Split Image gets plenty of local exposure

By Christina Weaver
Special to the Coastal Point

	Coastal Point • SUBMITTED Mark ‘Spyke’ Stewart and Kevin Hickerson formed Split Image.

It is also how Split Image’s Mark “Spyke” Stewart met Kevin Hickerson. Both had had a hiatus from performing and were starting to feel the void. To hear them talk, they either found long lost brothers, new best friends or singing soul mates.

Split Image is one of the local area’s latest arrivals on what has become a rich music scene. Between the Chalkboard Tavern & Grill (formerly Big Easy), Magnolia’s, Fat Tuna and the Cottage Café, one can find really great live music to suit most tastes from Thursday through Sunday.

It was their guitar playing and harmony that first caught the ear of the Chalkboard’s manager, Ray Bergins. Bergins, who has been around the music and restaurant business for years and currently manages the popular band Scrapple, said, “As soon as I heard them, I knew they were professionals and would appeal to a broad audience.”

Bergins had heard them during a regular Thursday evening of funky Lower Case Blues music at the newly refurbished restaurant. Hickerson recounted, “I called B.J. (LCB’s bass player and vocalist) and asked if they would let us play during their break. They agreed, and before the end of the evening Ray had offered us a gig.”

What differentiates Split Image is their comedic camaraderie. Between the two of them appear at least five personalities. Stewart notes, “At the end of a song, I’ll turn to Kevin and maybe he will banter back or I’ll find I’m talking to Shaniqua or Noxeema, his imaginary twin sisters. Truth be known, Shaniqua is a better guitar player than Kevin, but Noxeema is the best-looking of all three.”

Spyke Stewart lives music. “It’s what I do for a living as well as my only hobby.” Known best around the area as a sound engineer, Stewart, for many years, played the part of Paul Stanley in the Kiss tribute band, Rock Bottom.

Stewart first heard Hickerson play back in the ’70s, when Hickerson was lead vocalist with the band DC Star. And while both have played with many other musicians, they said they sense that Split Image will be the most successful and personally rewarding of their careers.

“As well as sounding good as a classic rock duo that specializes in harmony, we just have so much fun together. And when people go out in the evening, they want to have fun too. Our job is to sing what the audience enjoys hearing and make them feel that they have had a great time,” said Hickerson.

“Our repertoire is broad, too,” added Stewart. “From the ’60s until the present there are few songs that get requested that one of us doesn’t know. And while we do lots of popular cover songs, we have already started to perform some of our original fresh material. In fact, we are in the middle of recording a CD that will be available in July.”

Split Image plays the Chalkboard next on Saturday, June 24, July 8 and 22. To find other dates and locations where they are booked, call Stewart at (302) 249-6542.

In addition to Lower Case Blues on Thursdays and Split Image, Ray Berzins also suggests that audiences come out to hear the newly established band, Over Time. With Indian River’s Mark Marvel and a couple of his most talented former students, he said this band will be another that you just mustn’t miss.

To find out about late evening music at the Chalkboard or to check the specials on the menu (breakfast, lunch and dinner in the restaurant or outside on the patio), call 302-539-7842.