Meet the Bands
Hip Cheque
Three-time Paul Stanley Cup champions, The RJ Conspiracy has challenges in availability for The Wellspring Battle. But turning challenge into opportunity, Rick and Joe, are joined by our talented music friends, Chris Luty (Guitar) Jamie Esliger (Guitar) and Kris Dixon (Bass). Enter “Hip Cheque”. We’ll be doing something we’ve always wanted to do at the Battle… A tribute to our favourite band – The Tragically Hip. Thank you for Supporting Wellspring! To all our supporters, in particular our corporate sponsor, Versabank, this one’s for you! Let’s get all you Hipsters up rocking as we leave it all on stage! The five band members are:
Rick Jankura – Lead Vocals
No one is more surprised than Rick to learn that he is a casual rock n’ roll crooner. He spent his misspent youth as a drummer but drew the short straw and was chosen to be a lead singer for the first time in a band which entered into and won the 2006 Wellspring Battle of the Bands. Rick is a lover of Classic Rock who looks forward to kicking back and performing in this event with a group of talented musicians, while at the same time raising money for a very worthwhile cause.
Chris Luty – Guitar and Vocals
Accordion lessons at the age of 5 dubiously planted Chris in the roots of rock and roll. Picking up a guitar 15 years later, Chris transferred his joy of entertaining on stage from theatre to music. Honing this stage presence with two straight years of backpacking with a guitar strapped to his back, he has continued to play with infectious and engaging animation (despite his career as an accountant). From solo gigs to his decade in the band ‘Attic Apostles’, Chris is all about the moment and the feel of the song. He is honored to participate in this Wellspring event with his brothers-for-the-day.
Jamie Esliger – Guitar and Vocals
Having finally seen the light and moved to Tillsonburg from the GTA a few years back, Jamie is now a solid member of the local music scene. His main gig is with SW Ontario’s leading Hip Tribute Band “Hip Too.” Yes folks – He’s a Ringer! His band mates in Hip Cheque have quickly discovered Jamie loves potato chips above all other food… so, if you need him to do something, salt 'n vinegar are his favourite.
Kris Dixon - Bass and Vocals
Kris recently joined Hip Cheque after a lifetime of public performances. He began at an early age, continuing though his teens, playing high school gymnasiums, basement parties, and outdoor festivals. In 1991, a controversial lawsuit filed by one of his bandmates, (identified as Dr. Rhythm), sidelined his music career for over a decade. Kris finally returned to the London music scene, with several local bands, performing at venues ranging from Tim Horton’s, to curling bonspiels to nightclubs. Kris is honoured to be back for his second year, anchoring the rhythm section of Hip Cheque and laying it down for Wellspring!
Joe O’Neill - Drums
Omnipresent behind the kit for over 60 years, Joe never gigs now without a big tube of extra strength Voltaren. “Hurts everywhere but the roof of my mouth!” Still operating on the basic drummer philosophy, “Hit ‘em hard…they don’t hit back!”, our drummer in residence, has enough left in the tank to settle into the pocket and lay down those sweet Classic Rock grooves. Thanks for supporting Wellspring! Makes all of us really happy. But if you really want Joe to smile… get up and dance!
Rick Jankura – Lead Vocals
No one is more surprised than Rick to learn that he is a casual rock n’ roll crooner. He spent his misspent youth as a drummer but drew the short straw and was chosen to be a lead singer for the first time in a band which entered into and won the 2006 Wellspring Battle of the Bands. Rick is a lover of Classic Rock who looks forward to kicking back and performing in this event with a group of talented musicians, while at the same time raising money for a very worthwhile cause.
Chris Luty – Guitar and Vocals
Accordion lessons at the age of 5 dubiously planted Chris in the roots of rock and roll. Picking up a guitar 15 years later, Chris transferred his joy of entertaining on stage from theatre to music. Honing this stage presence with two straight years of backpacking with a guitar strapped to his back, he has continued to play with infectious and engaging animation (despite his career as an accountant). From solo gigs to his decade in the band ‘Attic Apostles’, Chris is all about the moment and the feel of the song. He is honored to participate in this Wellspring event with his brothers-for-the-day.
Jamie Esliger – Guitar and Vocals
Having finally seen the light and moved to Tillsonburg from the GTA a few years back, Jamie is now a solid member of the local music scene. His main gig is with SW Ontario’s leading Hip Tribute Band “Hip Too.” Yes folks – He’s a Ringer! His band mates in Hip Cheque have quickly discovered Jamie loves potato chips above all other food… so, if you need him to do something, salt 'n vinegar are his favourite.
Kris Dixon - Bass and Vocals
Kris recently joined Hip Cheque after a lifetime of public performances. He began at an early age, continuing though his teens, playing high school gymnasiums, basement parties, and outdoor festivals. In 1991, a controversial lawsuit filed by one of his bandmates, (identified as Dr. Rhythm), sidelined his music career for over a decade. Kris finally returned to the London music scene, with several local bands, performing at venues ranging from Tim Horton’s, to curling bonspiels to nightclubs. Kris is honoured to be back for his second year, anchoring the rhythm section of Hip Cheque and laying it down for Wellspring!
Joe O’Neill - Drums
Omnipresent behind the kit for over 60 years, Joe never gigs now without a big tube of extra strength Voltaren. “Hurts everywhere but the roof of my mouth!” Still operating on the basic drummer philosophy, “Hit ‘em hard…they don’t hit back!”, our drummer in residence, has enough left in the tank to settle into the pocket and lay down those sweet Classic Rock grooves. Thanks for supporting Wellspring! Makes all of us really happy. But if you really want Joe to smile… get up and dance!
The Rolling Bones
And God said ... let there be the Rolling Bones ... and there we were.
The PDCs
Ryan Buckley
Senior Analyst, supporting TD's North America Contact Centre Operations. OG member of the PDCs and former singer and guitar player in many bands ranging from Celtic to Alt Rock – even a stint playing the role of Björn Ulvaeus in an international Abba Tribute (yep - wig, gold boots, skintight one-piece jump – the whole 9 yards!) Ryan is always here to have a good time and raise money for an amazing cause and doesn’t understand why the bands must 'battle' and can't all just get along.
Mark Hunter
Regional Manager for Financial Planning at TD. An OG member of the band with his competent/passable bass work being a staple of the PDCs since 2016 when he switched from the six string to bring in the low end for the band.
Greg Keegan
Senior Manager supporting TD's Canadian Banking Contact Centers. Experienced "five minutes of fame" many moons ago when selected to drum on stage with Shania Twain at Canada Life Place during her Up! Tour.
Grant Rushton
A Scrum Master supporting various business within TD and notorious for selling off TD shares for new musical equipment. Former lead guitar player for an award winning 80's glam rock tribute band, now bringing colourful, delicious tones and sweet sweet solos to our sound.
Rebecca Behar
Certified Financial Planner with TD Wealth Financial Planning. Rebecca has been singing into a microphone since she could talk and started tickling the ivories a few years later. After a several year hiatus from her last band (made up of high school teachers!) she's been belting it out for The PDCs for five years now! She lives by the credo of fake it until you make it (which will be never).
EllisDominators
Danny Deluca – Lead Power Vocalist
It was the dawn of civilization. The year 3000 BC…. Zeus was courting Hera… he wanted to serenade her with the sweet sweet sounds of a power rock metal vocalist. No one would be good enough.. not Jon Bon Jovi and not even Freddy Mercury. And so, he created the 13th god ….. the god of voice, Danny Deluca.
Zeus gave Danny the power of voice - a power so strong, that can hit new octave ranges so high and so low…. that it instantly eviscerates ladies undergarments.
However, Zeus’ plan did not go as he wanted. At the end of serenade…. Danny held the longest vibrato since Cronos invented time… Hera was mesmerized by Danny’s lead vocalist prowess. She was lusting and screaming of excitement. Out of rage, Zeus struck Danny’s mic stand with a thunderbolt…. Turning it white.
Danny Deluca was cast out of Athens… never to be seen until 2022 AD at the Wellspring Battle of the Bands. Where he and his white mic stand carried the EllisDominators to their first (of many) Paul Stanley Cups.
Billy Michoulas – Backing Vocals & Lead Guitar
Aka “the Grecian Formula” is responsible for writing all of the EllisDominators marketing and communications material. Billy is the greatest Vice President in EllisDon’s history and the greatest lead guitarist of all time. Watch out Heather Locklear, this centaur of a man looks like a young Ritchie Sambora!
Doug Aris – Keyboards
What’s this you ask? The Phil Collins of construction estimating? The most liked person in the GTA? Multi-talented? Fast fingers on the calculator and fast fingers on the keys – always aiming to please? Big heart? Always giving, never receiving? Sorry ladies, he’s a taken man. Doug’s musical prowess comes decades of study from a series of elite musical teachers (nuns, drunks and draft dodgers)? Doug has become a musical legend in northwestern Ontario.
Jeff Mastronardi – Drums
There are such things as stereotypes. In true rock form…. Jeff “Massive” Mastronardi is the EllisDominators 7th drummer. He’s rightfully been bestowed the name “Massive” for his ability to “pound” ……. the drums. A full bio and centrefold* spread of Jeff can be found in Pamela Anderson’s 2023 Autobiography called “Love Pamela”, where Pamela recounts her tumultuous on-and-off again relationship with this stallion of a man.
*The centrefold edition with Jeff is only available on mobile, e-book with scrolling functionality.
Phil Jones - Rhythm Guitarist
Like every rhythm guitarist, Phil is the backbone of the EllisDominators band. And at work, it's no different. Phil is the VP of EllisDon's construction sciences and engineering team. His group is the technical backbone of EllisDon.
Phil in true rock and roll form.... has been coast to coast leaving his "mark". ....... touching....... the skyline in every major city
Andrew Marshall - Bassist
John Paul Jones, John Deacon, Cliff Williams. Who are they you ask? The least famous people of their legendary bands. Ahhh the plight of the bass player.
However… every once and a while, a child is born with mighty, lighting-fast sausage fingers … while incapable of shredding face melting guitar solos; they’re are able to lock in a steady, fast and “pleasing…..” groove. September 2nd, year unknown. Enter such child: Andrew Marshall. Word spread fast amongst the world’s famous bassists. Paul McCartney, Lemmy and even Sting made pilgrimages to Oakville Memorial Hospital to visit the future legend. Rumour has it, Stings “prowess” was learned from Andrew.
Keep track of him ladies (he’s stage right (by the drummer) because after the show…. Andrew moonlights as backstage security…. Rigorously “interviewing” potential super fans and issuing backstage passes to those that are lucky. Quickest way to get to the more popular band members!
Opening Band
