Sharky Rocks the Odyssey
RocklandNews.com
Horace Kelly
Staff Writer

Every once in a while a rock and roll cover band that can do justice to the tunes they cover pleasantly surprises you. Friday night at the Odyssey in Weymouth was just such an occasion. A friend had told me to check out this group of forty-something rock and rollers who have been pleasing music connoisseurs from Bridgewater to Boston.
We paid our five-dollar admission fee and settled in for some rock and roll. On the stage warming up I immediately recognized the six foot six inch bass player from the Boston club scene of the 1980?s, Mike White.
Whitey, a former Rocklandite was a mainstay in the punk rock scene of the 1980?s. White?s band the Outlets were considered the Godfathers of the punk craze of the 1980?s and made several successful recordings. Tonight it appeared as though White had cleansed his musical pallet and put aside his pogo jumping, slam dancing, ways of old. I will always remember him clearing lanes in the mosh pit at the Channel with the Bartlet brothers. But anyway...

Sharky consists of five band members, lead singer Steve Gardner, who reminded me of a blend between David Bowie and Jim Morrison with a dash of Melloncamp. John Penny and Paul Dennis on lead and rhythm guitars, traded lick after searing lick back and forth as they mastered one classic hit after another. Dave Mall on drums is a no-nonsense heavy-handed expert. He and bass guitarists Mike White kept a solid foundation on every song. All five guys were obvious musical professionals who were enjoying their work.

The only thing more impressive than these guys talent was their song list. Sharky has an incredible selection of classic rock and roll standards. Clapton, Stones, Al Green, Fabulous Thunderbirds, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and on and on and on. With nearly a hundred years of combined Rock and Roll and experience, Sharky is the real deal if you still love your fathers ?kick ass Rock and Roll?.