CHUCK KUEPFER, Staff Reporter

It’s going to be an exciting month for the up-and-coming Elmira band The Suns.

The group won the Summer Slam Battle of the Bands at the Central Tavern in July. Now they’re set to go back on stage both as a featured band and as an opening act.

“They won a paid show and they also won the spot to open up for Anthony Gomes,” said Frank Corbett of Promoagogo, which hosted the competition. “They’re pumped. They’re only 16, so for them this is like playing Massey Hall or something.”

The Suns play a self-described brand of “blues of the 1960s to rock and roll,” influenced by Led Zeppelin, The Doors and The Allman Brothers.

Members of the band include Scott Metzger (lead vocals), Chris Paleshi (guitar), Angus Mulrooney (guitar), Roy McNeil (organ) and Nate James (percussion).

The Suns’ solo show goes Saturday, Oct. 13. The band will entertain from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. Minors are allowed to stay until 10 p.m.

There is a $5 cover charge.

Thursday, Oct. 18, the band is back on stage to open for Anthony Gomes, an international recording artist who continues to rise in world of blues music.

“He just opened up for B.B. King last month,” said Corbett, “and he opened up for Buddy Guy and Jonny Lang in St. Louis. He’s on his game like never before.”

Gomes played in Elmira this past May in support of his most recent album Up 2 Zero, which found itself among Billboard’s top 10 blues albums when it debuted earlier this year. Gomes played to a full house then, and Corbett expects another sold-out show.

For The Suns, the chance to play on the same bill as a musician who has won the BluesWax blues artist of the year award and Buddy Guy’s Legends “Best Unsigned Blues Band” competition is a great opportunity.

“Really, for The Suns to say they’ve opened up for Anthony Gomes, who has opened up for George Thorogood, The Doobie Brothers, BB King, Robert Crae and Buddy Guy, the list is absolutely endless, for a 16-year-old kid to be able to say that, it looks good on your resume,” said Corbett. “If you went to a bar owner and said we’ve opened up for Anthony Gomes…it’s a pretty good recommendation.”

The Oct. 18 show runs from 7-11 p.m.

Tickets are $20 and available at the Central Tavern.