Live Music: Tin Can Alley @ Lost Province Downtown

Tin Can Alley was formed in 2006 as a way to deliver the lyrical power and driving rhythms of the classic soul, R&B, and rock of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s to smaller venues. By focusing on the wonderful vocal harmonies found in the songs released by Motown, Stax-Volt, and Atco-Atlantic, the Cans have developed a loyal following throughout Piedmont and Western NC. Recently this multi-talented trio has added more percussion for larger venues and continues to perform the music of Marvin Gaye, James Brown, The Beatles, The Coasters, and The Drifters as well as more contemporary artists Steve Winwood, Delbert McClinton, and Steely Dan and many more at festivals, clubs, restaurants, breweries, and wineries in the region.

Tin Can Alley is:

Don Story, guitar- One of the finest guitarists in North Carolina, Don is constantly in demand for live performances and studio work. He keeps a busy schedule teaching guitar, playing solo shows, and touring with the likes of Split Decision, Face the Music, Mel Jones and His Bag O’ Bones, and The Toneblazers, among others. From Wilkesboro, NC, he has played every Merlefest since its inception.

Calvin Johnson, bass- Growing up in a musical family from Winston-Salem, Calvin is a veteran multi-instrumentalist that has played blues, country, jazz, and rock and roll with Russ Wilson and His Mighty Men, Mel Melton and the Wicked Mojos, Max Drake, Armand Lemchek, the Mystery Hillbillies, Mel Jones and His Bag O’ Bones, and many more. He is also an accomplished sound technician and operates his own Calarama Studio.

Mel Jones, percussion, harmonica- Mel is from the R&B town of Chapel Hill, NC where he was drenched in the classic soul music of the 60’s as he was first learning to sing and play drums. After, moving to Davie County, NC he discovered North Carolina’s rich heritage of bluegrass, old time, and Piedmont blues, took up the harmonica and began to write and record his own material. He has played with such varied groups as Bro T Holla, the Stanley County Boys, and Split Decision as well as his own Wicker and Jones and Mel Jones and His Bag O’ Bones.