BAND
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Derek Bischof
Guitars/Vocals
James Miller
Keys/Vocals
Dino Nickolas
Bass/Vocals
Rob Parker
Drums/Vocals
Founded October 2018 in San Jose, California, NUGZ has made a big splash on the Bay Area music scene building their
unique sound and growing their fan base. With passions for live performance and R&B music, NUGZ blends
nuggets of your favorite songs from some of your favorite artists into familiar, feel-good medleys. NUGZ's hypnotic
rhythms, catchy melodies and explosive sound have people talking...
“Up-lifting! A great band with popular rock songs everyone can sing along to", “High energy grooves with feel-good vibes”, "Dynamic blends, hypnotic passages and great vocal harmonies”, "Huge sounds and fantastic blends”, "You never know when they’ll break into one of your favorite tunes", “Plenty of good-natured fun”
NUGZ origins sparked in 2014 when keyboardist James Miller met guitarist Derek Bischof, a fellow Dead and Phish Head. Realizing their chemistry was off the charts, they auditioned drummers and bassists until recruiting drummer Rob Parker in 2018 and, later that year, bassist Dino Nickolas who elevated and solidified the band into its current form.
NUGZ repertoire favors classic and contemporary Rock and Jam Bands such as The Grateful Dead, Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Mr. Blotto, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and more.
Appearing at taverns, clubs, festivals, non-profit events and private parties around the San Francisco Bay Area, South Bay Area and beyond, NUGZ has performed for thousands, delivering high energy sounds with magical moments and surprising turns. Attracting both Jam Band fanatics and casual listeners, NUGZ has been well received by people of all ages.
Blending styles and pulling multiple genres, NUGZ unleashes a high-energy sound that leaves audiences wanting more.
Looking to book? Contact NUGZ here.
“Up-lifting! A great band with popular rock songs everyone can sing along to", “High energy grooves with feel-good vibes”, "Dynamic blends, hypnotic passages and great vocal harmonies”, "Huge sounds and fantastic blends”, "You never know when they’ll break into one of your favorite tunes", “Plenty of good-natured fun”
NUGZ origins sparked in 2014 when keyboardist James Miller met guitarist Derek Bischof, a fellow Dead and Phish Head. Realizing their chemistry was off the charts, they auditioned drummers and bassists until recruiting drummer Rob Parker in 2018 and, later that year, bassist Dino Nickolas who elevated and solidified the band into its current form.
NUGZ repertoire favors classic and contemporary Rock and Jam Bands such as The Grateful Dead, Phish, The String Cheese Incident, Mr. Blotto, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and more.
Appearing at taverns, clubs, festivals, non-profit events and private parties around the San Francisco Bay Area, South Bay Area and beyond, NUGZ has performed for thousands, delivering high energy sounds with magical moments and surprising turns. Attracting both Jam Band fanatics and casual listeners, NUGZ has been well received by people of all ages.
Blending styles and pulling multiple genres, NUGZ unleashes a high-energy sound that leaves audiences wanting more.
Looking to book? Contact NUGZ here.
Derek Bischof
Guitars/Vocals
Guitars/Vocals
Derek was born in Johnstown, PA. His father played trumpet in military and wedding bands.
He has performed in various blues, rock, original, and jam bands.
His influences include Trey Anastasio, Jerry Garcia, Michael Kang, Mark knopfler, Greg Allman and many others.
He has performed in various blues, rock, original, and jam bands.
His influences include Trey Anastasio, Jerry Garcia, Michael Kang, Mark knopfler, Greg Allman and many others.
James Miller
Keyboards/Vocals
Keyboards/Vocals
James grew up in Sunnyvale California, the heart of Silicon Valley, and started playing keyboards at age 17
pounding out AC/DC, Zeppelin and Montrose tunes before a friend took him to a Yes concert in the early 80s and became
a prog rock fan listening to Genesis, Rush, Floyd and Steve Hackett.
Although he found himself performing in cover and blues bands throughout the 80s and 90s, joining the Joint Chiefs in 2000 brought him decent stage exposure.
