Patrick Sidell

Lead Vocals, Guitar

I've been playing guitar for about 30 years and have always preferred 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 a lot of fun. I am truly blessed! Influenced by all the Masters from many genres, 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 legendary Johnny Winter) and my 52 tele played thru a Fender Deville gives me all the range and sounds I need. Dog House has the chemistry to provoke many original tunes that we feel will set our sound apart and harkens 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 appearances 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.

Frank Stevenson

Drums, Percussion

My first venture into music was at age 10 when my Mom decided I should learn to play the steel guitar because it was an instrument she had always loved.So I took lessons but while I should have been practicing the steel guitar I spent all my time dragging boxes back from the Acme market and using them as drums and Moms pots and pans as cymbals. When I beat holes in the boxes it was just back to the Acme for new drums. Finally after two years of this routine my parents bought me my first drum set and were even nice enough to send me for lessons again but this time I was happy to do my practicing. I have loved the drums ever since.

"The bands I've played in have been Rock bands or wedding bands so the addition of "The Blues" with DogHouse is a very nice change up for me and enabled me to add a few new techniques to my playing. I have played with some great musicians and I have played with some great guys but I have never had the opportunity that I have now where every person in the band fits into both of those categories. I am thankful that fate brought me into this band."

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 h ad 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, stepping 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 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."

Elliott Sidell

Drums, Percussion

Elliott is a 14 yr old freshman at Alexis I DuPont HS. He plays the snare drum in the country’s most televised High School marching band. He began his musical track at age 8, playing Bass guitar. He quickly changed to the drums and started lessons at 9 yrs. His teacher Aaron Walker stated his amazement with Elliott’s natural ability and introduced El to all kinds of jazz, world beat and African drumming as well as reading. At 12, he joined the School of Rock and was qualified to try out for the “All Star” program. This would have included travel all over the country and some European travel as well.

Currently, Elliott Plays in the Dog House band as a guest drummer for three or four songs while he continues his music study with renowned drummer John DiGiorvanni. Elliott is a musician who lifts the whole room to new heights every time he plays. He truly loves and understands the gift of music. He now shares his gift by teaching others drumming.

Story of The Dog House Band

Author: Pat Sidell

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.

The band is sorry to loose one of our founding members drummer John Porsia. He has been a part of the creation of our original songs and a close friend. John is pursuing his career as a builder back home in California and already has his feet on the ground. We all wish him the best, as we will miss him.

The show must go on. The band set out to find a drummer we could be comfortable with. Thru the process of auditions we were blessed to come together with not only a drummer but also someone who we thought of as a band member.

Hello Frank Stevenson, Frank entered the room a bit nervous according to him, however, he quickly settled in. As it turned out he did his homework and played confidently thru our original stuff as well as ˝ the set list. The fun and spark was back. We were playing music from our soles again. Moving forward we are excited to have Frank as part of Dog House as we stretch out our musical minds.

The band has privately and publicly been pleased to enjoy the efforts of another musician. This individual has been groomed from a pup and is capable of making his own magic. Known as “E-Train” Elliott Sidell is a solid drummer who plays on stage as the youngest member of the Dog House band. He brings the crowd to their feet every time as he shares his gift of music. Now almost fifteen, he also is learning guitar and is having a blast. Keep your eye on this one. Oh to be young again!