‘Super Group’ Groove Incident makes debut in Sonoma

In the pantheon of rock and roll and its various branches, there have been several “super groups” ― bands put together with members of other well-established, successful bands.

Sometimes these musicians were assembled as an attractive business deal, sometimes just because the pot was good. The music that followed was almost always great.

Cream was perhaps the first super group; formed in 1966 with Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker. That creation was shortly followed by Crosby, Stills and Nash in 1968. The band later added “& Young” to the name when Neil Young joined in 1969.

Then came Blind Faith in 1969 with Clapton, Baker, Ric Grech, and Steve Winwood and The Highwaymen in 1985 with Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson and Waylon Jennings, followed by The Travelling Wilburys in 1988 with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty, Roy Orbison and Jeff Lynne. I’d better stop there, it’s an argument waiting to happen.

Locally, here in the Valley of the Tunes, there has always been frequent cross of bands and band members, forming new groups with great regularity. A scorecard is sometimes needed to keep track of who is playing with whom.

There is a new band in town, one I deem a local super group. Dubbed “Groove Incident,” they will make their world debut on Jan. 20 at Murphy’s Irish Pub.

This exciting new combo consists of Dave McKee on drums, Gerard Serafini on bass, Michael Noel on guitar, Cliff Zyskowsky on keys and Sue Albano providing vocals.

The players have either spent time in or are currently involved with the following local bands: McKee with Wildflower Weed and Ten Foot Tone; Noel with Ten Foot Tone and Blonde Iguana; Serafini, also Ten Foot Tone and Blonde Iguana; Zyskowski with Full Circle and Strange Daze and Albano with her own Scarlett Letters.

Serafini is the enthusiastic mastermind behind this talented group.

“Dave and I have been kicking around the idea of putting together a funk band for years,” Serafini said. “Dave, Michael and I decided to go for it. We thought Sue singing would be the perfect addition.”

Those who know Albano won’t be surprised to hear what Serafini has to say about her; “She killed it with her spark and energy!”

Playing the part of Quincy Jones, McKee reached out to the talented Zyskowski about joining the troupe. The addition of Zyskowski in Groove Incident will make for some sweet solos and undeniable soul.

The band is now a solid unit focused on the funk.

“A lot of those original songs were horn-driven or horn-accented,” Serafini said. “We put a jam band twist on it; instead of horns, we use guitar and keyboards.”

Groove Incident plays all covers, mostly from the ' 70s, according to the bass player. Songs like “Brick House,” “Superstition,” “We are Family,” and “Car Wash.”

“Pretty much classic funk songs,” Serafini said.

A set list like this is likely to fill the seats of any venue Groove Incident will play.

“These songs bring back great memories for me and I’m sure they will for others,” Albano said. “All the song lyrics were somehow carved into the hard drive of my brain so I don’t have much to think about. I can just have fun grooving behind the microphone.”

The singer mentioned she grew up in San Francisco, where “funk, soul and disco were thread sewn into the fabric of my young life.”

Catch the band at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 20 at Murphy’s Irish Pub. Throw on some bad threads, park your shagging wagon at the Plaza and head down the alley to get your groove on.