In 1992, when Ethos, Poultry & NSS needed to make some easy money to pay for their recording project, they slapped together a cover band, called it Easy Money, began barnstorming from Wellsville to Niagara Falls, Olean to Buffalo, playing in any bar, roadhouse or juke joint that would take them. They soon found out that it was neither easy nor did they make any money, so they sarcastically rechristened the band Cheezy Money. Lacking enough material and a strong vocalist, the band became notorious for their long winded improvisations, delicately weaving songs from one to another and learning tunes on the spot hoping that the audience wouldn’t tie them to the tracks behind the bar after the show.

With the original recording project having long since disbanded, and tensions within the band flaring on a regular basis, it was inevitable that Cheezy Money would call it quits, much to the displeasure of audiences who had grown accustomed to the band’s adventurous performances and cynical wit. They held their farewell show and promptly went their separate ways. Poultry went off to play with several successful local acts like edn and Major Healy, Ethos bummed around with the likes of Dionysus, The Skeptics and The Mo’ Porter Project (to name a few) and NSS became a solo artist, releasing three CDs and traveling around the country with his acoustic guitar and performing as a bassist for hire with such local acts as Chunkpipe, Greg Klyma, Riley and The Peer Pressure Project.

Four years passed when NSS approached his former band mates about having an oneoff reunion show for old times sake. The power trio wasted no time booking a show and rehearsing for their upcoming gig. They were surprised to find that it felt like no time had passed; it was like they never broke up, only they were older, wiser and BETTER.

Mike Criscione was in the audience for the reunion show. He had played with NSS in Riley and was eager to see the performance he had heard so much about. Always a Cheezy Money custom to invite other musicians on stage to jam, Mike was only to happy sit in with the boys. But this time when Mike plugged his guitar in, something clicked and circle suddenly became complete.

Cheezy Money now boasts four distinct personalities, three power vocalists, two screaming guitarists and one rhythm section from hell. The band has been asked back time and time again to perform at bars and festivals, including the famous Belle Starr Reunion where then not only opened for former Allman Brothers guitarist, Dangerous Dan Toler, but served as his backup band as well. Never having a set list, the band enjoys the ability to make each show a random and special event. Don’t you think it’s about time you added a little cheeze to your life?