Celebrating their 9th year together in November of 2010, The Yard Dogs are one of Florida's hottest bands, performing original uplifting and entertaining music which blends Zydeco, blues, blue grass, Cajun, country, folk and rock which they call "Florida Swamp Music". The Yard Dogs unique sound is due to the mixture of three eclectic musical instruments and musicians.
Charlie Kuchler on accordion and keyboards is a lifelong musician and has performed with C.J. Chenier, Buckwheat Zydeco and Jimmy Buffett. He has performed at such venues as the House of Blues, Milwaukee's Summerfest and Ohio's famous Put-In-Bay. He has shared the stage with U-2, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon and others. Along with being an accomplished musician Charlie has also been a booking agent, national talent buyer and promoter.
Kip Lawrence performs on a guit-jo which is 6 string banjo with incredible percussive qualities. In 1999 he recorded a solo CD "Alone With A Song" and toured the East coast after receiving radio air play. He also founded The SW Florida Blues Fest, Creative Coast Concerts and The SW Florida Songwriters Fest.
It's hard to believe a graduate from West Point would end up playing a bass instrument called a Rhumba Box, harmonica and a scrub board for a living, but that's just what Brian Travis did. Brian has developed as a musician by accompanying fellow performers on stage at gigs and open jams. He was soon in a duo that played weekly at the musical Mecca known as Bert's Bar in Matlacha, Florida. That's where he met Charlie and Kip at an open stage jam session. As the 3 played together they developed a huge following and are drawing large crowds across the country.
The Yard Dogs live show is upbeat, entertaining and fun. Charlie and Kip dance through the crowd, via wireless microphones, exhorting the audience to a frenzy while Brian holds down the bass and occasionally steps out front with his blues harp and scrub board. You never have a dull show with the Yard Dogs. Just ask one of their many fans.
The Yard Dogs have played many of the top venues in Florida including Skipper's Smokehouse in Tampa and The Green Parrot and Schooner's Wharf in Key West. The Yard Dogs frequently tour the Mid-west with stops in Milwaukee, Indiana, Madison, The Wisconsin Dells, Lake Of The Ozarks, New York, Indiana, Iowa and many other northern states. They are enjoyed by thousands at many festivals like Waterfest, EAA Air Show, Wisconsin State Fair, The Cajun/Zydeco Festval in Deerfield Beach, The Watertown Riverfest in Watertown, Wisconsin, The SW Florida Music Festival and The Cajun-Fest in North Fort Myers, to name a few.
Since their beginning in Matlacha, Fl, they have released 9 cd's of original "Florida Swamp Music". Come on out and see them sometime when you want to laugh, cry, dance and celebrate life.