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Letter to the editor

They've still got the music in them

Day jobs don't get in the way of picking up a gig or two.

By Amy Scherzer Times Staff Writer
Published October 26, 2007

The band "Full Circle" practices Van Morrison's 'Brown Eyed Girl' at a recent Wednesday night practice session in a rented garage. Guitarists from left are Mitch Stallings, Dan Whitaker, Tim Hunt and Pete Jordan. On drums is Chris Voll. Video: Full Circle plays 'Brown Eyed Girl'
	[Brendan Watson | Times photo]

Hey, hey, my, my. Rock and roll will never die.

More to the picture than meets the eye. Hey, hey, my, my.

- Neil Young, from the album, Rust Never Sleeps

****

Long hair is long gone. Hearing's going next, after years of ear-busting rock concerts. The set list is printed out in giant type to read without bifocals.

But members of Full Circle, a five-man band of rock and rollers, are having the time of their lives playing yacht club parties, school fundraisers and charity events like Saturday's Brew Ha Ha benefit for Bolesta Center.

"I can't believe we get paid to do this," said Dan Whitaker, 48, lawyer, accountant and lead/rhythm guitarist.

"It's boys' night out," said Mitch Stallings, 49, a pharmaceutical salesman who originally joined as a drummer, then switched to his true love, bass guitar.

"Some guys play golf, we play music," he said.

The name Full Circle fits the band like an old T-shirt, tie-dyed, of course.

"After all those years, we've come full circle back to the music," said Pete Jordan, 47, lead/rhythm guitarist and South Tampa home builder. When work or family obligations take precedence, the guys who are available play as "half circle"; two play as a quarter-circle, they like to joke.

"Music has always been part of our lives," said Tim Hunt, 49, lawyer/vocalist and acoustic guitarist.

Hunt, Stallings and Jordan have been friends since their days at Plant High School. Whitaker went to Jesuit High, but they knew each other through the teen music circuit. "They couldn't get in to Jesuit," ribbed Whitaker, who played in a teen band called Kasaras.

During college, Whitaker and Hunt traveled to each other's campuses, Florida State for Whitaker; Auburn University in Alabama for Hunt, to play guitar together.

Back in Tampa, Stallings and Jordan played in a band called the Windows "We liked the Doors," said Stallings, who also played with Bridge. Jordan played with Secret Service, whose claim to fame was opening for Rod Stewart and Jefferson Starship in 1985 at Tampa Stadium.

Then reality happened. They put down their instruments to marry, start careers and raise families.

Some 15 years ago, a mutual friend asked Jordan and Whitaker to play at his wedding.

"We hit it off," Whitaker said. They invited Hunt to join them. After that, the three men spent many Saturday mornings in Whitaker's garage-turned-studio.

"After about a year of banging around, we got Mitch to come play drums," Whitaker continued. That's when they got their first job, at Mad Dogs & Englishmen, a pub on MacDill Avenue.

In 2000, drummer Chris Voll, 45, purchasing manager for a Pinellas County cable contractor, joined the band, bringing years of experience performing professionally.

His talent broadened our range, said Hunt, and sent Stallings back to bass.

"The crowds and venues got larger, including our 25th and 30th Plant High reunions."

Suddenly the band was a business, with tons of equipment - amps, speakers, lights - and employees.

"The real reason we're still together is we found people to move our equipment," said Hunt. "We have three men to load, unload, set up and break down. On the day we play, they'll start at noon and work till 3 a.m."

Most of the $2,500 to $3,000 they charge goes to the crew, insurance and rent, he said.

Soon they were being hired to play Lowry Park Zoo's glitzy Karamu gala, the SMAsquerade benefit and All Children's Hospital's Baseball for Kids dinner.

Those jobs put them on the stage with musicians they admire, including Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad, NRBQ and the Dirty Dozen Brass Band.

Former Tampa Bay Buc John Lynch and Hall of Famer Wade Boggs have booked the band for private parties.

Weddings are their least favorite gigs.

"Too stressful," Hunt said. "Too much pressure to learn the bride and groom's favorite songs.

"And we're all about volume," said drummer Jordan, "Wedding's aren't."

They usually defer to Hunt to choose from the 125 songs they know well. With a fan base ranging from baby boomers down to "20-year-olds with a lot of adult beverages," said Stallings, the band added Toad the Wet Sprocket, Barenaked Ladies, Widespread Panic and Smash Mouth to their Beatles, Rolling Stones, Monkees classics and a little Neil Young.

While they're musically hip, don't search for a Web or MySpace page. The most high-tech they get is an e-mail list of 100 names.

"We're old and inflexible," Stallings wagged.

Last month, they really felt like rock stars. Architect Walt Chancey flew them, and all their equipment, to the Bahamas to play at his 50th birthday party in Great Exuma.

"They're great guys," Chancey said. "They have a lot of fun with the crowd and get everybody dancing. They play great songs and you can't not dance."

Amy Scherzer can be reached at scherzer@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3332.

If you go:

Brew Ha Ha

Full Circle plays Saturday at the benefit for Tampa's Bolesta Center for children with hearing loss. The event takes place at the "haunted" Rutland-Farley mansion, 5030 S Sunrise Drive, St. Petersburg. Food, open bar, live music. Halloween costumes or black attire is preferred. 8 p.m. to midnight. Tickets are a $100 donation per person and can be purchased by calling (813) 932-1184, ext. 23, online at www.bolestacenter.org, or at the door. Valet parking will be available.

On the Web

To see video of Full Circle playing Brown-Eyed Girl, go to hillsborough.tampabay.com.

[Last modified October 26, 2007, 14:30:57]