Full circle for rocking Masterton band

Comfortably Numb includes bassist and vocalist Jeff Thorne, left, rhythm guitarist and vocalist Vern Thorne, drummer and vocalist Ricky Luff, and lead guitarist and vocalist Lennie "T" Te Whare.

Musicians in the Masterton band Comfortably Numb have come "full circle" since two of the players last took the stage together about twenty years ago.

Ricky Luff , Masterton music teacher and band drummer, singer and soundman, said he and the other band members -- rhythm guitarist and vocalist Vern Thorne, bassist and vocalist Jeff Thorne, and lead guitarist and vocalist Lennie "T" Te Whare -- had been friends for just as long, and the band had revived their musical fortunes together in 2013.

"I was asked if I wanted to go round and have a jam. That's how the band started. We got Lennie involved a little later. We're more or less all long-time musicians and friends and we've really come full circle."

He said Vern Thorne and his brother Jeff, who respectively work day jobs with a glass firm and an engineering company, were his old mates, with Luff and Vern last taking the stage together in an early 90s band called Mischief, in which Vern played drums and Luff lead guitar.

Comfortably Numb had been practising up until last year at a home in Kiwi St but had shifted their gear to a bare shed at Luff's home after landing a noise abatement notice from Masterton District Council.

Luff decided to revamp his garage and, with help from Carroll's Joinery, had fitted out the space with a stage, lights and video and recording gear the band use for original jams and compositions.

"We started using Railway Inn as a place to practise in December, but it's also a place to relax and to record our original songs as well."

He named the rehearsal and relaxation space The Railway Inn and the title also graces a website Te Whare created for the band featuring a band biography, photos, videos and digital blooper reels.

Comfortably Numb -- from the Pink Floyd tune of the same name -- staged their performance debut at the Pukemanu Bullride in Martinborough in March and will next perform at the Masterton Cosmopolitan Club on June 20.

The band were hoping to fill the bottom bar and "do our bit to help keep the Cossie open", Luff said.

He said the band have a covers repertoire of about 70 songs ranging from Pink Floyd, the Police and America and the four-piece plan on road-testing an original tune or two at the upcoming gig in Masterton as well.

"We're working on more originals and we'll be recording and performing them as we lay them down."

For more information on the band go online to www.the-railway-inn.com. To book the band call Lennie "T" Te Whare at 027 916 9693.