Rockin' with UUU
Rockin' with UUU
www.uuu.org
Band Members:
JOE SALTALAMACCHIA (DRUMS)
PETE CONNORS (BASS, VOCALS)
JASON HOFFMAN (LEAD VOCALS, GUITAR)
JOHN "GUIDO"PHILLIPS (GUITAR, KEYS , VOCALS)
DOUGLAS MACKIE (LEAD GUITAR, VOCALS)
Okay, so it’s Friday night and you’re beat from an exhausting week’s worth of classes or work.
You just wanna cut loose and have some fun. What do you do? Remember your vowels.
You heard what I said. Well, actually, remember one vowel; the letter “U”; then lather, rinse, repeat (three times).
UUU, the self-titled “Ultimate Party Vowel” has been rocking PA and NJ for years, creating new
shows every night, specially catered to their fans. These boys know how to rock the house.
I know, it’s so cliché, but it’s true. What do you take away from a UUU show (aside from silly string
remnants, a couple of scary air guitar memories and a brain full of twisted new lyrics to some of your favorite tunes)?
The answer is FUN, and LOTS of it!
UUU’s founding members, Joe (drums) and Doug (guitar, vocals) have been playing together
for over 6 years. The band started out as an original band, playing mostly the New Jersey area.
One of their most loyal fans (we’ll refrain from using the term “groupie”) was Peter. When a
spot for a bass player opened up, Pete (bass, vocals) auditioned and was hired a month later.
The band headed into the studio to record some of their original tracks, but it was just about that time
that an amazing thing happened. Joe, in his infinite wisdom (and due to the success of the band’s signature
closer, “I Will Survive”) suggested the guys start playing disco as a part of their shows; and so the
mayhem began. Playing mostly the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area, the boys’ disco music “schtick” (not to
mention their attire, complete, from what Pete tells me, with hair, bellbottoms, and more polyester
shirts you can shake a stick at) took off. They quickly developed a massive following and
got their first taste of fame. They opened for Blessed Union of Souls (yes, as a DISCO band)
and played to sold out venues all over Northeastern Pennsylvania. The band still holds the record at
Tinks, in Scranton, for most people in attendance at a cover show; over 1500 fans filled the club to see UUU.
UUU’s popularity has remained intact over the years, mainly because of their non-stop touring
schedule. A Northeastern PA Club owner once deemed UUU “the hardest working band around”.
It’s not difficult to see why. UUU plays six nights a week and many times, they play benefits,
parades, and parties during the day. In April, they were promoting “36 in 30”, that’s 36 gigs in
30 days! The guys have played NJ, MD, NY, PA, TN, DE, and AZ and are planning to take on
NC in the near future. This year, alone, the boys have logged over 470, 000 miles, wracked up
27 speeding tickets, rocked over 50 clubs and have performed over 310 shows. They are
coming up on their 2000th show. And you can bet that they’re not stopping there.
Let’s face it, bands who have a large following seem to rise to the top. UUU is no different.
UUU’s fans are never far behind. Night after night, they gather to see the guys do what they do best.
Some of their fans over the years have traveled hundreds of miles to see them. The band
fondly refers to their biggest fans as “five staters” and “seven staters”. Many of their followers
stay in touch with each other and with the band by posting in the UUU guestbook at www.UUU.org .
Spend sometime reading these posts and you’ll quickly learn that UUU fans are a
big part of what makes a UUU show unforgettable.
The charisma of UUU lies in the chemistry between the guys on stage. Last year,
the group replaced their long time front man with Jason (lead vocals, guitar), who,
according to Doug, has made their shows “more people friendly” and provided the band
with a newfound energy. Guido (keyboards, guitar, and vocals), joined the line-up a short while later.
Each member brings their multi-musical talents to every familiar song they play. While Jason sings lead
on most songs, he does occasionally pass the microphone to Doug, Peter and Guido who
each have their own unique style as temporary front man.
What can you expect to hear at a UUU show? Just about anything. The band plays
everything from Abba to Rage Against the Machine; Neil Diamond to Limp Biscuit;
The Beastie Boys to Ozzy. Some of the bands most memorable tunes are: Jump Jive and Wail (Doug),
Buttercup (Jason…I know you love that one!), Shimmer (Peter), and Killing in the Name Of (Guido).
The irony of Guido singing “F**k you, I won’t do what you tell me” is that they DO, do what you
tell them. Their sets are primarily made up of audience requests. If they know it, they typically play it.
The band has a unique appreciation for their audience and they have a “ feel” for the crowd. No two
UUU shows are alike and that keeps people coming back, even if it’s just to see what they’ll do next.
So, what is next for UUU? Check out the schedule page on their website at www.UUU.org to find out.
You can also see hundreds of pictures from their past show, download some mp3’s of the bands’
performances, read band members rants and raves, and much more. So, get up, get out and go see these
guys. Check out why FIVE members and THREE vowels equal ONE KICK ASS BAND (Doug).
~Susanne
Special thanks to Doug and Peter for allowing me to interview them.
And special thanks to all the guys for “boxer” night…it certainly was interesting!