Bunco at Sun Studio, Memphis Tennessee. (left to right) Sun Studio engineers, Stacie Hanes, Dan O’Donnell (obscured), Travis Holland, and Nyo Allen.
By Lori Graham
A New River Valley band called Bunco recently had the unique opportunity to experience the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tenn. and record an album in the historical Sun Studios.
Performing with the band as drummer and percussionist is Nyo Allen, 15 years young with an intense passion for music.
The band made the trip to Memphis, during the week of Jan. 18, not as one of the approximately 160 competitors at the international event, but to experience the grandness of the sheer talent and environment of the incredible musicians appearing. What they did not expect was the snowstorm that blanketed the city, shutting almost everything down and delaying their recording session.
Harmonica player and Bunco member Thor Hanes said that due to the recording schedule change, “we gathered in the Airbnb and did what any music group would do in a snowstorm.”
They played music. Unfortunately, Allen had planned to use the studio drums and did not travel with his own set.
Allen’s Mom Lucy Lamana said they started grabbing whatever they could find to put together a percussion set for him.
“Using chopsticks, setting him up with upside down trash cans, and whatever else we could find to drum on,” Lamana said.
Hanes said the terrible winter storm and the single digit temperatures in an area that typically does not see weather like this, did put some kinks in their plans.
“They did not plow the streets,” Hanes said. “The whole city was closed except for Beale Street, because 160 bands came from around the world, some as far as Australia. It’s thousands of dollars to get there from Australia. The Blues Foundation that puts on the event doesn’t want that trip to be made in vain. It was packed, despite the fact that the city was closed. I have been six times and I love it. They keep things rockin’.”
Once in the studio, the experience of being in a place where music greats such as Elvis Presley, B.B. King, and Johnny Cash once sat, they were met with the music engineers and an array of audio and sound equipment. This was an incredible experience for Allen.
“They had a tape machine that they had running, I didn’t think they used it for anything, just for show, but it was just for this echo sound,” Allen said. “It was the perfect Blues sound “There were also a lot of pictures of Elvis. Once you walk out of the studio, there is a whole merch area and a bar, there is like an ‘80s milkshake parlor too.”
Bunco’s recorded album is planned to come out in the spring with all original music, with Allen utilizing his passion and experience in mixing the album for the band. He is interested in learning to master music as well.
“He has fantastic music production ability,” Hanes said.
Allen is a part of the Blues Initiative, supported by the New River Blues Society and Christiansburg Institute to encourage the growth of the next generation of blues musicians and enthusiasts. The Initiative offers youth in the area the chance to join in on free music lessons and opportunities to learn how to play individually or with a band. Hanes frequently has provided group introductory harmonica lessons at a variety of locations in the New River Valley, with each participant receiving a free harmonica. Harmonica is only one of the instruments that youth can receive musical instruction in through the program. The International Blues Challenge event is also a benefit that young musicians can be a part of through the encouragement of the Initiative. This was Allen’s first year traveling to the International Blues Challenge.
Blues is one of the many styles of music Allen enjoys and actually plays with five different musical groups. In addition to Bunco, he is a member of the popular local band Music Road Co, along with his father Janiah Allen, a founding member of the group. Janiah Allen, a vocalist, bassist, and drummer, has been a great influence on his son and encouraged him in his musical gifts from a young age. Janiah Allen started out as a drummer and now plays bass for Music Road Co.
Their music is, “a smooth blend of funk, rock, reggae and afrobeat to get you groovin’ and your hip bones movin’,” according to Music Road Co’s Facebook page.
Along with other events, Music Road Co will be playing at Floyd Fest 2024, at their new location this summer in Check, Va.
Solazo, a traditional Latin American band, is another group Nyo Allen drums for, adding to his range of musical talent and experience.
The Ambassador and the Chosen Few, a reggae, soul, and rock band, provided an opportunity for young Allen to perform on stage with the group at Floyd Fest 2022. He continues to play with this group as well.
Last but not least, father and son, Nyo and Janiah Allen, are members of a group they started called Father Sun. The group performs reggae and island music.
Hanes expressed how Allen’s passion and dedication as well as talent can be seen in other instruments that he has learned to play, and he has even been writing some music.
New River Blues Society member Holly Hunnicutt made the first connection between Nyo Allen and the Blues Initiative. Honnicutt, along with NR Blues Society, were seeking youth musicians or those interested in learning to play the Blues, and that is when they discovered Allen.
“Allen is capable of playing what he wants to play on most instruments,” Bunco member, Hanes said. “He went to the first practice and had a blast.”
“He is thoroughly convinced this is his calling in life,” Lamana said.
“I am really grateful to the Blues Society for all the support they’ve given me, I feel the love and it feels great,” Allen said. “Music is my therapy.”
Looking to the future, Allen isn’t sure yet what direction he wants to go in, and certainly has time to figure this out, but he knows that music will be a big part of it.
“I know I want to do music for the rest of my life but where that is placed is still unknown,”
The Blues Initiative continues to seek youth in the community that would like to either learn to play an instrument or grow their already budding musical talents with Blues music. Any parents or youth interested in finding out more information about the Blues Initiative can visit the New River Blues Society’s Facebook page or their website at newriverbluessociety.com.
