Dollar Short Band

Dollar Short has developed a unique rock-driven sound that is a product of the members’ diverse musical backgrounds. This sound can be heard in each of the band’s cover songs, and is unmistakably inherent in their original material.

Dollar Short began when Ben and Mike went to check out a local alternative band called the Sextons. The band consisted of four members from Opelousas: Loren Carriere, Phil Legrange, Tony Fall, and Eric Gautreaux. That night, Ben Dye sat in on a couple of songs. By the next gig he was playing guitar and Mike was running sound. When the band found out that Tony was moving to Colorado, Mike Lucito bought his guitar for $100 and took over on bass.

For the next couple of years the Sextons toured the greater tri-parish area playing back yards, fire halls, and civic centers. In the fall of 1998, Loren and Phil went on to pursue their solo careers leaving Eric, Ben, and Mike without a singer or second guitarist. This forced each member to take on added roles. With Ben and Mike contributing more on background vocals and Eric moving to lead vocals, Dollar Short was beginning to take form.

The following spring Ben had begun preparing for a summer internship for college students. One night after a meeting, a bunch of the members had a small jam session at a friend’s place in Baton Rouge. That’s where Ben met Brian Esneault. After jamming together for about a month, Brian met up with the rest of the band. A week later, he was added as the fourth member of Dollar Short.

For the next year the band traveled back and forth from Baton Rouge to Opelousas practicing every weekend in order to build a song repertoire long enough to be able to play one full show. They did this by choosing to play songs that they enjoy playing just as much as the crowd loves singing and dancing to.

In the spring of 2005, the line-up was altered slightly with the addition of a new bass player from Baton Rouge, Myles Weeks. With influences rooted in jazz, funk, and rock to name a few, it's no surprise that Myles is already beginning to add a new dimension to the band.

With the “music” industry flooded with prima donnas and flash-artists, the band believes that while a visually powerful show is a must nowadays, quality music and personal integrity are a priority. In short, the guys thrive on giving both old and new fans much more than what they expected, every time. When confronted with questions like, “Do you play covers or originals, fast or mellow, older or younger crowds, locally or out-of-state, acoustic or electric?” the answer is simply, “Yes.”

All Mixed Up - 311
Do You Right - 311
Homebrew - 311
Whos Got the Herb? - 311
Lets Stay Together - Al Green
Love & Happiness - Al Green
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed - Allman Brothers Band
Southbound - Allman Brothers Band
Whipping Post - Allman Brothers Band
Cut the Cake - Average White Band
Use Me - Bill Withers
But Anyway - Blues Traveler
I Wanna Take You Higher - Blues Traveler
Get Up Stand Up - Bob Marley
Is This Love - Bob Marley
Jammin - Bob Marley
Going the Distance - Cake
Stickshifts & Safetybelts - Cake
Shes A Bad Mama Jama - Carl Carlton
Tell Me Something Good - Chaka Khan & Rufus
How Tights Yer Drawers - Col. Bruce & the Aquarium Rescue Unit
No Egos Under Water - Col. Bruce & the Aquarium Rescue Unit
Satisfaction Guaranteed - Col. Bruce & the Aquarium Rescue Unit
Workin on A Building - Col. Bruce & the Aquarium Rescue Unit
Love The One You Are With - Crosby, Stills, & Nash
#41 - Dave Matthews Band
All Along the Watchtower - Dave Matthews Band
Jimi Thing - Dave Matthews Band
Lie In Our Graves - Dave Matthews Band
Stay - Dave Matthews Band
Tripping Billies - Dave Matthews Band
Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire
Frankenstein - Edgar Winter
One In Seven - Edgar Winter
Rudys Way - Edgar Winter
Soulive - Edgar Winter
Franklins Tower - Grateful Dead
Scarlet Begonias - Grateful Dead
Shakedown Street - Grateful Dead
She - Harry Connick Jr.
Chameleon - Herbie Hancock
Watermelon Man - Herbie Hancock
Shaft - Isaac Hayes
Its Your Thing - Isley Brothers
I Want You Back - Jackson Five
Pass The Peas/Sex Machine - James Brown
Alright - Jamiroquai
Virtual Insanity - Jamiroquai
Crosstown Traffic - Jimi Hendrix
Red House - Jimi Hendrix
Feelin Alright - Joe Cocker
No Such Thing - John Mayer
Jungle Boogie - Kool & the Gang
Always On the Run (Mama Said) - Lenny Kravitz
Cmon & Love Me - Lenny Kravitz
Fly Away - Lenny Kravitz
Cult Of Personality - Living Colour
Love Rears Its Ugly Head - Living Colour
Why Didnt You Call Me - Macy Gray
Lets Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Whats Goin On - Marvin Gaye
Think - Medeski, Martin, & Wood
Rock With You - Michael Jackson
The Bird - Morris Day & The Time
Jeep On 35 (w / John Scofield) - Night Marchers
Love Rollercoaster - Ohio Players/ Red Hot Chili Peppers
Birds of a Feather - Phish
Gumbo - Phish
Landlady - Phish
Llama - Phish
Stash - Phish
Tweezer - Phish
You Enjoy Myself - Phish
1999 - Prince
Kiss - Prince
Love Rollercoaster - Red Hot Chili Peppers/ Ohio Players
Listen Bart - Screaming Headless Torsos
Oteil Burbridge - Screaming Headless Torsos
Vinnie - Screaming Headless Torsos
I Wanna Take You Higher - Sly & the Family Stone
Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf
Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder
Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder
I Wish - Stevie Wonder
Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder
Superstition - Stevie Wonder
We Will Be Together - Sting
Brick House - The Commodores
Easy (like Sunday Morning) - The Commodores
Cabbage Alley - The Meters
Cissy Strut - The Meters
Love the One You Are With - The Neville Brothers
What Is Hip - Tower Of Power
Low Rider - War
Why Cant We Be Friends - War
Climb To Safety - Widespread Panic
Dyin Man - Widespread Panic
Tall Boy - Widespread Panic
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett