FEATURES
Instructor moonlights as rock musician
Mild-mannered Tom Maland teaches Latin to college and high school students five days a week, but once a month he lets his hair down, takes his glasses off and picks up his guitar to play lead for the local band Rough Rider.
Maland began playing guitar at age 10 and it became a lifelong passion. He has been playing for over forty years.
“When I got into trouble and got sent to my room, I would just play. I played any chance I could get,” said Maland.
In eighth grade, Maland formed Rough Rider. Since its inception musicians have come and gone. The current incarnation of the band has 6 members, including Maland.
Husband and wife Rick and Sue Reinfried play the guitar and keyboard, respectively. Chris Johnson is on the drum kit, and his brother Steve plays the bass guitar. Rick Finegan sings lead.
Rick Rienfried is the only founding member other than Maland in the Rough Rider lineup.
With four decades behind them, Rough Rider manages to play with the intensity and gusto of a high school garage band.
That enthusiasm, coupled with their experience, has tuned their sound into a seamless performance. They have opened for acts like Creedence Clearwater Revisited, and Molly Hatchet, and have played shows for the Hell’s Angels.
On Saturday, Sept. 23, the ensemble convened at the Brass Rail Saloon from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., giving them time to fit in four sets before closing time.
“We’ve always loved southern rock, the Allman Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Molly Hatchet. It was great watching all those guys play when I was a kid,” Maland said.
His affinity for the style is evident in the Rough Rider set list. The band covers all of the crowd pleasers from aforementioned artists, and in addition includes classics by Pink Floyd, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, and the Doobie Brothers.Rough Rider captured the attention of the audience the minute they began. The crowd began to sing along, patrons watching television swiveled their stools around to see, and everyone clapped to the beat.
“We all work, so we only book one show a month, but when it comes, man we get pumped… it’s great to just get up there and play,” Maland said.
Rough Rider next show will be at the Brass Rail Saloon, located on the northwest corner of 38th Street and Thomas Road, on Oct. 26th .The date of a November show will be announced in the New Times, under the club listing for the Steel Horse.
Volume 44, Issue 4. Today is
