Cabinet returns to Elk Creek Cafe for back-to-back shows

Cabinet will take the stage at Elk Creek Cafe Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, marking the return of the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre natives to Happy Valley.

J.P. Biondo, singer and mandolin player for Cabinet, has been playing music for almost his entire life. His family played a key role in his career path.

“I grew up in a musical family and was always surrounded by it,” Biondo said. “There was always lots of singing and guitar playing going on. My dad comes from a family of eight children. So, all my aunts and uncles on my dad’s side are musical in one way or another, mostly singing. That’s kind of where my love for music spawned form. It started with singing. Of course, my parents would always be listening to records or tapes on the stereo. The Beatles, CSNY, stuff like that, and I just kind of fell in love.”

Biondo has a large network of musical family members, more than enough to start a family band.

“I have 35 or 36 first cousins. We’ve discussed that many times, but Pap and I are the only ones to do it so far,” he said, laughing.

While Cabinet is conventionally defined as a bluegrass group, it’s clear that Biondo and company have more going on than just one specific genre.

“It’s certainly not just bluegrass,” he said. “I don’t know as if I can really define it specifically, I know that sounds cliche. We like to play a lot of different styles. We like to play reggae, or funky stuff or rocking stuff, but it’s all kind of based around bluegrass instruments, I suppose. It’s like ‘smashgrass’ or ‘slamgrass,’ one of those.”

The band’s varietal style comes from a vast musical background. Biondo describes himself as a person with a multitude of musical influences.

“I love Paul Simon. He’s my guy. I love Jerry Garcia, James Taylor, Sufjan Stevens, Pearl Jam, Bob Marley, there’s just a whole bunch,” Biondo said. “I love old country stuff a lot too. I love John Pruyne, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. I love really old timey stuff too like The Sons of the Pioneers. I celebrate their entire catalog. They’re not for everybody, but they’re very well-thought out cowboy songs. The songwriting is just phenomenal really.”

Cabinet is on its most ambitious and expansive tour.

“We’re staying busy going all kinds of different places,” Biondo said. “We were just out in Colorado for a little bit. We did a couple days with Keller Williams out there. He’s great. For as well known as he is, he’s just such a nice, humble, ordinary guy to talk to. Good person, good soul. We were lucky to be out there with him. I think we’re starting to find our little niche there. It’s kind of where the style of music we’re doing is really happening. That was fun.”

The tour has still taken them back to the East Coast, though.

“We paid a tribute to all of our friends in Harrisburg the night before Thanksgiving. We played a big blowout show for them. We’ve been everywhere from Burlington, Vermont, to down in Carolinas as well on this tour,” Biondo said.

Biondo and crew are all looking forward to going back to the Elk Creek Cafe.

“It’s a cool spot,” Biondo said. “We know we can usually fill up that room. It’s nice and intimate. It’s really fun for us and for the crowd that goes there. It’s much more relaxed than a lot of other show we do. The people there take great care of us. It’s just a great venue with a great staff. They have amazing food and beer. It’s a smaller stage for sure, but it’s fun and we love it there.”

The band promises that all audience members who attend either show at Elk Creek Cafe will have a great time.

“We’re going to play our hearts out,” Biondo said. “Another super enticing part of coming to our shows is our fans. Our fans are awesome, and they welcome new fans all the time. They know how to have a good time and take care of each other. Just lots of smiles all the time. That’s probably the biggest reason to come out — to meet some new family, some people who are like-minded and have a great time.”

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 11:20 AM with the headline "Cabinet returns to Elk Creek Cafe for back-to-back shows."