Posted on

Rockin’ in harmony

Central Iowa group brings the fun and energy to outdoor shows across the state

From left: rhythm guitarist Mark Manning, bassist Steve Radke, lead singer Mary Harding, lead guitarist Ben Busiek and drummer/booking agent John Withers make up the 70s-90s cover band Toaster. Not pictured is Tony Santi, who will play drums in Charles City on Friday evening, and sound technician Mark Duffy.  Contributed photo
From left: rhythm guitarist Mark Manning, bassist Steve Radke, lead singer Mary Harding, lead guitarist Ben Busiek and drummer/booking agent John Withers make up the 70s-90s cover band Toaster. Not pictured is Tony Santi, who will play drums in Charles City on Friday evening, and sound technician Mark Duffy. Contributed photo

By Kate Hayden

khayden@charlescitypress.com

Mary Harding has a stellar voice. Clear, hitting the notes right on the head, just enough of a sharp edge to it –– perfectly suspended in air when she’s holding a note. Harding sounds like rock.

She’s one of the two newest members of Toaster, playing tonight at Party in the Park. First founded in 1986 by members Steve Radke, bass, and Mark Manning, rhythm guitar, Toaster has lasted through the years and band member switch-arounds with a sturdy central Iowa reputation intact.

Tonight’s lineup includes Manning and Radke, Harding as lead vocalist, lead guitarist Ben Busiek –– also new within the last few years –– drummer Tony Santi and sound technician/engineer Mark Duffy.

“He’s the one who makes us sound good,” joked John Withers, booking agent and part-time drummer with Santi.

It’s Toaster’s second time returning to Charles City, bringing a roster full of music from the 1970s, 80s and 90s, with some early 2000s rounding out the night. They specialize in the 80s and 90s, Withers said. Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Pat Benatar…

“Anything by AC/DC we get asked to play a lot. Any cover band will say at least once a show you get asked to play Lynyrd Skynyrd. Journey and Toto too,” Withers said. “We specialize with our vocal range and our harmonies. Other groups may have trouble doing them because they don’t have a four-part harmony. It’s hard to cover if you don’t have a good assortment of vocalists, and we do.”

With Harding and Busiek joining the lineup, the group’s expanded their setlist to catch the younger listeners’ ears.

“They’re a generation away from the rest of us. They brought some things to the table, and if you’re going to be a successful band you have to be a democracy,” Withers said.

Based out of Des Moines, the group specializes in outdoor festival sounds. They keep busy from June to September traveling Iowa and into Minnesota or Nebraska on the weekends, playing town Bike Nights, Zoo Brews in Des Moines and the Steer and Stein stand at the Iowa State Fair –– between 22 and 28 shows a year.

“We spread the vocals around, we really do. Mary and Mark will foot most of it, do 85 to 90 percent of the leads. I, or sometimes Tony and Ben will do the rest,” Withers said. “Mary is –– if you want to watch a spark person in action that’s her. She’s engaging the crowd…Everybody gets showcased during a performance. We spread the love.”  

Social Share

LATEST NEWS