Members: Gus Alzona (lead guitar, vocals) -
Gus Alzona is living proof that a lead guitarist does not need an expensive vintage or modern guitar and/or the latest electronics in order to sound good enough to actually get paid to perform on a regular basis. :-)
As a toddler, Gus first moved to the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area a long time ago. After just minimal classical piano and singing experience, he played the role of the Captain in his elementary school’s production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s comic opera “H.M.S. Pinafore.” He taught himself to play guitar during the 1960s. In 1968 he founded what would later evolve into the Trademark band. In 1971 the band was booked by Cellar Door Productions to open for Alice Cooper at a college show in northern Virginia. In 1975 the band opened for Bruce Springsteen at a large club in College Park, Maryland. That same year Gus returned to college to eventually earn two degrees while maintaining a full-time day job and supporting a growing family. Since that time he has continued to maintain at least a part-time career as a professional musician over the decades since he first played guitar. From 1968 until 2006, the band was primarily a covers band that performed Top 40 hits as well as the most popular variety dance and rock tunes of those years. Trademark was booked by the top talent agencies in the tri-state area and performed at many premier venues.
From 1989 until 1995, Gus worked full-time in the entertainment business as a music video and record producer, business manager, songwriter and performing artist. With his former songwriting partner, lead singer and co-band member Karen Keane (in both Eurasia and Trademark), he produced, recorded and performed on their self-titled album "Eurasia" - named after the power pop / techno / rock duo that fronted the Trademark band during that same time period. Various cuts from the Eurasia album were played on a few alternative music and college radio stations throughout the world, plus received airplay on DC 101.1 (FM), the top local rock music radio station in the huge metropolitan Washington, D.C. area marketplace. In 1992, Gus won the top local music video award for his half hour production titled "Karen Keane of Eurasia." Though they ultimately did not sign with any of the major record company labels interested in producing and distributing their material, Eurasia nonetheless achieved the highest success and recognition any independent label act could have achieved at that time in the alternative, college radio and local music markets.
Even after re-entering the regular 9-to-5 corporate workforce in 1995, Gus continues to pursue his career as a working musician and band leader even to this day, albeit on a part-time basis. The Trademark band is currently a covers band that primarily performs classic rock tunes from the 1960s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and modern rock tunes, for private clients and local live music venues in the tri-state area. From early 2006 until just recently, the Trademark band has been comprised of four male musicians who sing, and also play one or more of the following instruments: lead guitar, bass guitar, keyboards and drums.
As a lead guitar player and backup vocalist, Gus has been influenced by the works of artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Carlos Santana, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton and Eddie Van Halen. Depending on the show, he uses a modified 2006 Washburn X10, a 1982 G&L SC-3 or a 1968 Gibson SG Special guitar as his primary "axe". He also uses various combinations of the following gear in order to produce the authentic "classic rock" sounds required for Trademark band shows: Marshall model 1982A JCM800 series 4-12" cabinet, Marshall Model 1933 JCM800 series 1-12" cabinet, Marshall 9001 lead series pre-amp combined with a 400 watt BGW 8000, Sundown SD1000H Artist Head, Kustom 200 head, 1969 model Acoustic 135 combo amp - 200 watt lead amp with 2-12" speakers, Boss DS-1 distortion pedal, Behringer Hell Babe Wah pedal, and/or a DOD 575 Flanger pedal.
Established: 1979, in a Washington, D.C. basement. :-)
How many shows do you perform per month?
About three to seven gigs per month.
What are some of the songs you perform live?
Danceable classic hits from the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and today!
