Since Toms and others in Hard Rain also are members of Grushecky's Houserockers, Hard Rain doesn't get a chance to play as often as its fans would like. Brontz says that Hard Rain's limited scheduling "seems to make every gig a special occasion, a party." He calls Hard Rain a great live band.
"Bill Tom's writing is fabulous, and his music has been a perfect medium for me. Recording with Norman, Joe, Erin and Jill has been a thrill. I feel very lucky and honored to have been asked to play with all these icons of Pittsburgh music," says Brontz.
Likewise, the "icons" who could be reached for comment also praise Brontz's talent and the contributions he brings to their stages and recording sessions to compliment their particular styles of music.
"Phil Brontz is a great rock and roll sax player. He has a great big sound," says Norman Nardini of his former band member who is welcome to show up anytime with sax in hand to play. Toms calls Brontz a dynamic performer and one of the most natural rock and roll musicians he knows.
"Phil is very aware of what everyone else is doing. He has the ability to fit his parts into the songs effortlessly," Toms said of his Hard Rain saxophone player. Toms also refers to Brontz as "one of the nicest people you will meet and a very good friend."
While Brontz says he was influenced by saxophone greats such as Junior Walker and King Curtis, he also credits local influences Mike Sweeney and Nardini for helping him to perfect his style of playing.
"One of my early influences around town was Mike Sweeney, a great songwriter/musician. He was the first guy to convince me when not to play. I mean play less - less space and less notes. He taught me the 'one note theory' that sometimes if you play one note good enough, long enough and loud enough, you can drive the crowd into a frenzy!
"It was Mike Sweeney who got me hooked up with Norman back in 1985 or so. Norman was also a big influence to me over the years of using space as much as using notes," Brontz says when reflecting over his musical career.
"There's so much talent around this town," Brontz says. "It is really a shame that so few bands from Pittsburgh have had much commercial success. It's not from lack of talent or lack of trying," he adds.
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