...like herding cats
Happy to announce the release of an all original, pandemic made album by our band, Frets, Bridges & Skins! Streaming NOW on all major platforms! Songs by Steve Bard, Mike McCauley, and Marc Bernstein with Ed Rick on drums.
Meet the Band
Steve Bard
Steve Bard writes songs, sings, plays acoustic guitar and excels on harmonica, making a major contribution to the band’s unique sound.
Mike McCauley
Mike McCauley loves to play live music at every chance he can get, showcasing his originals and his unique take on favorite covers. Mike plays guitar and writes songs for the band.
Marc Bernstein
Marc Bernstein writes songs, sings, plays (left-handed) bass and occasionally acoustic guitar. In the 70’s he played on the bands Commotion and Full Circle, and in the 80’s, d’lights, and Howie and the Basher.
He took an extended break to raise a family with his wife, Susan, and focus on building his financial planning business, occasionally playing guitar at the kid’s schools, parties and community events. In the 2000’s, he recorded, with Malcolm Allison, as the Neighbor Hood, the soundtrack to the Panamanian film, the Hypnotists’ Passion, including the title song, “Second Chance”.
He last played with Beyond the Bucket, primarily a cover band, in which he met current bandmate, Mike McCauley. Marc also enjoys playing guitar and occasional bass at his synagogue for modern prayers and songs at Shabbat services and holidays.
Ed Rick
Ed Rick is a professional drummer, drum teacher and drum and music collector. He played in the early days with current bandmate, Marc Bernstein, in Commotion, Full Circle, and Howie and the Basher. In his younger years he fulfilled his dream of traveling and playing professionally on cruise ships.
He lived for some time in Florida before returning to the Philadelphia area. Besides rock and roll, Ed has played country influenced music (The Johnston Brothers), jazz (the Chuck Anderson trio).
He's currently playing, in addition to Frets, Bridges & Skins, with the Garage Bandits (influenced by the music of Little Steven’s underground garage).
Other Music You Might Be Interested In
Hot Club Philly
Barry from Hot Club Philly is Marc's long lost second cousin and they've become great friends.
The Hot Club of Philadelphia was started in 2001 by guitarist Barry Wahrhaftig. They are an acoustic ensemble, dedicated to playing 'Gypsy Jazz.' That's the term used to describe the music pioneered by the legendary original 'Hot Club of France Quintet,' which was led by guitarist Django Reinhardt and Violinist Stephane Grappelli. Django and Grappelli were attempting to do their own version of American 'Hot Jazz,' as played by stars like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington. They used acoustic guitars, bass and violin, rather than horns and drums. Grappelli and Django added some French and Gypsy flavor and created a blend of music that is quite popular and accessible. The HCPhilly mixes the original style of the HCOF, along with their own modern influences.
Paul Scherer
Paul was Marc's college roommate at the University of Delaware, and long time friend.
He is a native of Wilmington, Delaware and has lived in Chicago for the past 22 years. He is a composer, jazz pianist, arranger and producer who has composed and produced albums under his own name and with Agnieszka Iwanska, a Polish-born jazz chanteuse.
While performing in jazz ensembles in and around Chicago, Paul also makes time for some serious compositions, including his most recent settings of Hebrew text for chorus and orchestra.
Paul recently completed the score for a full-scale chamber opera entitled “In Venice", in collaboration with librettist Germaine Shames.
Howie Fritz
Howie was one of the most amazing blues guitar players. He used to play on campus in Howie and the Rain...by 1994, The Rain consisted of Andrew Scott and Erik Greb. At an annual Springfest-type festival at Drew in 1994, Howie was billed right after The Remnants, so Erik and Andrew stayed on stage after the set and jammed with Howie. At one point, Howie popped a string, and his guitar went immediately out of tune. So, he picked up his other guitar, and popped a string on that one, too. Then, he used Erik’s backup and, low and behold, another string popped!!! So, Howie kicked on all of his effects pedals, making his guitar sound very very strange and began to wail away at these big, long, pulled notes that sounded like they were coming out of another galaxy.
Marc played with Howie in the band Howie and the Badgers and they recorded the song "Don't Go Near Fire" together. Listen to "Don't Go Near Fire" here.