Mark Jay - Lead Vocals
Like many WNY'ers that love music I have had a long history with music and recording. I am a guitar player, song writer and have written and recorded much many original over a 30 year span. In the 1990's I was the singer and leader of an all original project called "Caution". The material was progressive and we were fortunate to enjoy some local success. Family life took over for a while and I mainly kept my passion alive by recording and playing at home and visiting local taverns for Karaoke. It is in these last 5 years I really started to focus more on vocals again. I became committed on refining my techniques to increase my range, deliver strong tone and I learned some new tricks from vocal tutorials, other singers, and trial and error. While I am still recording an original CD with Greg Czech (drummer MCCarthyism) I have really come to enjoy singing and performing cover music as well.
My tastes are diversified so meeting these guys was a true blessing . I love the mix! 70s classic, pop tunes, The Hip, 1990s grunge etc... the eclectic mix is what drew me to this project. I have found in my life that most people who really like music often respond to the question What kind of music do you like " by saying ALL...except country lol. While it is true I am not a country fan most everything else is on the table. Kings Madness is a perfect project for me. The diversity of the music and the Medieval theme and a great fit. I hope to both sing and entertain in this band and I think the musicianship is outstanding so I feel lucky to be part of Kings Madness!
Mark Waley - Guitar
Mark's main axe is his Wine Red Gibson Les Paul Studio. His tone comes from a Victory Sheriff 22 head (or sometimes a Marshall DSL40CR) and Celestion v30 loaded cab. For FX, Mark uses an arrary traditional analog stomp boxes mounted in a homemade aluminum pedalboard. Mark's main job is keeping the band together with solid rhythm along with the Bass. He and Mike compliment each others playing perfectly.
Mike DiStefano - Lead Guitar
Mike has been in a band with Mark since 1997, and about a dozen other ones before that. To call him seasoned, would be an understatement…more like salty!! Hard rock at heart but also a fan lots of other styles. He is constantly learning, new techniques and theory. Originally influenced by greats like Michael Schenker, Joe Satriani, David Gilmore, Jimi Hendrix, and 80s metal in general, his style is a mash of technique and recklessness. Whatever, it's all rock and roll.
Mike is usually seen with a '67 Flying V he's had for 20+ years…a reliable old friend, and any number of other Stratocasters or Les Pauls, usually amped up with a Marshall. It's old school. Mike's been nominated several times over the years in the WNY People's Choice Awards and Buffalo Music Awards.
Alex Rzepka - Drums
Alex started playing drums in 6th grade (2014) playing in the jazz band and taking lessons from Damone Jackson. He soon began getting a huge influence from James brown as well as other funk music. He progressed to learning and playing a lot of rush, with Neil Peart being his biggest influence as well as Taylor Hawkins and Chad Smith.
He has previously played with Below the Salt and still plays with Dutch Rocket. He plays Sabina cymbals and Pearl Drums.
Giulio Genua - Bass Guitar
Giulio the Thunder-Bringer didn’t choose the bass life — the bass life ambushed him on a guitar missing two strings sometime in the 1970s. Legend holds he played “Iron Man” and the heavens rumbled in approval.
Gifted his first true bass by his noble brother (a tale still sung in minstrel tents), Giulio set forth on a quest to master the sacred works of Sir Geddy of House Lee, Lord Squire of Yes-shire, and other keepers of the Low-End Scrolls.
Centuries (fine — decades) later, Giulio has battled across great Eastern kingdoms, finishing 11th out of 5,400 warriors in the Bodog Tournament of Sonic Combat. He joined King’s Madness in 2009, where he now commands the royal low frequencies, shaking castle walls, tankards, and occasionally small livestock.
He wields mighty five-string weapons forged by Sandberg and Lakland, powered by a GK spell-engine capable of leveling taverns and scaring drummers into good behavior.
Kneel not — just bang thy head and feel the rumble.
Brian "B-Kong" Congdon - Vocals / Rap
Karaoke star turned Rockstar. After performing in a karaoke contest he was invited to do a song with the band. Well the rest is history as he is a full pledged member. Bringing his own unique form and style to the band he is an entertainer through and through. With musicals and plays as a background he fits in perfectly with some of the skits and acting moments. He knows the basics of keyboard and bass guitar while knowing several jams on the guitar and has even written a few of his own songs. Looking up to his father, another guitar player and singer, the guitar called to him but the microphone calls to him the most. Weather it be rapping, singing or SCREAMING he brings his all every time.