SHOWS
Sugar Slice Summer Soirée — 7 to 10 PM
THE BAND
Sugar Slice is a NYC area quintet exploring the feel-good grooves of vintage rock, gritty country, and cosmic funk and soul. Founding members Adam Dell and Doug Schneider have been performing together for 30+ years, first in the groundbreaking alt-country group Shoe and later resurrecting the nationally-touring Dude of Life Band with Phish lyricist Steve Pollak. With the additions of critically-acclaimed keyboardist Redd Waters, rhythm guitarist Keith Menton and bassist Rich Strohmenger, Sugar Slice is ready to explore new sonic horizons, with original music and deep-dive covers.
Doug Schneider
Drums
Doug's musical journey began at 13 with a replica Ringo Starr kit. A self-taught left-handed drummer playing on a right-handed setup, he developed a distinctive style rooted in deep listening and finding the pocket that best serves the song. In the early 2000s, Doug co-founded the NYC alt-country group Shoe alongside Adam, later expanding his role as a songwriter and backing vocalist with the Americana band Greetings from Anywhere, formed in 2008. In 2019, he joined the Dude of Life Band with Phish lyricist Steve Pollak. Mentored in recent years by rhythm master Ed Bettinelli, Doug continues to explore new sonic directions in his playing. He has been a WTS Drums artist since 2022. His drumming idols are Levon Helm and Elvin Jones.
Adam C. Dell
Guitar
Adam fell in love with music at an early age, inheriting his mother's appreciation for great songs and turning it into a lifelong passion. Adam plays guitar, sings and writes original songs. His favorite hobby is playing the piano. In 2000, he started the band Shoe with Doug, laying the foundation for years of writing and performing. In 2010, while living in the British Virgin Islands, Adam formed the trio, DaTreeMen. During that time, he wrote songs like "Bushwacker," "Cane Garden Bay," and "Virgin Gorda," all inspired by island life. He also spent a period playing with the Dude of Life band. His musical influences include Jimi Hendrix, Jerry Garcia, and Keith Menton.
Keith Mention
bio.keith.role
Keith first tasted fame in middle school with a raucous rendition of "Louie Louie" at a pool party. Success quickly went to his head, leading to years of chaotic musical misadventures: scandal with a Mongolian throat singer, a Russian prison term that turned him into a world-class harmonica player, and repaying debts by playing bass in Buenos Aires and Appalachian coal-mine gambling clubs. Sugar Slice is his long-awaited return to music. Keith is extremely cool.
Redd Waters
Piano
Benjamin Henao Laufer, known professionally as Redd Waters, is a pianist and vocalist from Rye Brook, New York. He began playing blues piano and singing at the age of seven, inspired by the music his father introduced him to, including artists such as Muddy Waters and B.B. King. He graduated from Berklee College of Music, where he studied jazz piano under renowned pianist Joanne Brackeen. In addition to his formal education, he studied with acclaimed jazz organist and pianist Mike LeDonne in New York City. Redd Waters released his debut album Dirt and Ash in 2021, followed by Silver Moon in 2022, showcasing his blend of blues, jazz, and modern influences. He is currently a member of the Westchester, New York–based band Sugar Slice.
Rich Strohmenger
Bass
Rich Strohmenger has loved music since he got his first Fisher-Price toy record player at age 3. At a young age he was exposed to classics like the Beach Boys, James Taylor, Tom Petty, and Bruce Springsteen. Once his brothers introduced him to the Grateful Dead and Phish, that music became his passion and led Rich into a life-long love of live music and improvisation. His musical journey expanded into a love of New Orleans funk, soul, jazz, reggae and groove-heavy music of all kinds. A self-taught musician, his playing is influenced by his favorite bassists — Phil Lesh, Mike Gordon, and George Porter Jr. He played bass in Hey Blinkin and the Butterfat Brothers, and is proud to be holding down the low end in Sugar Slice.
CONTACT US
