Patrick Sidell

Lead Vocals, Guitar

I 've been playing guitar for about 30 years and have always perfered acoustic guitars. I started looking for and found true ringing sound in Bluegrass music. Then began to experiment with alternate tunings, finding more sounds. I have sat in with several local bands through the years but now have found a group of guys that all get along and share the same goals. We as a band, have alot of fun. I am truly blessed! Influnced by all the Masters from many genras, my current favorite is Warren Haynes.

It's hard to say what guitar I like best. I play a Martin J-40 on Deep Down Inside for the mid range punch it delivers. I think the taylor 710ce limited delivers a pleasing tone and has outstanding playability. For my role in "Dog House", I find the Ep Sheridan (autographed by the ledgendary Johnny Winter) and my 52 tele played thru a Fender Deville gives me all the range and sounds I need. Dog House has the chemstry to provoke many original tunes that we feel will set our sound apart and harken your senses to that familiar inner drive called the Blues. Our first full CD is coming soon!

Paul Nelson

Lead Guitar, Vocals

I started playing at age of 11, and was immediately interested in the Blues. My interest in music is founded and influenced by great musicians like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, and B. B. King. These musical greats have helped to develop my style.

"With a pure and natural style of playing, Paul had one of his songs featured on WMMR Radio. His musical "Heart of Blues" has made his performances memorable with groups like Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, and Steppenwolf and at venues like Sovereign Bank Arena and others. He has made appearences at New Jersey, Philadelphia, Delaware and New York area clubs, in a group called Paul Nelson and the Hot Lickin Blues. This further molded Paul's style."

Now paired up with Drummer John Porsia, Bass player Tom Richards, Keyboardist Benny Bonaventura and Blues Vocalist Pat Sidell, I am able to play like never before. Our new group called "Dog House" is reaching new heights every time we get together.

John Porsia

Drums, Percussion

I started playing at the age of 15. Influenced by jazz and rock music by drummers like Buddy Rich , Gean Kopper, and other greats, plus great teachers. In less then a year, I auditioned and was asked to join a Las Vegas lounge act with two brothers and sister who, along with there manager, thought that such a young drummer would be a great addition to there act. However, due to my parents worries, I was not able to go.

"John played in local bands and by 17 was playing in local Philadelp[hia Jazz bands. After being drafted for 2 years of active duty in the Army he returned home and worked in construction but in a year enrolled into COMBS COLLAGE of MUSIC in Philadelphia. He left school after 2 years to tour around the East coast with several bands from school and the local area. Buddy Rich's interest was peaked with John's performance at the Electric Factory and on several demos. Buddy thought John was one of the best rock drummers he had heard."

Now single with three grown daughters, I am excited to be performing in the area with "Dog House".

Benny Bonaventura

Keyboard

I started playing Organ at age 14 and studied under Walter Jeffreys, a well-known Jazz Organist in the south Jersey area. I formed my first Band "The B J Trio" at 16 and played weddings and banquets. At 19, I joined the Air Force and played in a Soul Band for 2 years and played in military clubs and local hotel lounges on the island of Guam.

"After His Service Time in 1975 he played in a popular band playing Big Band and Ballroom Dance Music in places like the Wilmington, and Dupont Country Clubs, and many of the country clubs and banquet rooms through out the Tri State Area. In 1978 he moved to Clearwater Fl. He played in a few bands and landed a gig with a dance band and backed up a county singer playing in all the fraternal organizations around the Clearwater area. By 1988 he formed his own dance band. For the next 10 years, he played in many of the Dance Ballrooms and Country Clubs through out the Clearwater and Tampa Bay area. His style and dance beat had generated a following of fans until 1998 when he moved back to the South Jersey area."

He played with the Browns Blues Band in 2006 playing local clubs in the Wilmington area. Now, steppin up to jam with the solid Blues / Rock "Dog House Band" I dig all kinds of musical styles.

Tom Richards

Bass Guitar

Tom has played in bands most of his life, starting with a Beach Boys cover band in the early 60’s. But growing up in suburban New York, it was the music of the Fillmore East that really turned him on. "Hendrix, Jeff Beck, The Who, Led Zeppelin – I saw them and lots more at the Fillmore," he says. While attending The Woodstock Music & Arts Festival in 1969, his music style was "nailed down."

Tom has explored blues and R&B, and spent most of his life following the that style music or wherever music led him. "There are two kinds of music," Tom says: "good music and bad. Fortunately, in Dog House, we always play the first kind."

Story of The Dog House Band

Date 03-01-2008

Dog House started about two years ago when a mutual friend of Paul Nelson introduced him to a couple of Delaware Blues players. Paul came to my home and brought his drummer John Porsia (JP) along with him. After some introductory beers we strapped on and the magic was born. Paul was watching closely as I worked my Martin J-40 acoustic for most of the night. Singing and playing for nearly three hours straight, we were all grooving. Knowing that we wanted to continue, Paul and JP quickly mentioned that they were booked for three gigs and wanted us to join them! At the first gig, I showed up in very casual gym shorts and sneakers and we still won the crowd over.

The dust settled and we began tightening up our sound. For me, this meant I had to sing more and take a lot of advice from two guys who I didn’t know that well. That in it self was challenging. Paul was already known as Paul Nelson and the Hot Licking Blues but that changed slightly to Paul Nelson’s Blues Band. As things progressed, I listened more and more to JP and began to realize he wouldn’t stop till I applied some of what he was saying. So I tried a couple things... and a couple more... and started to understand how to take advantage of the stronger aspects of my voice. I will always be thankful for his help. (not bad for a drummer)

We set a goal of 100 songs, and after a few months we had them. However, something was missing. That first night we sparked and knew when things were new; they in turn were fun. So I busted out an original song I wrote about three years prior and threw it into the mill. The band ate it alive and “Deep Down Inside” was born. Along with two or three of Paul’s originals we gained confidence and the fun was back.

I decided to ask the band to record professionally for several reasons. One was to work together on a higher level of audience enthusiasm. The second was to copyright our originals and be entered into song contests. We entered “Deep Down Inside” and out of over two thousand entries from five countries, we placed in the top 40 at #34!!! It is still found on the net at vision4music.com. We continued to gig in Philly and wanted to start hitting some spots in Delaware, so we did. At this time we were going by Paul Nelson and Whirlwind. Then that changed to just Whirlwind. I’m not sure how it changed, but the Band decided to be henceforth known as “Dog House.” It just made sense for our Blues Band.

Authored by Patrick Sidell
4-13-2008

The Band like all bands had to overcome some adversity in personnel changes. We first tapped Bass player Burnie Houtt for this effort. He brought a lot of energy to the band and contributed equally with his vocal ability. Unfortunately his sound company demanded more time then he planned so he bowed out after a short while. Dog House wishes him all the best!

Enter Tom Richards. Tom wowed us within minutes. He immediately filled the rhythm section with very strong, smooth bass lines. Through out the 4 hr audition we covered a variety of genera’s and also hit on our original music, like we had been together for ten years. Tom also brings a great lead and backup vocal ability that enables us to continue three part harmonies.

Our focus is to get working and share our gift of music Dog House style and push for a new CD release by this summer.