It's not too often that you find a psychiatrist fronting a bar band that plays 175-200 nights a year.
That's the shorthand buzz on Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes, an exceedingly popular Louisville bar band. Todd Bensenhaver, M. D. is the guitarist-songwriter-vocalist in question and his day job really is as claimed.
That's why the group doesn't travel very far to play, according to drummer Scott Lankford, who has played steadily with Nervous Melvin for the last three years. Their circuit extends to Bowling Green, Knoxville and Lexington.
"We're home the same night," Lankford noted. When asked how Bensenhaver managed both jobs, he said Bensenhaver just "does it."
Whatever the problems the pace might create, the band has been working steadily for twelve years. The Nervous Melvin brand of classic rock 'n' roll has generated a lot of eager fans in the twelve years since beginning at Centre College, a.k.a. the Harvard of the South.
In addition to Bensenhaver and Lankford, band members include bassist Jerry Cardin and guitarist Dennis Ledford. Cardin and Bensenhaver also contribute songs to the group. Their most recent project is "The Thump Whack," available at ear X-tacy Records.
Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes will be playing at the Golden Nugget March 25-27.
Now appearing is sponsored by the Golden Nuggett.