GFY Bar and Grill
GFY Bar and Grill
GFY Bar and Grill
Dave Constantino has a tasteful & polished blues rock style that has made him a legendary Western New York and National Guitarist and Singer. In the mid sixties he founded The Tweeds and wrote the 1967 regional hit “A Thing of the Past”. In the early seventies he joined forces with Drummer, Paul Varga and Bassist, Billy Sheehan to form the powerhouse trio, Talas. Talas became a Western New York success story and gained international recognition with classics like Dave’s song, “See Saw”. Their popularity extended into the 1990’s when they played reunion concerts to sold out shows, which led to live CD releases and international concerts. Dave has established himself as a regional icon with bands like Shyboy and most recently, The Dave Constantino Band with Tom Reinhardt and Mike Phelps. The Dave Constantino Band performs live throughout Western New York and has released 2 CDs “Bump in the Road” and “Touch” to rave reviews.
The Early Days
This is where it all started. Paul Varga, Alan Shaw, Dave and Ted Connor. It is one of the first Tweeds shows ever. Paul and Dave would play in bands together for the next 40 years.
Dave Constantino – 1967
The recording lineup for the Tweeds. Left to right: Paul Varga, Dave, Jim Dunnigan & Ted Connor.
Original Tweeds at the “Teen Town” in Tonawanda, NY. Left to right: Ted Connor, Paul Varga, Alan Shaw & Dave.
The Tweeds at the Boulevard Cave, Tonawanda, NY 1967.
The Tweeds at a CYO dance with Go Go Girls!
Tweeds in NYC to record Dave’s song, “A Thing of the Past”. That’s Dave’s Dad with them, he was the manager of the band.
Tweeds. Dave & the late Tim Murphy.
The Last Tweeds lineup before Talas at the Caboose in Fredonia, NY. Dave & Billy Sheehan.
Talas Years
The first Talas Band 1971. Left to right: Billy, Dave & Mike Piccolo.
Talas Promo Shot 1971. Mike, Dave & Billy. Talas Promo Shot 1971. Mike, Dave & Billy. Talas Promo Shot 1971. Mike, Dave & Billy.
High school dance. Dave, Mike & Billy.
Talas 1971. Dave & Billy
Dave at He & She’s in Tonawanda, NY 1973. The Les Paul guitar and the Marshalls are 1973. Dave still plays the same Les Paul and uses one of the Marshall cabinets pictured. His amp heads today are 1974 & 1975 50 watt Marshall’s.
He & She Club 1973. Billy & Dave had their amps set up next to each other that night. Man that had to be loud. Picture has red blotches on it. Not sure what it is . Maybe blood from his ears.
During a year or so break up of Dave, Paul & Billy. Dave & Paul Varga formed a 4 piece Talas with Rochester’s guitarist Michael Marconi and Bassist Dale Crston. Michael left the members of Alice Cooper’s band (Billion Dollar Babies) to team up with Dave & Paul. Michael was a big song writing influence on Dave. Many of Dave’s songs on the first Talas album, came from this period. Pictured here are Michael Marconi and Dave.
Dave and Dale Croston 1977. That’s original 1965 Tweed’s bassist Alan Shaw on the side of the stage, he was a crew member at the time.
After a year or so apart Dave, Paul & Billy joined forces again to record an album, play at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium, have a regional hit with Dave’s tune “See Saw” and in 1980, tour as the opening act with Van Halen. This is a late 1970’s promo shot.
In 1979 Talas Headlined at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY. In 1997 they would reunite and sell out Kleinhans once again.
Dave & Billy trade off axes at Kleinhans Music Hall in 1979.
In 1972 Dave & Billy asked the late Rocco Oliverio from Olean, NY to join the band. Soon afterwards his brother Danny would join and play double drums with Rocco and also play guitar at times.
Brothers Danny & Rocco Oliverio on drums at the Poor House East in Williamsville, NY. Years later it would be a showcase room called Stage One. Groups such as U2, The Police, The Ramones, Aerosmith, Judas Priest and more would play there. U2 actually opened for Talas when they first came to America.
