MEET BRAVE STRANGERS
Fourteen Musicians. One Band. One Remarkable Catalog of Music.
Brave Strangers brings together fourteen musicians with one shared purpose: to celebrate the music of Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band with the musicianship, energy and respect it deserves.
From the eight-piece core band to the three voices of The Segerettes and the Runaway Train Horn Section, every member of Brave Strangers plays a part in creating the depth, dynamics and unmistakable sound of the full live production.
THE MAN BEHIND THE MIC
Tony
Paulino
Lead Vocals
Rochester native Tony Paulino has spent decades performing throughout the region as a vocalist, bandleader, harmonica player and arranger. He founded and fronted the southern rock band Rampage and later performed with T-Blast and the Horn Dogs, Gatorface and numerous other projects spanning rock, soul and blues.
A longtime Bob Seger fan, Tony found that Seger’s music consistently connected with both his voice and his audiences. That connection ultimately inspired him to create Brave Strangers and assemble a 14-piece band capable of delivering the scale, energy and musical depth of Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band live.
THE BAND
MICKEY
AMES
Electric & Acoustic Guitar • Slide Guitar
Mickey Ames is a versatile guitarist whose background includes formal training at the Guitar Institute of Technology in Hollywood. He has performed with bands including Stony Creek, Heritage, Rampage, The Fools and The Kid Kurry Band, working across both electric and acoustic guitar as well as bottleneck slide.
An accomplished songwriter, Mickey placed third in a Billboard national songwriting competition. With Brave Strangers, his versatility and slide work bring an additional dimension to the guitar-driven sound of the band.
MARK
SNAVELY
Acoustic & Rhythm Guitar • Vocals
Mark Snavely is a self-taught guitarist and vocalist with more than 50 years of performance experience. A longtime part of the Rochester music scene, his musical background spans Americana, folk, blues and classic rock.
Over the years, Mark has performed with bands including Resurrection, The Toasters, Big City, Sixpack and the Great American Jamband. In Brave Strangers, his acoustic and rhythm guitar work adds texture and depth to the band’s arrangements and full 14-piece sound.
DAVE
QUICK
BASS GUITAR
Dave Quick has been a fixture of the Western New York music scene for more than 45 years. Known for his energetic stage presence, he has performed with regional bands including Johnny Smoke, The Kid Kurry Band and D Drive, and continues to perform with Seventh Heaven.
With Brave Strangers, Dave brings decades of live experience and a driving bass style to the rhythm section, helping anchor the full 14-piece sound of the band
TED
LINCOLN
Piano • Keyboards
Ted Lincoln is a lifelong pianist who began formal training at age seven and was performing with Rochester-area bands by age twelve. Over the decades, he has performed with The Great American Jam Band, The LP’s, Rampage and The Legendary Dukes, developing a playing style rooted in blues, soul and rock.
With Brave Strangers, Ted brings both sensitivity and power to the keyboard parts—from the quieter, reflective moments in the Bob Seger catalog to the driving piano that helps define some of its biggest rock songs
STEVE
SALERNO
Hammond Organ • Keyboards
Steve Salerno has been playing Hammond organ since 1967, influenced by bands including The Rascals, The Animals, Iron Butterfly and The Doors. In 1970, he acquired his first Hammond B3—and continues to play that same instrument today.
Throughout his career, Steve has performed with bands including Lickety Split, Rampage and Gatorface, along with country acts and a Patsy Cline tribute. While his work also includes piano and synthesizers, the Hammond remains at the heart of his sound and brings its unmistakable character to Brave Strangers.
SMOKIN' JOE
PIZZO
DRUMS
“Smokin’ Joe” Pizzo has been part of the Rochester music scene for decades, performing locally as well as on stages in Las Vegas, Atlantic City, Miami and beyond. His career has included performances with The Legendary Dukes and alongside members of Spyro Gyra and the Commander Cody Band, as well as appearances with Brian Wilson and numerous Elvis tribute artists.
Known for his powerful, hard-hitting style, Joe provides the rhythmic backbone of Brave Strangers. Offstage, he has spent 30 years as the owner of Smokin’ Joe’s, a Rochester bar and longtime supporter of the local music community.
THE SEGERETTES
Dawn “Miss Peel” Paulino, Mary Woods, Beth Borrello
Dawn Paulino
Contralto • The Segerettes
Dawn Paulino brings a rich contralto voice and rock & roll energy to the Segerettes. Influenced by artists including Patsy Cline, Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, her vocal style blends strength, soul and expressive harmony.
Before joining Brave Strangers, Dawn performed with Rochester-area bands including Poison Whiskey, T-Blast and the Horn Dogs, and Gatorface. Her powerful lower register adds depth to the layered backing vocals that are an essential part of the Brave Strangers sound.
Mary Woods
Soprano • The Segerettes
Mary Woods is a versatile soprano whose musical background spans gospel, R&B, classic rock and country. Her wide vocal range and lyrical style allow her to move easily between powerful lead passages and nuanced harmony.
As a Segerette, Mary brings clarity and range to Brave Strangers’ three-part backing vocals, helping recreate the layered vocal sound that is an essential part of the band’s live production.
Beth Borrello
Alto • The Segerettes
Beth Borrello brings more than 25 years of experience in music education and live performance to Brave Strangers. Her musical background includes performing with bands such as Sugarstatic, Krush, Adrenaline, Karma and Proper Villains, as well as serving as vocal music director for a stage production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
As one of the Segerettes, Beth brings powerful alto harmonies, soulful vocals and rock & roll energy to the layered sound of Brave Strangers.
Runaway Train Horn Section
Visting Trombonists | Dan Fitzgerald, Trumpet | Steve Beamish, Saxophone
Visiting Trombonists
Trombone • Runaway Train Horn Section
Brave Strangers is joined by experienced visiting trombonists as part of the Runaway Train Horn Section.
Dan Fitzgerald
Trumpet • Runaway Train Horn Section
Dan Fitzgerald is a seasoned freelance trumpet player with more than 40 years of performance experience. A U.S. Army veteran, he served as a member of the U.S. Army Band and has performed with ensembles including Prime Time Brass, the Jack Allen Big Band, Your American Jukebox and Rochester’s Brass Taxi.
His career has included appearances at events such as the Rochester International Jazz Festival and Mardi Gras, with performances spanning jazz, rock and big band music. Dan brings that experience and versatility to Brave Strangers as a member of the Runaway Train Horn Section.
Steve Beamish
Tenor Saxophone • Runaway Train Horn Section
Steve Beamish is an accomplished woodwind specialist with decades of experience as a performer, arranger and music educator. A graduate of the Eastman School of Music and the University at Buffalo, he spent 33 years teaching music in New York public schools while also serving in music and performing arts leadership roles.
An active member of the Rochester music scene, Steve is music director, lead alto saxophonist and arranger for Your American Jukebox and performs as lead alto saxophonist and clarinetist with The Krazy Firemen. He also works as a freelance woodwind performer throughout the region
BIG JOHN
FRIELLO
EVENTS MANAGER
John Friello brings 35 years of experience in the automotive industry and professional sales to his role with Brave Strangers.
He coordinates merchandise sales, show logistics and on-site requirements, working with sound and lighting technicians to help ensure smooth, professionally managed performances.
FOURTEEN MUSICIANS. ONE LIVE EXPERIENCE
Together, Brave Strangers brings the musicianship, scale and energy of a full ensemble to the music of Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band—honoring the songs while bringing them to life for audiences today.
