Everyone’s Favorite Wedding Band: Larry Lynch and the Mob

By Paula Philipps

If you're expecting to see a tough-guy a.k.a. Tony Soprano at the helm of this band, Larry Lynch and the Mob, fugedaboudit. What you will see is an accomplished drummer and vocalist who has accompanied the likes of Tom Petty, Police and Journey, just to name a few.

Larry Lynch hails from El Cerrito, California, where he first practiced his drums to the musical inspirations of Elvis Presley and, later, Ringo Starr. Although he was raised with four brothers and one sister, he was the only one of his siblings to pursue his musical ambitions.

"I started playing drums at 14, and my early gigs were playing at high school dances," says Lynch. "I was also inspired by Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seeger."

But it wasn't until 1976, when he met Greg Kihn that his talents and musical connections enabled him to launch a creatively-profitable musical career.

"I was introduced to Greg by my brother-in-law, who encouraged me to audition," Lynch says.

Kihn, a Bay Area musician who recorded the hit song "Jeopardy", and Larry toured the United States, Holland, Belgium, England and Germany. Along the way, they met musicians from Journey, Police and Jefferson Starship.

Larry honed his skills and developed his own musical sound, incorporating rock rock and roll talent with showmanship style. From there, he met Robbie Dunbar, a Bay Area guitar player, through Berserkley Records, and they paired up in 1984.

The band grew as Larry met keyboard and saxophone player Tim Stradnberg. Jonathan Bassil provided bass, vocalist Lauren Alexander joined the group and Larry Lynch and the Mob was well on its way to forming its unique style of high energy, low volume music.

Currently, Larry Lynch and the Mob plays for parties, weddings, corporate events and other special occasions where music and dancing are king.

"We can perform soft dinner music or turn the screws and rock like AC/DC," Larry says. "We want to see people dance and enjoy our music. We even invite them to come on stage and join us."

Larry says he and his band can play a large span of musical genre, and his greatest compliments come from his clients, who say Larry Lynch and the Mob is "the best wedding band out there." According to one client, "That was the best night I ever had."

Listening to Larry's crisp, clean vocals and understandable lyrics may be one reason for their success.

"We offer our clients a broad list of songs and can also play their favorites requests," Lynch adds. "Some want us to 'rock down the house', but we can also get mellow with Frank Sinatra tunes."

If it's "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Larry Lynch and the Mob are gonna' make you jive" or "I can't help falling in love with you," Larry Lynch delivers.

For more information on Larry Lynch and the Mob, call (510) 215-7664 or visit his website at: www.larrylynchandthemob.com