WHO DAPHUNK?

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DAN STOCKMAN - Guitar & Vocals

"I bring THE FUNK!  Watch me Move!  Watch me Groove!!"

Guitarist/Vocalist Dan Stockman, of Brackenridge, is probably most well known for forming and leading the popular Alle-Kiski disco band known as "SEX", from the late 1990s through the early 2000s. 

Since that time period Dan had a brief 2 year run with acoustic 4 piece act

called tHe NerVe, and has performed extensively in an acoustic duet with the multi-talented Suki Lynn from tHe NerVe.  Dan is also currently in the heavy metal group Death Ticket. 

Dan has had brief music careers with such bands as Dirty Otto for a year as the lead vocalist.   He performed as the rhythm guitarist for 5 Alarm Flood. 

He has also performed with Heath Kipp, DaPhunk Band founder, with a previous group known as Plush Monkey. 

Dan brings The Funk in DaPhunk Band!  He is one of the most entertaining musicians you will ever see!

Dan can play over 75 different musical instruments, and he is influenced by a wide variety of musical styles and genres.  Local musicians and fans have called him "the best Funk guitar player in Pittsburgh!"

For many years, he has been performing his successful solo acoustic guitar act under the name “The Akoustic Man” 

Dan has also been teaching guitar and bass guitar for the past 30 years.

BOB BORELAND - Drums

As the legend James Brown said:  "The Funky Drummer!"

Started drumming in the 90's

Playing shows by 14 at the few clubs around that had underage shows, doing the whole high school rock star thing with Assassin and Noville.   At 18 I was playing with psychedelic rockers Bull Goose Looney.  We were headlining local shows and opening for national artists at all the big venues... Graffiti, Laga, Metropol etc.   We also played at music and art festivals.

At the same time I began writing my own original material with high school friends who started playing or were ready to hit the stage with me.  We had various names and members in and out.  We did radio shows and played everywhere possible.  We eventually started doing covers also because we could make good money with popular songs.  In the early 2000's one of the cover bands Zabidaga was really solid and we were playing large and long shows and the crowds loved it.  Opening for other big name local artists but mostly putting on our own 3 hour shows.

At some point around then I made connections with some other artists and put a new original band together.  Pinch Point,  we were super tight and pulled a good crowd for a young local original band.  We rocked hard and partied harder so the whole rockstar thing kinda interfered with our potential. 

That band split but with some members Federali was created.  An indie rock band also super solid once we found a great frontman.

We rocked and also opened for national artists.

This group did not play out too often locally though.  I wanted more of the stage so I joined forces with Surrounded by Assholes.  An in your face party punk band.  We rocked faces and had awesome crowds.

I did both Federali and SBA for quite a while.

SBA played out a ton but not so much Federali.

Still wanting more stage I left Federali and joined Koresh, hardcore Pittsburgh metal heads.   The music was super intense and allowed me to play fast and loud and being that I grew up loving bands like slayer, pantera, and fear factory it was nice.  I worked with both Koresh and SBA for a couple years.  We even played shows together occasionally.

2009 I began having some pain in my back when playing.  The pain grew and got more intense.  I figured it was just a pulled muscle.

There is where I'm told I have cancer, the same day my boy is born a month early unexpected.

I survived....  obviously.  I took ten years off of the live scene but continued to play at home.

So new years eve 2019 I joined facebook and started looking for a band.   By February 2020 I had 3, one of them would work and be capable of real shows.  

The pandemic had other thoughts.  We all went on pause.  When things started getting back on track I began searching for a band again and also looking at building my own original project.  In spring 21 I started working with an alternative cover band which was brief cause again,  I want the stage and they did not.

Eventually I come in contact with DaPhunk band in summer 2021.  It was not my style of music but I was interested.  I have always loved electronic and dance music and I was actually trying to build a dance original band at that same moment.  After a couple back and forth conversations with the band we eventually had an audition.  I love the beats, the music is fun and the guys are awesome.                 So here we are,    DaPhunk!

I am currently also working with another cover band: "BB Steal-80's Live"  playing favorite songs from the eighties and beyond.  I am also still building an original group and I will not settle for less than what my vision is.

hoping to have it on stage one day...  

eyes open.

DAVID VEVERS - Trombone

"Another one of The Funky BrassHoles!"

"The difference is....  I make this suit look gooood!"

David Vevers is a freelance trombone player in the Pittsburgh area who has been playing the instrument since he was in 4th grade. He went to Slippery Rock University for trombone performance and has performed with groups such as the Balcony Big Band, Jazz Conspiracy, Pittsburgh Doo Wop Big Band, The Jersey Four, Pittsburgh Civic Orchestra, and has been featured on solo projects with high schools and with jazz musicians from around the Pittsburgh area as well. 