867-5309/Jenny - Tommy Tutone
Ain’t Too Proud to Beg - Rolling Stones
All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix
All Right Now - Free
All Shook Up - Elvis
And I Love Her - Beatles
As Tears Go By - Rolling Stones
Bad Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce
Blue Suede Shoes Medley - Elvis/various
Boot Scootin' Boogie - Brooks and Dunn
Born to be Wild - Steppenwolf
Boulevard of Broken Dreams - Green Day
Boys - Beatles
Brick House - Commodores
Bring Me To Life - Evanescence
Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison
Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones
Can't Get Enough - Bad Company
Can't Help Falling In Love - Elvis
Celebration - Kool and the Gang
Dancing in the Dark - Bruce Springsteen
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Evil Ways - Santana
Fight For Your Right - Beastie Boys
Fire - Jimi Hendrix
Foxy Lady - Jimi Hendrix
Get Ready - Rare Earth
Get The Party Started - Pink
Gimme Some Lovin' - Spencer Davis Group
Give It Away - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Gloria - Shadows of the Night
Good Lovin' - Young Rascals
Great Balls Of Fire - Jerry Lee Lewis
Hang On Sloopy - The Real McCoys
Hard Days Night - Beatles
Honky Tonk Women - The Rolling Stones
House of the Rising Sun - The Animals
Hurts So Good - John Cougar
I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton
I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab For Cutie
I'm A Believer - Smash Mouth
I've Just Seen A Face - Beatles
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida - Iron Butterfly
Jailhouse Rock - Elvis
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
Jumpin' Jack Flash - Rolling Stones
Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison
Keep Your Hands To Yourself - Georgia Satellites
Knock On Wood - Eddie Floyd
Knockin' on Heaven’s Door - Eric Clapton
Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
La Bamba - Los Lobos
La Grange - ZZ Top
Livin' On A Prayer - Bonjovi
Lodi - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Long Train Runnin' - Doobie Brothers
Louie Louie - The Kingsmen
Lyin' Eyes - Eagles
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
Miss You - Rolling Stones
Mony Mony - Billy Idol
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
My Own Worst Enemy - Lit
Neon Moon - Brooks and Dunn
Norwegian Wood - Beatles
Oh Pretty Woman - Van Halen
Old Time Rock and Roll - Bob Seger
On Broadway - The Drifters
Peaceful Easy Feeling - Eagles
Pink Cadillac - Bruce Springsteen
Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry
Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Psycho Killer - Talking Heads
Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
Reelin' and Rockin' - Chuck Berry
Roadhouse Blues - Doors
Roadhouse Blues - The Doors
Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo - Rick Derringer
Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets
R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A. - John Cougar
Rock This Town - Stray Cats
Rockstar - Nickelback
Runaround Sue - Dion and the Belmonts
Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
Separate Ways - Worlds Apart - Journey
She's Not There - The Zombies
Smells Like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
Smoke On The Water - Deep Purple
Some Kind Of Wonderful - Grand Funk Railroad
Stand By Me - Ben E. King
Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
Summertime - The Zombies
Summertime Blues - The Who
Sunday Bloody Sunday - U2
Super Freak - Rick James
Sweet Home Alabama - Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sweet Home Chicago - Blues Brothers
Takin' Care Of Business - Bachman Turner Overdrive
The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King
Turn The Page - Bob Seger
Tush - ZZ Top
Twist And Shout - Beatles
Unchain My Heart - Joe Cocker
Vertigo - U2
Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Jimi Hendrix
Walk This Way - Aerosmith
Walking On The Sun - Smash Mouth
We Gotta Get Out Of This Place - The Animals
What I Like About You - The Romantics
White Wedding - Billy Idol
Whiter Shade Of Pale - Procol Harum
Wild Wild Life - Talking Heads
Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton
Word Up - Cameo
Words - Bee Gees
Yesterday - Beatles
You Are So Beautiful - Joe Cocker
You Give Love a Bad Name - Bonjovi
You May Be Right - Billy Joel
You Really Got Me - Van Halen
You've Got To Hide Your Love Away - Beatles
You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling - Righteous Brothers
Where have you performed?
Experience does matter!
(A partial list of venues where Trademark has performed)
Public:
Belvedere Hotel
Bethesda Marriott
Bethesda Place Plaza
Bethesda Summer Concert Series
Blue Water Grille
Capital Hilton
Captain White's
Chaney's on the Beach
Clyde's of Chevy Chase
Corinthian Lounge and Restaurant
Dutch Mill Lounge
Fast Eddie's of Fairfax
Fiesta Asia
Gaithersburg Hilton
Grand Hyatt Washington
Hard Times Cafe Bethesda
Key Bridge Marriott
J.W. Marriott
Kirkpatrick's Irish Pubs
Marriott Wardham
Metropolitan Center for the Visual Arts
Merritt House II
National Apple Harvest Festival
Nick's Corner Grill
Omni Shoreham
Outta The Way Cafe
Quince Orchard Library Communty Festival
Pall Mall Georgetown
Reckless Ric's
Renaissance Mayflower
Ri Ra Irish Pub Bethesda
Tavern on the Lake
The Four Seasons Georgetown
The Hays-Adams
The Jetty
The Kourtyard
The Pit Stop
The River Inn
Sheraton National
Sheraton Washington
Squire Rockwell's Lounge
Star Diner
Sully's
Sweetheart's
Vera's White Sands Beach Club
Washington Hilton
Willard Intercontinental Hotel
Windsor Inn
Zodiac Lounge
Zoo Bar Cafe DC
Private:
Argyle Country Club
Bethesda Country Club
Chartwell Golf and Country Club
Columbia Country Club
Congressional Country Club
Fauquier Springs Country Club
Gibson Island Club
Indian Spring Country Club
Kent Island Yacht Club
Kenwood Country Club
Lakewood Country Club
Manor Country Club
Robert Trent Jones Golf Club
Tantallon Country Club
TPC Avenel
Washington Golf and Country Club
Woman's Club of Bethesda