The Lonesome Pines is a roots-based Rock and Alt Country band. Our influences include Rock, Country, Rockabilly, and traditional acoustic Americana. Our songs, written by Steve Frank, focus on love, loss, revenge, and redemption.
Our set ranges from hard-edged Alt Country Rock to Ballads. Steve Frank’s fearless lead vocals are supported by Paul Caluori’s harmonies, with Steve Kaplan’s backing vocals for added emphasis. The instrumentation is squarely in the roots rock and country vein, featuring electric and acoustic guitars, violin, mandolin, bass, and drums, and the musicianship is of the highest order.
The Lonesome Pines grew from a love of acoustic, traditional, and roots music. In 2004, Steve Kaplan and Paul Caluori met at a local open mic and formed a guitar and violin duo, The Clayhole Brothers, playing Americana and traditional Celtic and English folk music. With the addition of Steve Frank on vocals and an evolving lineup of musicians, The Clayhole Brothers became The Clayhole Family. After a few years of personnel changes and the addition of acoustic versions of Steve Frank’s original songs, the band reformed as The Lonesome Pines. Best described as Alt Country as the band blends Americana and traditional music with the added punch of rock instrumentation by electrifying the guitars and bass and adding drums.
Paul Caluori – Mandolin, Violin, Guitar, Banjo, Backing Vocals
Starting with the violin as a child, Paul enjoys playing many stringed instruments across a variety of genres. He started learning the electric guitar as a teenager, and has also added in bass, mandolin and most recently the banjo. He studied violin and viola through college and has performed in orchestras and chamber ensembles in western Massachusetts, where he grew up, and in New Jersey, where he now lives. He likes being able to switch between rock, pop, jazz, roots, and bluegrass, and finds it especially fun to play what might seem the “wrong” instrument for a tune (Led Zeppelin on a violin?).
Steve Frank – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Currently living in Metuchen by way of Seattle and Brooklyn, Steve played in Alt Country bands at such venues as Peter Buck's Crocodile Cafe and The Tractor Tavern
Justin Hopkins – Bass Guitar
Justin started playing drums in the mid-90’s but never played in a band or in public. On a whim he grabbed a bass guitar in 2013 and figured out how to play some blues. Several good friends seized the opportunity to help him learn more about playing the bass and in a few short years Justin has gone from an absolute beginner on the bass to holding down the rhythm section with a group of musicians all who have many years of experience!
Steve Kaplan – Guitar and Backing Vocals
Steve started playing guitar at the age of 5. His first performance was singing and playing "Home on the Range" for his 2nd grade class. In the 80's early 90's Steve was playing original rock music at well known Jersey Shore and Central Jersey venues, including the Stone Pony and Court Tavern. In 1990 Steve began 10 years of studying jazz and music theory – focusing on solo jazz performances for private functions and club dates. Jazz guitar great George Benson described Steve's solo jazz playing as "George Van Eps reborn!"
Steve has filled the guitar chair in the orchestra for shows including Grease, Crazy For You, Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Pajama Game, and Bye Bye Birdie. He occasionally tours with a national production of Smokey Joe's Cafe.
Tim Shahady - Drums
Originally from Southern Maryland, Tim Shahady is a player with a diverse musical resume: from punk and classic rock bands to pop, world music and musical theater. He’s been in regional touring bands that have worked from The Viper Room in Hollywood and the No Man’s Land Festival in Breckinridge Colorado to countless clubs and bars up and down the East Coast and Midwest.
Now living in New Jersey, he has focused his energy on playing with songwriters that inspire him to elevate their stories.
When he isn’t playing drums, Tim teaches yoga, enjoys photography and works for Paiste, a major cymbal manufacturer.