Zavala, an ancient Spanish name dating back to medieval times, means “Fortress.” True to its name, Zavala—the newly formed house band at Shermans Creek Inn—is a fortress built by a diverse group of local musicians.
The idea for the band began after a December 2024 performance by Lydia Zavala and her Trio at the Creek. Impressed by her vocal talent and crowd presence, Troy Tremellen, owner of The Creek, decided to form a house band around Lydia. After some careful consideration, Lydia thought, “Why not? Let’s go for it!.”
Troy quickly enlisted the help of the ever-busy Kevin Nelson to assemble a band of high-level local musicians to perform alongside Lydia. Kevin, a skilled guitarist, dug into his archive of local talent and reached out to Tommy B, who would handle the drums. He then brought on Brandon Barnhart to play keys. For bass, Kevin needed someone who could not only keep the rhythm but also lend backup vocals for the diverse playlist Troy had in mind. Answering the call was Ric Bomberger, a seasoned bass player and vocalist, and a regular at the Creek.
Lydia Zavala, the lead vocalist, hails from Laureldale, PA. Her love of performing began in second grade when she first sang in the school chorus. She recalls the excitement of the crowd that day—a feeling she has craved ever since. As a latchkey kid, she organized a “dance squad” and performed routines for her classmates to songs by “Ace of Base.” Drawn to school musicals, Lydia credits all her music teachers, especially Mr. Sandel from Muhlenberg High School, for encouraging her to pursue her dreams. Although she studied fashion in college, Lydia never stopped performing whenever she had the chance.
In 2007, Lydia moved to Harrisburg and began working on original music. However, it wasn’t until 2014 that she began performing in bands. A poorly-timed move to Las Vegas in early 2019 left her stranded during the pandemic, struggling to find her place in a new city where she never felt at home. In 2021, Lydia returned to Harrisburg and began performing with her trio, which includes Lydia on vocals, Steve Jewett on guitar, and Eric Slaughter on drums. She also performs with Erich Cawalla’s “Uptown Band,” one of the region’s best variety and dance bands.
Lydia lists her influences as Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Christina Aguilera, and credits local music coach Amy Flowers from “Soul House & House of Vocals” for pushing her out of her comfort zone and back on stage to pursue music full-time. When asked about her favorite songs to perform from the diverse setlist, she mentioned Republica’s “Ready To Go” and The B-52’s “Love Shack” for their upbeat vibe and freshness. The most challenging songs for Lydia are Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” due to their technical vocals and the responsibility to do justice to such classic tunes.
Kevin Nelson, guitarist for Zavala, is no stranger to the local scene. In addition to his role as an on-air DJ at Red 102.3, where he hosts the midday show and serves as production manager, Kevin is the Entertainment Manager at Shermans Creek Inn. He also plays in four other bands: “Adrian Blitzer,” “Love Rocket,” “Shine Through the Shade,” and “Date Night,” a duo with his wife. Kevin began playing music at the age of 5 and attended HACC for music merchandising, receiving a NAMM Scholarship that allowed him to attend the NAMM show in California. He is classically trained in guitar and trombone, and he also dabbles in drums and keys. Kevin teaches guitar lessons and, thanks to encouragement from Troy at Shermans Creek Inn, has transitioned to a full-time music career, leaving his retail job behind. When asked about his favorite song from the setlist, Kevin chose Toto’s “Hold the Line” and listed Selena’s “Disco Medley” as the most challenging. Yes, you read that right—Troy wanted disco on the setlist! So, get ready to dust off those bell bottoms and break out your dance moves because Zavala is bringing the heat.
Ric Bomberger, bassist for Zavala, began his musical journey at age 3, playing piano before switching to trumpet, which eventually led him to West Chester College, where he received classical training in voice and trumpet. After deciding that teaching in the classroom wasn’t for him, Ric transitioned to bass in 1982 and soon found himself playing in a jazz band, where he honed his skills. Over the years, Ric has played with many bands, including “Flannelboy” (a mid-’90s grunge band), “Jim Rhoads Action” (which featured Ric on the cover of PA Musician Magazine), “Liz Chrome and the Surge,” and “Honey Badger.” He still plays with “Shotgunn.” Ric lists his favorite setlist songs as “Love Shack” and the “Disco Medley,” and the most challenging as Lizzo’s “About Damn Time,” a song he’d never heard before trying to play it with a full band. But, as practice showed, they pulled it off beautifully.
Brandon Barnhart, “The Electric Piano Man,” has been performing as a solo artist for 12 years and also fronts the band “Modern Outlaws,” where he sings lead vocals and plays guitar and piano. A native of Selinsgrove/Sunbury, Brandon is classically trained in piano and enjoys playing keys with Zavala, as it allows him to explore new sounds that he doesn’t often get to use with his other bands. The band’s diverse setlist requires Brandon to quickly switch between piano, strings, and brass, often using his foot pedal to shift between sounds. He feels fortunate to be part of two bands with such talented musicians. When asked about his favorite songs from the setlist, Brandon picked Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” and Ariana Grande’s “Greedy.” As for the most challenging, he listed the “Disco Medley.”
Last but not least, Tommy B, the drummer for Zavala, is no stranger to the local scene. Known for his solo 12 string guitar shows, Tommy started his musical journey on drums in 1998 before switching to guitar. He first performed at Shermans Creek Inn in 2021 and has since played over 150 shows a year in 2023 and 2024. This year, Tommy plans to scale back to 50-60 solo gigs to focus on his craft and balance personal time, though he still plans to incorporate performances into his love of traveling. He recently participated in Gettysburg Rocks, raising $520 by matching donations for people buying his merchandise. Tommy’s favorite songs on the setlist are Bruno Mars’ “Treasure” and Republica’s “Ready To Go,” which allow him to showcase his skills on drums. The most challenging? Shania Twain’s “Man! I Feel Like a Woman,” a song that requires a certain headspace for him to get into.
Zavala will debut at the Shermans Creek Inn on Tuesday, March 25th, performing songs from the ’70s through today’s latest tracks. The plan is for them to play one Tuesday each month and bring a new mid-week band night to the Creek. As always, there is NO COVER CHARGE at The Shermans Creek Inn for bands, and this is something Troy strives to offer his patrons.
If you can’t tell from this article, Troy is a huge supporter of local music and is constantly finding ways to bring new and exciting entertainment to his venue and beyond. Zavala would like to thank Troy for giving them this opportunity, as well as the practice space. As Brandon said, “ALL THE FREE WINGS I CAN EAT!” (Yes, he even feeds the band at each practice session).
Kevin lists Troy as the main reason he was able to quit his “day” job and pursue a life in the music industry. He also gave Tommy B his first shot at a solo gig and launched him—and many others—on their musical journeys. He helped to raise funds for our own Chris Rider when he lost his house due to a tragic fire. The list goes on and on. Troy is dedicated not just to the music scene but also to his community, through local events they host each year to help support surrounding businesses.
If you have never been to Shermans Creek Inn, please make the drive and experience it for yourself. Troy’s team is not just a business; they are a family that supports each other and the local scene. They offer some sort of entertainment almost every night of the week. You can check out the action-packed full schedule each month in the PA Musician Magazine. Make your plans now!
To follow Zavala and stay updated on show dates, visit facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572960947969.
For Shermans Creek Inn updates, go to facebook.com/ShermansCreekInn
