Springsteen Tribute by Swamps of Jersey

Howard “Outlaw Pete” Micenmacher is an accomplished songwriter in his own right, but now welcomes the challenge of becoming the Boss live and recreating the magic of Springsteen shows for Cleveland audiences. Howard is best known for his original songwriting as frontman of Al’s Fast Freight. Al’s Fast Freight released four CDs and toured regionally. Al’s Fast Freight shared the stage with Hot Tuna, Little Feat, The Ranch (feat. Keith Urban), Jack Ingram, Tracy Byrd, Dave Mason, and many others.

Multi-instrumentalist “Cadillac” Kevin McCarthy has had the privilege of performing and recording with many of the area’s finest songwriters and players. After fronting the power-pop trio T.C.Beat (The Cleveland Beat) through the ’80s and early ’90s, he joined forces with singer-songwriter Andrew J. Regan and the late drummer-songwriter ChazVanChaz to form the all-original band ExCats. In 1997, he met singer-songwriter Cletus Black, recording keyboard tracks for Cletus’ comeback album Back It Up. Since then, Kevin has played lead guitar with the Cletus Black Revue, while contributing to eight additional CDs of original rock-n-roll. This life-long West-Sider also performs a huge repertoire of acoustic music, specializing in traditional and modern Irish ballads. He can often be found performing solo, or with fellow Revue member and Aces & Eights frontman Dave Morrison (harmonica).

Saxophonist “Spanish Johnny” DePietro unsurprisingly lists such artists as Clarence Clemons and the venerable Jukes Horns among his biggest influences. A native of suburban Philadelphia, he began his local performing career as lead guitarist and occasional songwriter & vocalist for erstwhile “geriatric post-punk power-pop postulate” Planet Log 3000. A freak touch football injury resulted in finger surgery that forced John to abandon guitar indefinitely and to pick up a sax for the first time since high school. Needless to say, it was an injury for which John is tremendously grateful. John previously performed multi-instrument duties for Soul Intent, Diamond Life, Sister Kate and the Bad Habits, and most notably, Blue Eyed Souls.

“Madman Drummer” Brian Bretton joins Swamps of Jersey and reunites with bass player Chris deHass. Brian and Chris were the rhythm section for Odd Girl Out (1991-1995). They played clubs and colleges all around the Midwest and opened concerts for artists such as Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLaughlin, Joan Armatrading.

Chris deHaas has an extensive musical history in Cleveland and beyond as a performer in bands and musical productions and as a music teacher. As the bassist for Odd Girl Out (1991 – 1995) he played clubs and colleges all around the Midwest and opened concerts for artists such as Sheryl Crow, Sarah McLaughlin, Joan Armatrading. As bassist for TJ and the Northcoast (1991 – 1992) he opened concerts for The Oak Ridge Boys and Reba McEntire. He has appeared on recordings for Steve Jochum, Alexis Antes, Odd Girl Out, and on the soundtrack for the independent film Shooting Star. Chris can also currently be seen around town in the bands Free Howie, The Midlife Crisis Band and Big Zipper.

“Rosalita Bonita McSwiggen” Ann Marie has been lending her songwriting and vocal talents to Cleveland bands since the nineties. She appeared on the music scene in Cleveland’s The Walk-Ins. She continued honing her songwriting and vocal skills in the band The Dandelion People before breaking out and releasing her own original CD under the moniker Anna Nausea. Currently, when she’s not busy being Swamps of Jersey’s own “Rosalita” she can be seen locally in the folk roots band Take This Hammer.