While at Slippery Rock he won the concerto competition twice and got to work with first hand some current New York jazz musicians such as Troy Roberts, Michael Davis, Matt Niese, and Dave Leibman. 

His biggest influences for the trombone include James Browns trombone player Fred Wesley, the solo trombonist for the Count Basie Orchestra Al Gray, as well as many popular jazz trombonists like J.J Johnson, Curtis Fueller, Bill Watrous, and Eilliot Mason. 

As well as being the trombonist for Da Phunk, David is also a current trombonist of the Murphys Music Center Big Band, The Harmony Zeilie Big band, and the Trinity Music Group. 

HEATH KIPP - Bass Guitar & Vocals

"Get Your Funk On!"

SLAPPA DA BASS!!!

Heath Kipp has worked in just about every aspect of the music business for over 35 years.  He has played in more than 13 bands, performed on 5 studio-recorded CDs, and secured an opening act spot with his band Jazz East for the jazz great Ramsey Lewis.  He's also worked as an audio engineer for numerous recordings and as a successful booking agent and promoter for a variety of bands.

Heath has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Pittsburgh with a minor in music.  He also earned an Associate's Degree in Music Business and Audio/Video production from The Art Institute of Pittsburgh  

Heath started playing guitar at the age of 10 and switched to bass at age 15.  He was asked to play in a cover band called "Seance" with musicians that were older than him which forced him to improve quickly.  "The bands I played with in those days were making money, but it was mostly for fun.  We played house parties, fire halls, and school auditoriums.  

Heath's major Bass Guitar influences are: Larry Graham, Marcus Miller, Stanley Clark, Stu Hamm, Flea & Victor Wooten.  "I've always loved slap bass, and Funk music is the most fun for bass guitar, so I'm very fortunate to still have DaPhunk Band!"

In 1988 when I was going to Pitt, I met several talented musicians and we started a hard rock dance band called "Scratch House".  Our manager booked strippers and other bands, and he was very good at what he did.  He has us gigging 3-4 nights per week for the next 3 years.  In those days the band had to play right up until 2:00am, then pack up and drive another hour or more back home.  We always pulled good crowds but by the time we paid for sound, lights, and our 20% booking fee, we were lucky to make enough money to get some gas and a sandwich.  We were learning the business from the trenches.  It was the best and the worst at the same time!"

After Scratch House ended, Heath began writing original songs with Fredrick Hult.  Well known guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer from Sweden.  In 1992 two of the songs they wrote were chosen for a Pittsburgh compilation CD: "14 Miles of Dreams".  Heath put together the band "Crash Cafe" (with DaPhunk singer Brian Bookwood)  to record the songs for the CD as well as 6 other songs that were released as an original Crash Cafe album called "Bedlam Symphony".  Crash Cafe went on to perform 2-3 nights per week for the next few years playing both covers and original funk rock style music.

Heath played with local "Ferris Bueller's Revenge" singer Shawn Maudhuit in the bands: Prowler, Plush Monkey (with Dan Stockman) and "The Nothing Band".  "Shawn passed away not long ago.  He was a good friend and a great local talent that will be missed.  We were fortunate enough to have the amazing Bill Duff playing guitar for us!   Bill also passed away not long ago.  He was a local guitar hero.  These guys were my friends and I miss them..."  

Heath and Bill Duff went on to create the band  "Jazz East" in 1998.  Playing jazz standards with a rock-n-roll edge.  Jazz East was a seven piece band with 3 horns.  The band recorded and released an impressive CD, and lasted for six good years.  They broke the mold by taking a jazz band into local rock clubs with a large PA system and a huge light show.  "It wasn't normal for people.  They were used to having live jazz music in the background, so people could have a conversation while the band was playing.  That wasn't our style.  We always commanded your attention.  We were a bit loud and in your face.  That's what got us into the opening act slot for Ramsey Lewis."  Ramsey was very kind and encouraging.  He said "I like your sound!  Keep doing what you're doing"  Pretty cool coming from a legend.  

in 2005, After getting hooked on live horns in the Jazz East band, Heath started "DaPhunk Band".  "I pulled together all of my favorite band mates from my past bands and we started auditioning for the remaining members.  The goal was to put on a "big show experience" in a local venue.  I can guarantee you never know what might happen next at a DaPhunk gig.  We're always looking for new ways to shock and entertain!!"

In 2016 Heath finally completed and published a book he had been writing for almost ten years.  "The Band Book" "-Secrets, Tips & Tricks to Make Any Band Successful".  This book started as an outline that Heath had used for the last few bands he was in.   He followed the same recipe for each of his bands and the results were the same:  More fans showed up to his gigs and booking shows became easy.  The Band Book is for sale at all DaPhunk shows.  If you have a musician friend or relative that is not packing clubs with his or her band, buy this book for them!  Learn from my mistakes and successes and jump to the front of the live performance scene in your area.