Cool shot of Dave & Billy working out a tune around 1971.
Four piece Talas promo shot 1977.
At the Barrel Head in West Seneca, NY. Talas played every Tuesday night for many years.
Dave at the After Dark in Lockport, NY.
Wherle Drive 1979.
Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY
Little guy ran up on stage so Dave let him jam. Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY.
Dave & Billy, Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY.
Rare picture of Dave with his serial number 55 explorer guitar. This is 1981 or 1982. The guitar is gone but not forgotten.
Moving On
During the emotional period of the final Talas breakup Dave decided to go straight back to his roots, playing songs by the Beatles, Elvis & more. Dave asked his high school friend Randy Satz to play bass, but it was hard to contain the hard rock energy that existed between Dave, Paul and Randy. The band later developed into a very popular Tweeds lineup. Here the Tweeds are at a club in Amherst, NY called Mean Guys East. Note the Beatles bass, Vox amp & small drum kit. They even used a box for drums at a point during the show for the authentic Elvis recording sound.
Tweeds in 1984 doing Elvis with the box drum.
In 1986 Dave & Paul asked Alan Thompson of West Seneca, NY to join the band on bass. This lineup would remain the same for 6 years or more.
Alan & Paul on one of many Tweed’s boat cruises.
The Tweeds: Dave, Paul & Alan.
Paul left the Tweeds to pursue a new project. Dave asked Buffalo’s legendary drummer Ted Reinhardt to join the Tweeds. Soon afterward Alan left to dedicate himself to his own new project. Dave then asked Ted’s brother Tom to join. Ted & Tom had been playing for years with Willie Haddath in a popular blues band called Willie & the Reinhardts. The four of them played a gig together and decided to continue as a four piece band. Dave worked with them for around four years. Of course Ted and Tom are now with the Dave Constantino Band, but they do play with Willie as well. The four of them will get together now and then for a special show.
Willie, Dave and the Reinhardts.
After more than 15 years apart, the original Talas with Dave, Billy and Paul play a sold out reunion concert at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo, NY. A live CD “If We Only Knew Then What We Know Now” soon followed. Talas would sell out Kleinhans once again a year later and then go to Tokyo Japan to perform. A few years later they played in front of 15,000 or more people at the Buffalo Niagara Guitar Festival.
Dave, Billy and Paul at Kleinhans.
The Talas reunion shows inspired Dave & Paul to start a band again. Buffalo guitarist Michael Runo switched to bass to join the band. They named the band Shyboy, after a popular Talas song.
Dave, Michael & Paul.
Shyboy became a club favorite and remained together for 8 years until going their separate ways in the fall of 2005. Dave joined forces once again, with Ted & Tom Reinhardt and spent the winter writing new songs for his soon to be released Dave Constantino Band CD.
Here’s Dave with his great friend Myron Sharvan at Mickey Rats City Bar in Buffalo, NY.
DCB
July 1st The Dave Constantino Band opened for Robin Trower at the Molson Canal Concert Series in Tonawanda, NY. The concert was a great success and Dave’s powerful new material for his upcoming CD went over amazingly! This is the start of a new era for Dave.
Let The Show Begin!
Tom Reinhardt
Ted Reinhardt
Johnny Angel who was the opening act, backed up Dave with his acoustic during the rendition of “Missing You”
Dave Constantino
Willie Haddath was a special guest performer at the show and played great slide solo’s during the song “Mystery Man”
Special guest Billy Sheehan graced the stage at the end of the show and Jammed out the rest of the night with Dave and Ted.
Dave Constantino and Billy Sheehan complimenting each other with amazing soloing.
Ted Reinhardt sounding like precision thunder.
The show was excellent and one to remember.
Dave Constantino, Billy Sheehan, Ted and Tom Reinhardt.
After the show down time, Dave, Myron, Billy… more to come soon.