HEAVY PETTY:
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica: Dylan Johnston
Piano, Organ/Synth, 12-String Guitar, Vocals, Percussions: R.J. Hammon
Drums: Johnny “Cack” Quesada
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals: Miki Novak
Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals: Dave Garrity
Lead Vocals, Backing Harmonies, Percussions: Rachel Star Gillis
Meet heavy petty
Dylan Johnston – Lead Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Dylan is a multi-instrumentalist from Lincoln, California. He’s been playing in bands since age 13 and quickly gained a reputation in his hometown. He released his first EP with his band No Food or Drink at age 17, and was voted Best Musician by his high school before graduation. He pursued an Associate’s Degree in Music from Sierra College, which he received with Honors in 2019, all while playing in various bands in the greater Sacramento area. He has been a guitar and piano instructor at The Rockstar Music Academy in Lincoln California since 2020, and is the lead guitarist of their award-winning Trans-Siberian Orchestra tribute show: A Not So Silent Night.
RJ Hammon – Piano, Organ/Synth, 12-String Guitar, Vocals, Percussions
Hailing out of the greater Sacramento area, RJ Hammon comes from a long bloodline of professional family musicians. Inspired by his cousin Richie Albright, longtime career drummer & producer for Waylon Jennings, he was destined to follow suit. RJ has conquered many aspects of the rock n’ roll puzzle. RJ’s history started with writing, singing, and playing bass in ’80s punk bands. He then moved onto fronting largely successful corporate cover bands, lead guitar in alternative rock bands, and creating layered symphonic synthesizers and keyboard tones in many successful tribute bands. RJ Hammon has filled in and performed with many original and tribute bands such as Classic Rock Rebels, Cripple Creek, American Mile, Going Down, Cheap Trip, and Los Voqueros to name a few. RJ has also had the honor of sharing the stage with many talented national touring musicians from bands such as Y&T, Smashmouth, Journey, Dokken, Quiet Riot, Montrose, Great White, Paris Jackson, Gilby Clarke, Tori Amos, Montgomery Gentry, Santana, John Lee Hooker Jr., and many more.
Johnny Q – Drums
Johnny Q is originally from L.A. and is the son of a drummer and entertainer as well. Johnny Q has been playing drums professionally for over 40 years. In addition to Heavy Petty, he has played and recorded with original bands of many genres such as heavy metal, punk, ska, doom, bluegrass/country, and rock, and has toured extensively in the Western U.S., Canada, and Mexico. His bands have shared the stage with notable acts in each of these genres including Slayer, Testament, the Mentors, Doctor Know, Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Fishbone, System of a Down, Godsmack, Pine Box Boys, and Digital Underground. When not behind his kit, Johnny Q can be found restoring vintage drums, collecting knives, and enjoying BBQ with a good craft beer.
Miki Novak – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Miki is a local grown guitar hero. He came up playing with various bands across town. He spent several years working at a local radio station where he met all his guitar heroes and was lucky enough to jam with a few along the way. He’s played all the local hot spots, as well as some bigger stages, to crowds both large and small.
Dave Garrity – Bass Guitar , Backing vocals
Dave has been a staple of the Sacramento music scene for the past three decades. He has been a member of highly visible bands such as House of Stone, The Luminators, The Mind Club, Rowdy Kate, Big Boss Graffiti, and now Heavy Petty. Dave won multiple “Sammies” (Sacramento Area Music Awards) when with The Luminators and The Mind Club as well as Critic’s Choice Award for Outstanding Bassist in 2008 as a member of Rowdy Kate. Over the years, the various bands Dave has been a part of have opened for the likes of Run DMC, Greg Allman, Edgar Winter, Elvin Bishop, and KISS.
Rachel Star Gillis – Lead Vocals, Backing Harmonies, Percussions
As a child, Rachel loved singing along with the radio, only she would sing it in her ‘different way.’ She loved the way it sounded and felt. When she was 5 years old, her mom, a professional singer, overheard Rachel singing in her ‘different way’ and said, “Honey! You’re harmonizing!” Rachel enjoyed singing in her ‘different way’ at home and at church, but had no desire to do it professionally—”That’s my mom’s thing thing”—until she sang harmony and some lead in The Unflushables at a sewer district work event. Afterward a friend commented to Rachel that she seemed like a natural and should join a band. Rachel realized that singing harmony did bring her joy. She reached out to the local music community and has been singing in bands ever since.