By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer
Grafton – Kevin Gallagher debuted as a drummer in a variety show while a fourth-grader at North Grafton Elementary School. Now a band member of Whiskey Church, he was voted Favorite Local Drummer in the 2015 Local Music Awards presented by WMRC Radio, 1490 AM. Along the way, he got nicknamed “Bam Bam.”
“I was a hyperactive kid, always banging on everything,” he acknowledged. “Mom and dad thought it would be best to channel the energy. I was completely self-taught to play drums with my mom’s influence.”
His parents didn’t realize their young son snuck downstairs at night to watch MTV. He became fascinated by Motley Crue’s music video of “Wild Side” in which Tommy Lee plays drums in a suspended, rotating cage over the audience.
“I wanted to be that man,” Gallagher recalled.
Soon after receiving a drum set as a birthday gift, he reenacted his idol’s drum solo onstage at his elementary school. Then he became active playing snare drums in the Grafton Public Schools’ music programs. Gallagher attended 11th and 12th grades at the Corwin-Russell School in Sudbury, where he graduated in 2000.
A couple years later, a chance meeting while working at a music store led him to join a progressive rock band seeking a drummer. The band, September Twilight, was comprised of four musicians, each an alum of Algonquin Regional High School.
September Twilight performed regularly at Boston clubs, throughout New England, and toured to North Carolina and back. Gallagher cites his several years working with them as a valuable learning experience.
“They helped me learn the proper dynamics of a band,” he noted. “I learned that when a guitar solo comes, the drummer should lay back a little bit and help that person shine. It’s a lot of give and take. It was a fresh breath of reality that learning never stops – especially with music.”
His musical education and experience continued about two years ago when he met another four musicians seeking a drummer for their 1980s cover band Chyldz Play. When Gallagher was invited to join the band, it was renamed Whiskey Church and other genres were added to its ‘80s repertoire.
“They’re the best musicians I’ve ever played with and we work together very well,” Gallagher proclaimed.
Other band members are Chris Hill of Grafton on bass, Rob Keeler of Lowell on electric guitar, Jed Weeks of Uxbridge on electric guitar and Chip Zale of Milford on lead vocals.
In 2014, Whiskey Church was voted Best Local New Act in WMRC’s Music Awards. This year, the band was recognized with four honors including Gallagher as Favorite Local Drummer, which came as a surprise to him.
“I was just floored,” Gallagher said of hearing the announcement. “It felt amazing to have that honor of so many people voting for me.”
Whiskey Church was named Favorite Cover Band and received the Headliner Award. Also, Zale won Best Front Person.
Venues where they perform regularly are the American Legion Delisle Goulet Post 92 in Grafton, Central Tavern and The Tradesman in Milford, Hawks Nest Tavern in Whitinsville, and JJ’s Sports Bar and Grill in Northborough.
Gallagher is grateful for a dedicated following.
“My sister Erin, my mother Denise, and my father Jim still come see me play all the time,” he said. “Some songs that Whiskey Church plays are ones that my mom taught me, like Van Halen’s ‘Jump.’ Sometimes I’ll glance over at my mom and she’s still drumming along with me. It’s awesome having an amazing support network.”
For a schedule of Whiskey Church’s upcoming shows, visit whiskeychurchband.com and follow on Facebook at facebook.com/thewhiskeychurch.