band came up with their name: "Datdamban." (A play on the words, That Damn Band.)

Convinced that they were ready, the band entered themselves in a radio-hosted battle of the bands to be held at a club called The Crossroads in Mount Dora . Jeffrey wanted to get a tape of the band's music to the club owner, but didn't want to do it in the traditional way. Jeffrey insisted that he bring the tape to the owner personally, and then he persuaded the club owner to listen to their music right then and there. As I mentioned before, Jeffrey had the music on a cassette tape, and the club did not have one tape player in it. Jeffrey took the owner outside and made him listen to the tape in his car. Upon hearing the band, the club owner pulled Jeffrey aside and said, "I love the music, but I hate the band name. Change it." It seemed that this club owner was determined to take the band under his wing and help in any way he could.

With the club owner's help and direction, the band returned to Crossroads a couple of months later, to open for the Southern Rock All Stars, (a band that consisted of former members of Molly Hatchet , Blackfoot and Lynyrd Skynyrd ,) with a new name: The Skeeterz . This was a huge opportunity for the relatively new band, and they took full advantage of it. This was some of the guys' first exposure to a ‘Big Time' music business show, and some of the night's events took them by surprise. For instance, almost as soon as The Skeeterz started their set, the management team from the club started to rush them off of the stage. Not about to be hurried off stage, Jeffrey continued and completed the band's set, and in the process, he gained a lot of respect from his band mates for standing firm and being a true leader.

In October of 2003, Dan moved on to other projects and was replaced by a drummer named Bo Lane . Bo was a North Carolina native who was looking to relocate to Florida . After some persuading, Bo accepted the position as the band's new drummer and moved to Daytona Beach .

With him on board, the band entered the studio and recorded a 5 track CD with a special song on it called, " Is This The Monsters." It was an ode to the Monsters In The Morning radio show on Real Radio 104.1FM and it parodied the cast of the morning crew. The song was entered in the Miss Monster Band of the year contest, and after all the phone and online votes were counted The Skeeterz song was dubbed, " Monster Band Of The Year " for 2004.

Mike Fisher left the band soon after the Miss Monster Contest and was replaced by Matt Williams , a guitar virtuoso from Ocoee , Florida . The band lost no steam as they played Real Rock 101.1FM's Native Noise , two shows at the Hard Rock Live , a radio interview and concert with 95.7FM The Hog's The Scene , and Brother Love's show as well as several appearances at the Monster shows. The Skeeterz coined the phrase, "you never know when a Skeeterz will get ya," which is appropriate because the band has become well-known for showing up just about anywhere, at anytime, ready to rock. It might be before a Jacksonville Jaguar game or at a live radio remote in a parking lot somewhere. For their best-known stunt to date, the band showed up at the radio station's studio on Halloween, dressed up as another well-known Florida band, Grumpy*.

The band has endured still more lineup changes, including the band's new drummer Ed Williams (who also plays drums for Frogwater,) and new lead guitar player Paul Canzoneri . The premise of the Skeeterz will never change, though: Have fun and when you're done, have some more. For more information on The Skeeterz, you can visit www.theskeeterz.com or www.myspace.com/theskeeterz . If the band is new to you, all you have to do is come out to one of their shows. Their high energy, fun-loving attitude will make you a fan. Just be careful not to get too Rednekked.

The band is currently touring as one of the three bands in the lineup, (the lineup is The Skeeterz, Frogwater and Voodoo Hodown ,) for Swamp Jam 2005 . Jeffrey Sapp created Swamp Jam, and the website probably says it best:

"Swamp Jam is a concept thought up to create a full spectacle of lights and music, non-stop, from band to band, for complete entertainment. No intermissions, no waiting for bands to set up and breakdown! The production features 3 of the biggest names in "Swamp Rock/Metal" in the Central Florida area, each with their own unique southern-style of rock and metal. See the transformation from band to band without stopping the live music! Eventually all 11 members of all 3 bands jamming together on stage! A swamp never stops, so neither should the music. THIS, IS SWAMP JAM . "

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