Brian moved from Wisconsin to Memphis on the day Stevie Ray Vaughan died – August 27, 1990. He grew up listening to his dad’s Johnny Cash 8-tracks and his mom’s Ricky Nelson 45s – you can guess that Luther Perkins, Joe Maphis, and James Burton were a big influence! The final “nail in the coffin” was hearing Brian Setzer’s guitar with the Stray Cats in the early ’80s. He played all over Wisconsin with Neon Rainbow and The Back Again Show Band while attending UW Oshkosh. 

Upon moving to Memphis he played ’90s country & southern rock with The Ridgerunners.  The rockabilly band finally came together in 1994 when he met Steve Clark on upright bass and Clay Wallace on drums forming Butch Wax & The Flat Tops. Different versions of that band played Overton Park Shell, Dan McGuiness Peabody Place and special events. After taking a few years off, in 2010 he joined Steve who was playing with Brandon Cunning & Rick McFarland in the Stunning Cunning Band. Through 2015 they played at Blues City on Beale, Huey’s, Beatles On The Ridge, Depot Days, St Jude Marathon, Hard Rock Cafe, Levitt Shell and many festivals. We even had the original rock’n’roll drummer from Sun Studio, JM Van Eaton, join us for several shows! Brian, Steve, & Rick formed the TN Fireballs in late 2015, recorded a CD (see the music tab above), and played shows at Alfred’s On Beale and in Newport, Ark. From 2017-18 he played with Gary Hardy as one of the Memphis 2 doing a Johnny Cash tribute show at Alfred’s On Beale. Up until covid shut down everything, Brian played with Brandon Cunning every Sunday night at Blues City on Beale. He also reunited with Steve Clark (Stunning Cunning Band) and Rodney Polk (Jason D. Williams) as one of the Bluff City Troubadours. 

Since late 2017 Brian has played behind piano man Jason D. Williams at venues & events across the US! Some events included Dallas Cowboys pregame shows at AT&T Stadium, opening for The Marshall Tucker Band & Lynyrd Skynyrd, and even sharing the stage with Rev. Horton Heat & Chuck Meade! 

Brian is part of the new Rob & The Rockin’ 88s who made their debut at Blues City on Beale May 13, 2021! Rob Haynes, Rodney Polk, Steve Clark, and Brian bring you Memphis piano boogie, rockabilly, and more every Monday night 7-11 at Blues City On Beale!

Plans are to hit the stage again with Brandon Cunning soon!Watch here for new things happening as things reopen from the covid shutdown.Along with his “real” job at Amro Music (since 1991) Brian runs Galaxie 500 Audio – with mobile 24 track recording and tracking with ProTools, mixdown, and mastering available to local musicians.

Mario Monterosso is an Italian guitarist, singer, songwriter, arranger and producer.

Born in Catania, Sicily, and as young boy he’s influenced by all Sun Records artists. In 2003 he moved to Rome and started collaborating with many Italian artists including Carmen Consoli.

July 2016 he moved to Memphis Tennessee where he lives and has made quite a name for himself about town. Playing and touring with both Jason D. Williams and Dale Watson on a regular basis.

Mario is a talented and accomplished musical writer as well, he is author of the Play Musical Comedy “Fui e Sono Eddie Redmount” performed in many Italian Theaters.

Mario also wrote and collaborated with Jason D. on a number of songs due to be released in 2022.