Lew "Sweet Lew" Rosengrant
Drums

Lew "Sweet Lew" Rosengrant began playing drums at the age of twelve. He was bitten by the music bug early on soon was spending every waking hour practicing, listening, or just thinking about music. Many times in school, he would get in trouble for tapping out drum grooves on his desk, causing disruption to every class he attended. In high school, joining the band was the logical course of action for the young drummer, giving him a chance to hone his skills in orchestra, marching band, jazz band, and classic rock classes. Numerous music projects with friends took up after school hours and soon it was time for college.

Brookdale College offered some opportunities to grow in the jazz band, electronic studio and in the theatre, but it wasn't until he transferred to Monmouth University, that he started to realize his musical goals. The jazz and theatre programs, as well as orchestra, kept him in and around an exciting music community. This experience led to gigs with many bands such as Lunar City, Jaski, Random Test, Mimi Cross, deSol, and many others.

School also led Lew to begin teaching at Drummers Alley and Red Bank Academy of the Arts where he teaches and average of 40 students per week. It was there he eventually met Matt O'Ree, who also teaches at both places. After striking up a friendship with Matt and being asked to fill in on numerous gigs with his band, it was evident to Lew that this was his 'musical home', yet it would be a few years before he moved in.

During his wait, Lew relocated to New York City to study and gig with such drummers as; Derrek Phillips from The Charlie Hunter Trio, the Brazilian Parade Band "Samba New York", as well as sitting in on many jam sessions with musicians from all over the world. New York City also gave Lew an opportunity to explore writing his own music for his wife Kristin's dance company, DeXdance, and has led to many of his compositions featured in venues ranging from Maine to Florida.

Upon moving back to NJ, Lew began working with the folk band, 'Causeway', 'Recreation Arts and Pets', and Marco Fuchs of M'Zume, with whom he began teaching Brazilian and world beat rhythms to students at the Count Basie Theatre's "Cool School's weekly Drum Circle" in Red Bank, NJ. Not long after, Matt O'Ree once again asked him to fill in for some gigs and as it turns out, the drum stool was open for a full time position this time.

Naturally, Lew never looked back.

Birth Date: April 8, 1977

Equipment: Zildjian Cymbals (newbeat Hihats, K crashes, projection ride), Gretsch Drums (Catalina Club Mod), Yamaha Hardware, Promark Sticks, Meinl Percussion (cowbell/shakers), Combination of Aquarian and Evans Heads, Combination Impact and Humes & Berg Cases

Eric Safka
Keyboards

A 14 year veteran Keyboard Player, Eric Safka, is the "Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde" of the band. His “mad man” antics on stage do not reflect the same personality as the humble person he is off stage. Just watch him when he is approached by an enthusiastic fan after a show, he blushes and always seems to reference the famous Garth Algar line "Thanks... I like to play". After watching him live, there is no doubt about the truth of that statement. It’s never been about money or fame for Eric, but about the experience of communicating with the audience and his band on a level that words could never do justice... and communicate he does, with all the intensity and enthusiasm of a man possessed by the love of his craft.

Formerly of the rock group,’ Days Awake’, Eric has shared the stage with notable artists such as Dickey Betts, Rich Robinson, Blues Traveler, as well having performed on projects with Jon Bon Jovi, the E-Streets Band's Gary Tallent and Living Colour's Vernon Reed. Tom Marshall of Phish fame once stated that Eric was "One of the best keyboard players he has ever seen".

To Eric, none of this really matters in comparison to what he considers his greatest success, which is simply being able to share in those magical live moments with his band and the crowd. His hope is to inject into people the same inspiration that bit him fourteen years ago at his first concert and has led him to building his entire life around the idea that he “likes to play".

Birth Date: February 5

Eric’s Equipment: Hammond B-3, Hammond Model A, Leslie 122, Leslie 145, Rhodes 73 Custom, Hohner Clavinet/Pianet Duo, Wurlitzer Model 140 B, Wurlitzer 200 A, Moog Little Phatty Analog Sythesizer.