Ahart’s Pizza Garden played host to the multi-genre, and multi-generational, cover band Simply Black and White on Saturday night, April 8.
Simply Black and White is the type of band with a killer back-story you won’t find anywhere outside of Tennessee. The band is comprised of John Terry Frost Sr. on bass and vocals, T.G. Engel on lead guitar, Alexius DeAnne Frost-Puckett on vocals, John Terry Frost Jr. on drums and vocals and “Abe” Abraham on keyboard, saxophone, dobro and, you guessed it, vocals.
Their set this night included some Van Morrison, The Beatles, Eagles, Etta James, and even a Georgia Satellites cover.
Engel was the first member of the band to show up, and after checking his guitar, sat down to enjoy a fajita pizza. He is perhaps the most fascinating person you will ever meet. A Nashville studio musician for many years, he toured with Kenny Rogers during the 1970s, taught at Vanderbilt University, plays classical guitar and married a Japanese woman. In a span of three minutes he can discuss H.L. Mencken’s satirical writing, Abraham Lincoln, Japanese culture and classic rock.
As show time approached, the band and the crowd began to arrive, and seating quickly becomes limited the elder Frost, a 19-year Grand Ole Opry veteran and founding member of Simply Black and White, seems to know everyone in the building.
While the ever-friendly Ahart’s staff keeps the food coming and drinks filled, all but one member of Simply Black and White has arrived. And just as people begin to wonder what the holdup is, the final member of the band, Alexius, shows up.
“She just had major surgery on her ankle,” Frost Sr said. “I’m just glad she’s here.”
Alexius props her purple-casted foot onto a stool and the set begins. Rock ’n’ roll.
There’s something to be said about watching a band that actually seems to be enjoying themselves as they play. And it wasn’t long before this energy got the crowd moving.
All in all, it was a night of good fun and good music.
“Why isn’t everyone in the ’Boro here?” asked regular Ahart’s customer Rob Joyner.
