This local band retired in 2020. With a few changes, they're making a comeback this summer
The local coterie of live music fans felt a vacuum when one of the most popular bands, Classified, stepped off the stage for the final show a few years back.
But nature — and music — abhors a vacuum.
With that maxim in mind, in August 2022 some former members of the now defunct Classified, drummer/vocalist Larry Desiato and trumpeter/vocalist Scott Rutledge, decided to take matters into their own hands.
“Larry and I had talked about it since Classified ‘retired’ in early 2020. I guess we felt like it was time,” recalls Rutledge. “The music scene was really starting to come back strong and we felt like there was still a good chance for us to do something special.”
The pair recruited a stellar band consisting of Joe Karwacki (bass); Frank Talerico (keyboards); Bill Mirgo (guitar) and a rotating triumvirate of monster sax players made up of Darryl Sleszynski, Seth Carper, and Tony Greene.
Unfortunately, just as they were about to hit, tragedy intervened with Mirgo’s tragic passing in April, and the fledgling band took a break to grieve and catch their collective breaths.
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“We stopped booking dates until we could find the right guy to step in for Bill,” explained Scott. “He really was a truly amazing musician and filling his shoes would be no small task.”
Finally Michael Bell Meinert signed on the fill the slot, and Groove Machine was ready to take the stage.
One item of particular interest will be the return of Mr. Desiato to his chosen office behind the drum kit after spending most of his time with Classified out in front. Larry was so prevalent as a frontman, many may have forgotten that he was one of top drummers in the area, with stints with bands like Preacher, Dr. Q, Airtime, and C.O.D.
“Larry was the original drummer for Classified, and many other great bands, so it’s really his lifelong passion,” Rutledge points out. “People will absolutely be loving seeing him drive this band.”
With the varied musical backgrounds of the members – with time spent in rock bands, jazz bands, symphonies, cruise ships, church choirs – it should be expected that the repertoire will be varied, and that expectation is fulfilled.
Any given night is likely to find you listening to tunes by Steely Dan, Paul McCartney, Huey Lewis and the News, the Eagles, Santana, Stevie Wonder, Billy Joel, the Romantics or Spandau Ballet.
So the question becomes, will Classified fans be satisfied with the new iteration? Scott Rutledge assures us the answer is a resounding “yes.”
“They can expect to know much of our setlist, and to be pleasantly surprised by a good bit of it as well,” Scott promises. “They'll be able to dance to a lot of our book, and they'll hear a band that knows how to have a blast and throw a party.”
The next public date for Groove Machine will be at DeMatteo’s in Rome on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 6-9 p.m.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Groove Machine brings familiar faces back to Mohawk Valley stage
