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The No Budget Orchestra is one of the most popular bands no on ever heard about. The group plays lots of parties and private events. But whenever they do play a local venue the crowd loves 'em. In 1998 No Budget Television was a local Rome/Utica hit. Starring local citizens the comedy was about as over the top as one can get on local television. From the show, Lewis got together with three of the show’s stars and formed the No Budget Orchestra. Dare Riegler had worked with Lewis for years in Roger Wilco & The Radio Waves. Nelson Rudiack had played with several bands in various areas around the country. Callendra Comstock sang in a few duo type groups. They got a weekly gig at the Rib Crib Saloon in Rome. Then Rod Van Packel (more horns) and Eric Hoen, the baby of the lot, on drums joined. Lewis came to the area as a "base brat" while in high school. After the demise of The Radio Waves he took a stint working for a hotel financier. The new job took him to Massachusetts, Connetticut and on to Illinois. But he never stopped gigging. He recorded a single with the Lewis Banks Quintet in Boston. While in Illinois Lewis picked up his now infamous Roland Guitar Synth. He plays piano, horns, and guitar on it. His last job took him to Binghamton. Then his old job at a local TV affiliate opened up and he came back to the CNY area. The TV gig gave him an opportunity to work with experimental digital video and the rest is, as they say, history. The band went live with a site this year. It is a pretty extensive site with art, video clips, and some samples of the band’s songs. Lewis is currently working on a five minute short film entitled "I Got Rights." All he will say of the story-line is that its about smoking and tolerance (he doesn't smoke, if that's any hint). |
Fusing Music With Film, and Art, and Anything Else He Can Think Of.