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Music

Meet the Band: Nessie

A look at a band with local ties.

By Times Staff Writer
Published February 1, 2007

THE BAND: Scott Harrell, vocals and guitar; Joey Neill, bass and vocals; Mark Bustin, guitar; and Ed Swain, drums.

FORTHCOMING CD: Like a Drunk With a Gun releases March 2.

ABOUT THE CD: It contains six songs and will be available on iTunes and at Daddy Kool.

MYTH BUSTER: Nessie evolved from Harrell's eclectic acoustic solo project to a full-fledged band that had a revolving door of members until a few months ago. In the beginning, the sound was more country-tinged. Influences of itinerant players, like Kamran Mir of Urbane Cowboys, fleshed Nessie out with power-pop, punk and "weird art rock."

AGES: Harrell, 34; Neill, 30; Swain, 38; Bustin, won't tell.

CLAIMS TO FAME: Harrell is a former Creative Loafing writer who played in the Joey Sunshine Band, St. Felons and Cocktail Honeys. Swain played in Closure, the Sophomore Effort, Bite Size and Spirits Down. Neill was in Red Skyline and various punk bands. Bustin is a former Hub bartender who played in Pagan Saints, Dumbwaiters, Vera Violets and Life of Pi.

CONTRIBUTIONS: "Mark's playing style is really different from mine, but it really complements it," Harrell says. "He's more of a texture guy, and I'm more of a three-chord guy. . . . Joey's probably the most melodic bass player that I've ever played with. It's a nice balance of melody and rhythm."

ITS OWN REWARD: "What a lot of the four of us have in common is when we were younger, we were more ambitious," Harrell says. "Nobody does this without thinking in the back of their head, wouldn't it be great to headline an arena or whatever? . . . I really think it gets better when you let that stuff go and that's the last thing on your mind. Then good things start to happen."

ALL ABOUT THE GOOD TIME: "We entertain ourselves as much as the people who come out to see us play," Harrell says. "We played Abbey Road (in St. Petersburg) a couple of weeks ago, and there were probably five people there we knew, but everybody loved it. I mean, at the same time, we're a bar band. We're in our element if there's beer on the floor and half the people are (drunk)."

CHECK 'EM OUT: "One for the Road: Take 2," a benefit to raise money for musicians traveling to a local music showcase in Austin, Texas, at 9 p.m. Saturday at Dave's Aqua Lounge, 10820 Gandy Blvd., St. Petersburg. $10 minimum suggested donation.

[Last modified January 31, 2007, 10:05:37]