It wasn’t until after the release of “The Way That You Roll” in 2007 that John and Ron Beitle got serious about performing the Nied’s Hotel recordings through live shows. In the early days the line up changed so frequently that John and Ron couldn’t even keep track of their mates. Along the way some fine players became NHB alums: John Fox, Bruce Cody, Al McConville, Joe Birch, John Fiore, Rhonda Watson, Carmen Petote, and most importantly singer/songwriter Stephen Christopher. Christopher has left his mark on the band by composing NHB’s classic tunes “600 Under”, along with the opening track, “Need A Lover” from their 2012 album, “Side One”. Everything changed however in early 2009 when Beitle recruited his life-long friend Russ Oblinger (bassist) to join the band. Russ had just returned to Pittsburgh after a long and successful career as one of Detroit’s best session players. With Beitle on drums and Oblinger on bass, NHB had formed a tight and accomplished rhythm section! The band began to fine tune its sound and develop more original material. Within a year or so Christopher, and Cody left the group and were replaced by Tim Hadley, Fred Delu, Ed Jonnet, and in early 2011, Jim McCullough joined the band. With a consistent line up and a killer new sound The Nied’s Hotel Band went to work writing and arranging new, original songs and creating a live show that reflected the band’s powerful personality.
By May of 2011, NHB was ready to enter the studio with passion, energy, and a single minded vision to make a real rock-n-roll album, with a real performing band. No gimmicks, no digital magic, just a well rehearsed solid band entering the studio to play and record as one. The band took their talents to the woods of Corbriwood Studios (West Deer, PA), and simply performed live in the studio. The Corbriwood sessions were recorded by engineer Michael Ehman. In less than seven working days, The Nied’s Hotel Band laid down many songs, some of which became the new album “Side One”. The live studio recordings were then sent to Beacon Hill Recording Studio (Dormont, PA.), where Buddy Hall processed and mixed the tracks. Buddy, like the band members, was very committed to maintaining the live sound of the Corbriwood sessions. Painstaking time was taken so that the spontaneity and passion of the studio performances were not compromised in any way. The result is an incredible collection of rock-n-roll music called “Side One”. Don’t take our word for it, check out the album now.