Musicians perform in Marshall to benefit Highmark Caring Place

One of the more distinctive musical instruments in the Pittsburgh area gets plenty of mileage.

Jeff Schiller’s 6-foot-tall upright bass, customized with a unique multicolored design, gets regular workouts when he performs with any of his half-dozen regular bands.

“I had my bass custom painted to show the family tree of American music, with its roots being mostly African and British Isles,” he explained. “A car painter airbrushed the three tones, and a tattoo artist did the painting.”

The instrument’s theme is particularly appropriate with regard to Roots Rock for Riley, a fundraiser he organizes to benefit Highmark Caring Place. On March 24, the fourth annual event took place at Jergel’s Rhythm Grille in Marshall, generating more than $2,000 toward the cause.

Riley, Scheller’s middle child, died of a brain tumor when she was 11.

“After her death, we were told about the Caring Place,” he said between sets at Jergel’s. “We went there, and they were just amazing people. It focuses on kids who lose a sibling or a parent, so our kids would go off with kids their own age and do art activities, games and things that would help them get it all out.”

Parents, too, receive assistance in coping.

“So even in horrible situations, you have great memories of all the wonderful people who help you,” Scheller said.

A former North Allegheny biology teacher who lives in Middlesex Township, Scheller opened the Roots Rally with his band Midnight Drive, which plays traditional bluegrass. Second on the bill were the Polkamaniacs, who aren’t quite as conventional:

“We’re a wild mix of polka, rockabilly, punk, klezmer, ska, country and comedy,” the group’s website offers.

The BOOM Rockets followed, with Scheller joining guitarist Greg Brozak and drummer Dave Resto for a rousing tribute to the rockabilly and surf styles from the late ’50s and early ’60s.

For the set, instrumental favorites such as the Chantays’ “Pipeline,” Link Wray’s “Rumble” and Neal Hefti’s “Batman Theme” joined Scheller-composed songs.

“I’m having my first CD coming out soon, of 16 of my originals that have been recorded with other bands,” he said. “And then in the next year, we’ll go in and do 12 of my songs with the BOOM Rockets.”

Originals figure prominently in the repertoire of Smilo and the Ghost. Led by guitarist-vocalist Tyler Smilo, who has more than 100 songs and 10 full-length albums to his name, the band brought an energetic bluegrass-infused sound to the Roots Rally.

Wrapping up the day’s proceedings was Bindley Hardware Co., which is scheduled to release its “Bloomfield Sound” album on April 19 at the Bloomfield Liedertafel Singing Society.

As for the Roots Rally, Scheller already is planning to bring his bass back to the same venue next spring.

“Jergel’s can hold 600,” he said, “and I want to fill it.”

For more information about Highmark Caring Place, which has a location in Marshall, visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com.