Gig Harbor band to donate proceeds from weekend performance to police guild

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

The Shy Boys have been performing at Forza Coffee in Gig Harbor since last spring, but this weekend’s gig will have a special meaning. In honor of the four police officers who were killed at the Forza in Parkland, the band will donate the proceeds to the officers’ families.

Guitarist Mark Richards said he informed the police department of the band’s plan over the phone.

“The police department was really moved,” he said. “They were so appreciative.”

Bass player Dave Jones said the procession on Dec. 8 went right by his office in Tacoma.

“We’re big supporters of the police and fire (departments),” Jones said. “We’ve been playing at Forza for nearly a year, and when we heard about Lakewood, we really took it to heart.”

Richards and Jones are joined by Jones’ brother, drummer Brad Jones, and Dave Thomas to make up the four-member group. The band formed nearly three years ago at their church, Chapel Hill in Gig Harbor, where Thomas regularly plays guitar.

The band performs popular songs from the 1960s and 80s, but mainly from the 70s.

“We’re just four Christian guys playing acoustical rock and pop songs,” Dave Thomas said. “We played for the Gig Harbor Film Festival this year and at the ground-breaking ceremony for the Harbor History Museum. We’d love to play for their grand opening.”

Forza eventually became the band’s adopted “home.”

“We play there one weekend a month on Friday and Saturday,” Jones said. “They’ve sort of become our family. The crowd is very energetic, and everyone has a good time.”

“We feel good about having our friends come see us there,” Thomas added. “There’s great energy, and there’s no pressure to drink.”

The band hopes donating its proceeds to the officers’ families will offer a chance for Gig Harbor residents to contribute to the healing process.

“They can just come by and stay for a song,” Jones said. “Even if they don’t want to stay, they can just come by and make a contribution.”

Shy Boys at Forza

The Shy Boys will perform from 7 to 9 p.m. both Friday and Saturday nights at Forza Coffee Company, 5275 Olympic Drive NW in Gig Harbor.

For more information, visit www.theshyboys.com.