It wasn't until he started playing in Grateful Dead cover bands that he reached his personal goal of performing for thousands of people.
Shows included Jerry Day 2006 and 2007 with Workingmas Ed and culminated at the top of his Dead cover game with Stu Allen - playing over a hundred gigs across the State including Jerry Day, Dead on the Creek, weddings and every hippy joint in the Bay Area.
James craves feeding off the audiences energy and blending the Prog Rock style from his past with the contemporary Jam Band style. It would be an understatement to say James is animated on stage..."It's just the music playing the band."
Although he found himself performing in cover and blues bands throughout the 80s and 90s, joining the Joint Chiefs in 2000 brought him decent stage exposure.
It wasn't until he started playing in Grateful Dead cover bands that he reached his personal goal of performing for thousands of people.
Shows included Jerry Day 2006 and 2007 with Workingmas Ed and culminated at the top of his Dead cover game with Stu Allen - playing over a hundred gigs across the State including Jerry Day, Dead on the Creek, weddings and every hippy joint in the Bay Area.
James craves feeding off the audiences energy and blending the Prog Rock style from his past with the contemporary Jam Band style. It would be an understatement to say James is animated on stage..."It's just the music playing the band."
Dino Nickolas
Bass/Vocals
Bass/Vocals
Born into a musical family, Dino began piano lessons at age 6. By 14, his interests grew towards Rock bands like
Rush, Genesis and Led Zeppelin where he found himself attracted to the drums.
At 19, he joined his first band while attending college and soon was performing regularly with multiple bands on campus and in the city of Santa Cruz. After college, he joined an original power trio on drums opening for national acts throughout Santa Cruz County. These bands included Abraxas Pool, Steve Morse, Blue Oyster Cult, J. Geils Band, Edgard Winter and more.
In 2001, he began his venture into music production, recording, voice-over and live sound leading him to experiment with multiple instruments and song writing. It was at this time he gravitated towards bass, studio tracking and live performance on drums and bass with various bands.
Re-entering the Santa Cruz music scene in 2006, he has performed hundreds of shows. In 2015, he co-founded a music venue and bar showcasing local bands. This was a time of experimentation with real-time bass looping under lead guitar.
Musicians that have influenced him include David Gilmour, Neal Schon, Mark Knopfler, Steve Hackett, Joe Satriani, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, Sting, Miles Davis and more...
At 19, he joined his first band while attending college and soon was performing regularly with multiple bands on campus and in the city of Santa Cruz. After college, he joined an original power trio on drums opening for national acts throughout Santa Cruz County. These bands included Abraxas Pool, Steve Morse, Blue Oyster Cult, J. Geils Band, Edgard Winter and more.
In 2001, he began his venture into music production, recording, voice-over and live sound leading him to experiment with multiple instruments and song writing. It was at this time he gravitated towards bass, studio tracking and live performance on drums and bass with various bands.
Re-entering the Santa Cruz music scene in 2006, he has performed hundreds of shows. In 2015, he co-founded a music venue and bar showcasing local bands. This was a time of experimentation with real-time bass looping under lead guitar.
Musicians that have influenced him include David Gilmour, Neal Schon, Mark Knopfler, Steve Hackett, Joe Satriani, John Paul Jones, Chris Squire, Mike Rutherford, Sting, Miles Davis and more...
Rob Parker
Drums/Vocals
Drums/Vocals
Rob was born in Mt. Shasta, CA to two musical parents. His father was a High School music teacher and band leader and his mother taught piano.
A long time resident of Half Moon Bay, he studied music at the College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music.
Like most drummers, he is influenced by Neal Peart, John Bonham and Stewart Copeland. He also spent years studying Jazz drummers such as Joe Jones, Tony Williams and Max Roach. The Jam Band scene seemed a perfect mix of his influences.
A long time resident of Half Moon Bay, he studied music at the College of San Mateo and San Francisco State University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music.
Like most drummers, he is influenced by Neal Peart, John Bonham and Stewart Copeland. He also spent years studying Jazz drummers such as Joe Jones, Tony Williams and Max Roach. The Jam Band scene seemed a perfect mix of his influences.
