Jonny Rosch & the I Can’t Even Afford Basic Cable Band featuring Special Guest Jimmy Vivino

Jimmy Vivino (aka Jimmy V) has always considered himself “a blues man with a job”. Although best known for serving 26 years as Conan O’Brien’s musical director, guitarist and bandleader, his experience in the music business predates that by 20 plus years.

Jimmy V has produced, lead bands and recorded with a countless number rock and roll and blues artists for five decades including the likes of Hubert Sumlin, Warren Haynes, Joe Bonamassa, Elvis Costello, Johnnie Johnson, Son Seals, Shemekia Copeland, Levon Helm, Phoebe Snow, Dion, Laura Nyro, Bob Margolin, Lowell Fulson, John Sebastian, Joe Louis Walker and Al Kooper to name a few. When not producing, recording or touring with other artists, Jimmy still tours the country and the world with his own band. Jimmy’s latest record, Gonna Be 2 Of Those Days, will be released in Early 2025 by Gulf Coast Records.

James ‘Worm’ Wormworth – Percussion / Drums
James Wormworth is probably best known as the drummer on the Conan O’Brien show, which included The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, The Basic Cable Band with Jimmy Vivino, Conan – TV Series, and he was the replacement drummer for the Max Weinberg 7 (#upgrade but you didn’t hear that from me) Because of the thousands of notable stars he played with on that show alone, his credits list is too long to list but would read like a who’s who of music luminaries. Additionally, he is a first call session player having provided drums and/or percussion on movies and TV shows such as Messenger, TV Funhouse, The Mark Twain Prize: Neil Simon, etc. It runs in the family: James’ father is renowned jazz drummer Jimmy Wormworth aka James Wormworth Sr., and his sisters are Tracy Wormworth who was a member of the B52’s, Waitresses, The Rosie O’Donnell Show’s Bassist, Sting etc. and his other sister is vocalist Mary Wormworth.James “Worm” Wormworth is also known for playing the drums barefoot. #FactactinTinactin)

Mike Merritt’s career as a bassist includes 25 years playing in the house band on all of  Conan O’ Brien’s TV  talk shows, starting in New York with “ Late Night” then moving to Los Angeles for “The Tonight Show” and TBS’s  “Conan”. This gave Mike opportunities to perform with many guest artists over the years, including Cheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, The Staple Singers, B.B. King, Slash, Tony Bennett, Steve Miller, Isaac Hayes, Chet Atkins, Pete Townshend, Robert Palmer, Bruce Springsteen and scores of others. Mike still performs on occasional live concert versions of Conan’s wildly popular podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend”. Mike got his start on the road touring and recording with Grammy-winning bluesman Johnny Copeland, which led to more of the same with Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Johnnie Johnson (of Chuck Berry fame) and was an original member of Grammy-winner Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble Band. Other artists Mike has either recorded, toured or performed with include Joe Bonamassa, Shemekia Copeland, Billy Gibbons, Larkin Poe, Hubert Sumlin, Son Seals, Jimmy Vivino, Al Kooper, Odetta, Catherine Russell, Beth Hart, Southside Johnny, Jimmie Vaughan and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Mike has been touring recently with The Popa Chubby Band. Originally from Philadelphia, PA, Mike was influenced and guided by his father, legendary jazz bassist and composer Jymie Merritt (of Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers). Mike has recorded one album as a co-leader with vocalist sibling Mharlyn Merritt, Alone Together, and has collaborated on original recording projects including The Coalition with Scott Healy, Glenn Alexander and Shawn Pelton; Rock Candy Funk Party with Tal Bergman, Joe Bonamassa, Renato Neto and Ron DeJesus and The Love Trio with Paul Tillotson and James Wormworth. He’s also played at the Las Vegas Big Blues Bender as a member of the 2021 and 2022 Bender Brass Band, and has played with The Jimmy Carpenter Band, a staple of the Las Vegas blues scene.