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About Us

The Band formed in late 2005, out of a weekly jam session around the old coal stove in the loft of the Lively's barn. "We knew right away that we wanted to stay with the style of old school, driving bluegrass, such as Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, Jimmy Martin and regional favorite Richard Hefner and The Black Mountain Bluegrass Boys.

The first few shows were played with only four members (John, and former members Howard Estep on mandolin, Glen Reed on fiddle and Bert Baker on dog house bass) with Howard and Glen trading off guitar duty. Brian joined the band in March of 2006 and Heather started singing "full-time" in 2007 and really made the group whole. In the summer of 2009, Mike Estep joined us full-time as the dog house bass player for the departing Bert Baker, and then in the summer of 2010, Wesley O'Dell joined us on the mandolin for the departing Howard Estep, thus creating the current line-up of The Half Bad Bluegrass Band. Our live shows are best described as a high energy, foot stomping, old school bluegrass good time.

John Lively - Banjo / Lead Vocals (Email)
John picked up the banjo in 1999, after years of following that bluegrass sound all over the Appalachians. Playing in this band only strengthens his desire to keep bluegrass close to his roots; so not to lose our heritage of the music. Nowadays, you hardly ever see John without that 'ol banjo.
John was born and raised in western Greenbrier County, West Virginia, where he still farms today. He lives with his wife Heather, who also sings lead vocals with the band, and their daughter Reegan Ann who occasionally joins us on the mandolin. John's goal is to keep bluegrass old by playing it to a younger crowd.

Heather Lively - Lead Vocals (Email)
Heather tries to keep John straight and found out the only way to do that is to sing on stage with the band. Come to find out, she is also the best singer of the bunch. Heather has a powerful, high lonesome sound that some of the greatest would die for.
She was brought to Greenbrier County from Shady Spring, West Virginia where she was born and raised. If you don't hear her singing, you may see her clogging to the bluegrass music she has loved her entire life. Heather is married to John and they have a daughter, Reegan Ann.

Wesley O'Dell- Mandolin / Lead Vocals (Email)
Wes has been playing music for the last several years in jam sessions and pickin' parties throughout southern West Virginia. An accomplished guitar and mandolin player, he is considered to be one of the most sought after bluegrass musicians in the region. Wes spends most of his free time on the links as he is an accomplished and avid golfer as well.
Wes has been employed by NTelos for the last 5 years and he lives in Beckley, West Virginia. He also has an 8 year old daughter named Paige.

Mike Estep - Dog House Bass / Vocals (Email)
Mike joined us as the full time bass player in the summer of 2009. His musical career began back around 2002 when he started playing the 5 string banjo with his cousin Howard Estep, our mandolin player. Together, they played in a bluegrass band called Brushy Ridge. A few years after that he picked up the bass and hasn't looked back since.

Mike brings to the band an incredible sense of timing and many years of experience in band settings. Mike currently lives in Alderson, WV with his wife Marie and their daughter Morgan.

Brian Bell - Lead Guitar (Email)
Brian started playing music in 1996 during his freshman year at Marshall University. After that, he transferred to West Virginia University and played music for the next 8 years while finishing his bachelor and master degrees. During that time, he played music with many people, learning and adopting a taste for folk and bluegrass music.

In 2004, he moved back home to Beckley, West Virginia to work as an Operations Manager for The Rivermen, a local whitewater outfitter. A professional river guide for 15 years, he is currently employed as a full-time river guide on the New and Gauley Rivers. Brian lives in Beckley, West Virginia with his wife Karen and dogs Breeze, Murray and Jasper.