JENNIFER K MAHAL -- In the Wings

Keith Berger still has the napkins on which he wrote the lyrics to the

songs he performed with Playingcard Motorbike at the band’s first show.

The 34-year-old Costa Mesa resident was nervous that night, stepping up

to the open mike at a local club.

That nervousness will probably be tenfold on Tuesday, right before the

announcer at the 10th annual L.A. Music Awards opens the envelope

containing the winner’s name for the best new rock artist of the year

award. Playingcard Motorbike is one of eight bands nominated.

The road there has been five years in the making. In 1995, an ad in

the Recycler brought together Keith and guitarist Brian Cline outside

what is now Cafe Ruba in Costa Mesa.

Both men had grown up in Huntington Beach, went to high school there

and wanted more than anything to have a working band. A connection was

formed.

Brian, 29, moved from San Clemente to Costa Mesa to pursue his music

career.

“San Clemente’s more of a sleepy town with Marines,” said the engineer

for Motorola. “Costa Mesa seems to have more tattooed, freaky types with

guitars in their hands.”

The band, which has played at the Whiskey A Go Go and the Coach House,

went through a number of twists and turns before landing in its current

configuration. In addition to Keith and Brian, there is guitarist Chris

Corbett, bassist Jeff Redecker and, the newest member, drummer Pauli del

Baccio, who has been with the band for eight months.

Playingcard Motorbike’s name comes from a lyric in their song,

“Beautiful,” which refers to the playing cards children attach to their

bicycles.

The band performs mostly original tunes -- Brian and Keith only

remember doing two cover songs.

“It’s not new or groundbreaking music, but I think it’s good quality

music,” Keith said. “We’re a basic rock band with good, basic songs.”

Brian said one review referred to their music as “a ‘70s groove with a

‘90s world rhythm.”

Playingcard Motorbike is now laying down tracks for a compact disc,

the band’s second, at a recording studio in Stanton. Between working and

playing music, time is precious for these five guys.

“One thing I hear at work is ‘I’m so tired,”’ said Keith, a mail

carrier in Laguna Beach. “I think, ‘You’ve no idea.’ I’ve had only four

or five hours’ sleep for days on end.”

Even when the band is not meeting to jam, individual members are

working on music-related business.

“We try to have everyone doing a job that benefits the band as a

whole,” Brian said.

To that end, Brian designs the Web site; Chris, who raises money for

companies to go public, works as the group’s stylist; Jeff, a loan

officer, handles the finances; and Pauli, a general contractor, takes

care of getting the T-shirts made.

The dream, like so many others, is to be a working band, making an

income from the music.

“I don’t think we’re trying so hard to be superstars,” said Brian, who

compares getting a band to work together to trying to get a group of kids

to grow up and become the Angels baseball team.

“To earn our living making music would be great, without having to be

a cover band,” Chris said.

Winning at the L.A. Music Awards might help with that.

“Hopefully we’ll get up there and accept the award,” Keith said. “But

if not, it’s still pretty cool to be nominated.” The awards, hosted by

Kari Wuhrer, will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the International

Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton Hotel, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills.

Tickets are $240. For more information, log on to https://o7

www.lamusicawards.com.f7

Playcard Motorbike will play The Gig on Melrose at 10 p.m. Nov. 28.

Their Web site is https://www.playingcardmotorbike.com.

* * *

Do you know a local artist, writer, painter, singer, filmmaker . . .

etc. who deserves to get noticed? Send your nominee to In The Wings, 330

W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627, fax (949) 646-4170 or e-mail o7

[email protected]

* JENNIFER MAHAL is features editor of the Daily Pilot.