About
Click an image below to learn about the band members.
Biography
Voted “Best Rock Band” in Central Pennsylvania, Big Fat Meanies offers a high-octane dose of horn-driven progressive rock with each impressive performance. The independent eight-piece ensemble hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania wields an on-stage energy that can only be matched by their catalog of exhilarating songwriting. Drawing inspiration from genres of all nature – including pop, punk, funk, metal, ska, and even musical theatre - Big Fat Meanies’ signature episodic songwriting archetype blends the varied musical backgrounds of each member in perfect harmony.
With each performance Big Fat Meanies presents powerful vocal lines, shredding guitar solos, and cinematic horn parts that emphasize refrains with glamorous ferocity. Their collective attention to detail shines through lyrical storytelling, captivating rhythmic structures, and sophisticated instrumental lines. The band uses every tool in their artistic arsenal to inspire feelings of both passion and catharsis. Big Fat Meanies’ live performances and studio recordings offer energetic talent and a wide array of inspiration that is sure to connect with each listener in a unique way. The band has been described as “off the wall”, “refreshingly different”, and “a gut punch of danceable high energy.” No matter your musical background, Big Fat Meanies is sure to move you and to make you move. Their latest EP Bad Hand is available to stream on all platforms.
Brenna Diehl - Lead Vocals
Sam Kelly - Lead Guitar
History
Guitarist Sam Kelly and Bass Clarinetist Rick Ferrarelli formed the group in 2013 during their freshman year of Millersville University’s music program. Kelly and founding member Evan Seeberger rallied the musicians on their music dormitory floor to form a ska band using whatever skills they could each bring to the table. For Ferrarelli, that meant Bass Clarinet. Other instruments in the lineup included saxophone, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, guitar, bass, and percussion. It was at this time that Kelly and Seeberger began writing what would become the group’s 2017 debut album The Time Has Come….
By the time Kelly and Ferrarelli had graduated in 2017, the group established a consistent lineup of personnel. Fellow music students Brenna Diehl, Zander Gawn, Nicole Migliore, and Jason Lankford had joined the ranks on lead vocals, rhythm guitar, trumpet, and trombone respectively. Within the next two years, Eric Mannering and Tristan Miller completed the band’s evolving roster on bass guitar and percussion. Seeberger parted with the band in 2014 but remains a main collaborator and producer on Big Fat Meanies projects to this day.
Zander Gawn - Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals
Rick Ferrarelli - Bass Clarinet
Charity and Advocacy
Despite the misnomer, Big Fat Meanies is comprised of a group of eight kind-hearted community-driven musicians. Having formed while in school, the group’s appreciation for music education extends into charity and advocacy work. The band prides itself on its close ties with the Pennsylvania-based organization Music For Everyone (MFE), a non-profit committed to bridging the funding gap in music education in the Central Pennsylvania region. Over half of the members have acted as interns for Music For Everyone and Rick continues to teach woodwind lessons for the organization during his day-to-day. In addition to their work with MFE, the band also promotes music education by performing clinic demonstrations at school assemblies.