This combination of musicians is called “Big Fat Doug Belford Experience,” they rocked out a healthy list of covers for the appreciative crowd. The band was a combo of three members of a band called “Big Fat Daddy,” featuring Meri Schaefer, Brian Curtiss, John David Coppola on bass, and three others from Doug Belford Experience, which featured Doug Belford, Meri Schaefer, and Brian Curtiss. Meri Schaefer and Brian Curtiss play in both bands.
Sure, some of the songs are well-known covers from the heyday of rock and roll, but people dig those songs anyway. A beer or two feeds that love the staples in their rock list, including “Maneater” from Hall and Oates, “Psycho Killer” by the Talking Heads, and “Cinnamon Girl” by Neil Young. The tempo of the night stretched far and wide.
Madigan’s manager, Heather Gilmore, agreed. She’s used to this group, which frequently plays at Madigan’s. “We have a big crowd; they put on a good performance,” she said.
“We had a good crowd of veterans from the Sunset Grille” in Springfield, said bass player John David Coppola, an Alexandria native who’s been playing in bands and trios since the 1990s.
Doug Belford has performed at the Front Royal Moose, Pete’s Tavern in Springfield and Red Rocks Cafe & Tequila Bar in Centreville.
Big Fat Daddy calls themselves “Northern Virginia’s Premier Modern and Classic Rock Cover Band.” They played at The Light Horse in Alexandria and celebrated Grateful Dead Week, Dockside Restaurant and Tiki Bar at Colonial Beach, and the Ion International Training Center in Leesburg. One clip on their website was from a performance at the Sunset Grille that dates back to 1999, so they’ve been jamming for a while.
Madigan’s has live music every Friday night. On Friday, February 21, the Josh Allen Band will perform, followed by Tuff Luck on Friday, February 28. The “Big Fat Doug Belford Experience” will return on April 18.
