Last night, under the blue lights of the stage at downtown bar The Playground, three unassuming gentlemen settled in and took the patrons of the venue on a bluesy classic rock journey featuring a mix of jam rock style originals and old school covers.  Armed only with a pair of acoustic guitars and an acoustic percussion arrangement, Augusta band Paraphernalia made a loud noise all its own.

Lead by lead vocalist/guitarist Pete Boyzuick and rounded out by guitar whiz JohnJohn Berret and new percussionist  Mike Dansevicus (yeah I couldn’t pronounce 2/3 of the last names either), Paraphernalia is an oddity on the Augusta music scene.  Not quite rock, not quite blues, not quite jazz, and even not quite avante garde, Paraphernalia is a unique bastardized conglomeration of all that and more.  With original songs featuring lyrics along the lines  of “faded like watercolors in the rain” tossed about with covers by the likes of Bob Dylan and Frank Zappa Paraphernalia is definitely not your same old band.  Even the classic rock instrumental “Pipeline” takes an out of this world turn in the grasp of the band.    Perhaps the band’s “out of Augusta” roots could have a bit to do with their different musical flavor.  Boyzuick hails from New York while Berret spent his formative years in Maryland.  Wild eyed southern boys these guys ain’t!  Even new addition Dansevicus speaks with an accent that hints of northern origin.

No matter the location of the band’s roots, Paraphernalia is a unique group on the Augusta scene and one well worth checking out.  If you find yourself in the mood for a band that will take you on a musical journey, then Paraphernalia is that band.