Island’s ‘Worst Band’ Tunes in to Fans With Comedy
By Ryan Schlehuber

The funny side of Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers, seen here during its gig at Horn’s Gaslight Bar Tuesday evening, August 16, is what fans love best.

As far as music is concerned, Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers is not your Average Joe band; it is much worse. Though the five members dub themselves as “the worst band on Mackinac Island,” they have somehow become the darling band of the Island, mostly because of their comical rock entertainment.

With more than a dozen bars on the Island, with many of them providing musical entertainment for their patrons, the Island sees many musicians perform. Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers, however, brings a rare batch of silly youth playfulness and comical antics that make up for their lack of musical talent.

The serious side of Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers, Mackinac Island’s comedy rock band, is rarely seen. Pictured are (from left) drummer Matt Landers, lead guitarist Joey Porter, lead vocalist John “Lou” Deroshia, bass guitarist Jimmy “The Snake” Cicala, and rhythm guitarist John Heinonen.

“We’re horribly terrific,” said bass guitarist Jimmy “The Snake” Cicala of Detroit, describing his band, which played at Horn’s Gaslight Bar Tuesday evening, August 16. The band also played at French Outpost Sunday, September 4, raising $800 that will be donated to the Hurricane Katrina relief fund ($400 of that was matched by French Outpost).

The band members each know how to play their instruments and play well together, never losing the beat. At times, though rare, even the singing is arguably good.

“We’re definitely a work in progress, getting better through the years,” said lead vocalist John “Lou” Deroshia. He explained that it will take a while for them to improve, since the only time they practice is when they are performing.

So why does this band appeal to so many people?

“I think our success can be attributed to the pure fun and energy and ‘professionality’ we bring to the fans,” said Mr. Deroshia.

It is friends playing music and acting goofy in front of many friends that Mr. Cicala says is what is most appealing.

“It’s one of the few things in life where you don’t care about anything else but to go up on stage and enjoy a good time with the band and fans alike,” said Mr. Cicala.

“It’s because they’re all hot!” exclaimed Jenny Barr of New York.

Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers has played twice on the Island this summer and twice in Birmingham this year. It has played on the Island each summer since it was started in 1996. Mr. Deroshia said the band is scheduling an appearance at the Tap Room in the Midtown Cafe in Birmingham on Old Woodard Street Friday, September 23. The members are also working on a trip to Europe and playing a gig on foreign soil for the first time.

Though their antics are entertaining, such as the “Louie Kick,” the band members dressing up in weird clothes, stage diving into the worm dance, or Mr. Cicala cutting his own hair during sets, it is the fact that they relate to their fans that makes them so popular. Most of their fans are Island summer workers, just like all of the band members are, or have been.

Cesilee Dean of St. Ignace, who is a qualifier for the national semi-final karaoke contest in Tennessee in November, went on stage this summer and sang with the band for a couple songs.

“They’re hilarious,” she said. “They’re fun to watch. It’s a great time, because we know who they are. They’re fun, local people, just like us.”

Lead guitarist Joey Porter is a bartender at the Pink Pony bar. His family is well known on the Island. His father, Phil, who also knows how to play a little guitar, is director of Mackinac State Historic Parks.

Mr. Deroshia is a former dock porter who now sells restaurant supplies with his father, Louie, in Cheboygan. The Deroshias were former Island residents.

Mr. Cicala is a dock porter for Arnold Transit Company, and his brother, Joe, is owner of Martha’s Sweet Shop on the Island. Both drummer Matt Landers of Marquette and John Heinonen of Las Vegas are former Island employees. Mr. Landers used to work at the Chippewa Hotel while Mr. Heinonen has spent summers at the Pub Oyster Bar and the former Pilot House.

Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers has been a sort of brotherhood for those select Island workers who have joined the band by having at least some music talent and loads of comic characteristics. Mr. Deroshia, one of the founding fathers of the band, said there have been at least 15 members so far.

Hot Carl was spawned through the camaraderie of four friends who came up with the idea in 1996, hanging out and playing in the basement of the Mission View house on the Island. The band’s first gig was in 2000, at Patrick Sinclair’s Irish Pub on the Island.

The original members were Will Porter, Joey Porter’s older brother, Nate Dore, Mr. Deroshia, and Ben Musser, related to the Musser family of Grand Hotel.

“I’ve been in a bunch of other bands, but this one is the most fun I’ve had,” said Mr. Landers. “It’s all on the fly, whatever you do is right. I think that is what fans like about us, they never know what to expect.”

Mr. Deroshia agrees.

“It’s the most fun hobby I could have,” he said. “We play music with friends and for friends and we get to play it at a great place like Mackinac Island, full of good people.”