Dynamic Duo Offers Irrefutable Wall of Sound

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The Irrefutables, comprised of Tommy Turonis (left) and Amanda Kay Rhone, are looking forward to playing at a venue in your town. Look for information on local gigs at their Facebook page and tell the owner/manager of your favorite bar, pub, or tavern that you’d like to see The Irrefutables on their entertainment schedule.

There are scores of guitar players in northeast Pennsylvania, many of them honing their skills and sharing their talents as soloists or with a friend or two as quiet background music at venues where live music is anticipated but sometimes taken for granted. Along come The Irrefutables, and heads turn and ears and eyes open wide.

We are not an acoustic act,” Irrefutables guitarist Tommy Turonis asserts up front. He and vocalist Amanda Kay Rhone are proud of the full sound they can deliver with electric guitar and contemporary processing. The pairing of the two was “musical magic,” he explains, as they discovered a blend of vocal quality and musical style rarely found in live local performances.

Both Turonis and Rhone currently reside in Exeter. Turonis cites a lifetime of honing his guitar licks, having played with many local bands and also in Tampa, FL. The Irrefutables formed less than a year ago, but audience members would be hard pressed to believe that it took just 10 months for the duo to forge their irresistible sound and unique brand of fun.

Amanda brings style and smile to this team,” says Turonis. “Her powerful and sultry voice hypnotizes audiences. Her joy of performing is infectious.”

He’s such an amazing guitar player and an awesome teacher,” Rhone says of her partner, adding that she might never have gotten beyond singing by herself in her staircase if Turonis had not recognized her talent and pushed her to the forefront. “He inspires me not just in music but with life in general.”

Turonis admits that he brings most of the classic rock and alternative influence to the duo’s eclectic repertoire. He credits Rhone for balancing out the playlist with songs more influenced by country music and R&B. She is a long-time fan of Dolly Parton, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Nettles, Ani DiFranco, and Patsy Cline.

The Irrefutables can count on a solid reaction to their renditions of songs by Kid Rock & Sheryl Crow, Sugarland, Jewel, and Kellie Pickler. But audience members are often spontaneously electrified by the tunes that Turonis and Rhone seemingly pull from the bottom of the bag. Necks crane and heads bob, as bar patrons recognize obscure melodies from their pasts.

It’s fun to see the expressions and then hear the compliments after we play them,” Rhone says of the duo’s unique arrangements of songs like “Cruel to be Kind,” “Killing Me Softly,” and “Toxic.”

There is much more at play than “daring to be different,” as Turonis puts it. The Irrefutables go out of their way to create a larger, richer sound through which they can deliver a wide variety of music that suits every pallet. Feeling comfortable with the reputation they are building as dependable and professional musicians who can assimilate to crowds both large and small, Turonis indicated that they are willing, as well, to break some new ground in 2015.

Our plan has been to cut our teeth by traveling and playing as often as possible to round out our sound, then move to a full band,” Turonis explains. “We are eventually going to a four-piece act, including drums and bass, and are currently auditioning.”

Turonis played drums with local bands in the 1980s and 90s and played both trumpet and piano in his first band. Rhone has been picking up her guitar more often to join Turonis in adding another layer to their wall of sound. The Irrefutables travel with full stage lighting and even an area carpet that gives their set a homey, cozy appeal. “Everybody loves the rugs,” Turonis jokes.

The team’s primary goal is to secure monthly bookings at new venues that already appeal to mixed age groups and draw patrons who are enthusiastic about music. “We simply aim to bring a unique style and sound and to see smiles and hear folks sing along with us,” Turonis related, noting that he and Rhone love to engage a crowd. “We are both strong believers that music helps heal.”

Booking for The Irrefutables is handled by Josie Kamensky Winsock, who can be reached at 570-690-7777 or via The Irrefutables’ Facebook page. The musicians look forward to traveling more extensively in the summer into New York state and the Poconos. Turonis stresses the importance of forging strong personal relationships with venue managers in order to satisfy existing clientèle and attract new patrons. Promotion, he adds, is a two-way street. “We advertise and market heavily for our clients!”

The Irrefutables will play at The Lake Carey Inn (http://www.endlessmtnlifestyles.com/?p=3263) on Friday, Jan. 30.

 

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