The Aardvarks Rock the Lehigh Valley

Since 2002, residents of the Lehigh Valley and beyond have had the opportunity to witness the evolution and explosion of The Aardvarks.

The band has been praised by bar owners, employees and fans alike for their ability to cater to any crowd by performing a wide array of musical genres and styles for a variety of events including weddings, local festivals and weekend shows.

The band's rock and roll journey began in 2002 when lead singer and guitarist Mike Rauscher and vocalist, keyboard and pianist Rod Walls decided to take a break from the music scene after a decade of traveling and performing with other bands including The Honeybuzzards, Seamrippers and The Armadillos. However, within a few weeks they formed a duo, A Pair of Armadillos and performed throughout the Lehigh Valley. In 2003, the duo was joined by bassist Scott Erickson of Circle Sky and drummer Jay Sanita of Wake up Naked. A year later, the band went through another transformation as new members, bassist Jon Novak of Spacestation Integration and The Legendary Truth and guitar and vocalist Jay Morgan of Good Time Charlie were welcomed. Remaining true to their fondness for one animal band names beginning with the letter "A", the bandmates decided to try a new breed and The Aardvarks were born.

Since 2004, The Aardvarks have assembled a song catalog of over 100 songs and are constantly expanding their repertoire both with covers and originals. The 'Varks perform monthly at local favorite Mezza Luna Bar and Grill and regularly throughout the Lehigh Valley. However, the band's popularity has grown substantially, making them more than a typical "bar band" with approximately 25% of their scheduled shows being private events and weddings.

"The Aardvarks are definitely one of our top acts," explained Mezza Luna owner Mark Culnen. "They hold the audience's attention until the end of every night and that's why we keep them coming back."

Despite record setting attendances and an impressive music catalog, perhaps the most endearing quality of The Aardvarks is their youth and energy. No matter the age or size of the crowd, type of event or location, the band delivers quality performances consistently making them a local favorite and guaranteed good time for friends, family, employees, guests and fans alike.

Culnen agrees, "They are fantastic. They have great stage presence, play good music, and are very talented. The Aardvarks are one of the best bands in the Lehigh Valley and we love having them here."