Meet The Hardee Station Band

Our mission is to energize you with powerful rock and country hits, connecting communities through vibrant live performances.  

About The Hardee Station Band
The Hardee Station Band is a Hilton Head/Bluffton-based band bringing together seasoned players and fresh energy. With decades of combined experience and a shared love for classic rock, soul, and good-time music, the band delivers high-energy covers and crowd favorites across the Lowcountry. What started with a few jam sessions quickly turned into something real — Six musicians from very different backgrounds, all landing in the same place at the right time.

Laura Berthiaume – Lead Vocalist

Originally from Maine, Laura is new to South Carolina and the local music scene. A powerhouse vocalist with no formal training and maximum volume, she sings on pure gut instinct, not sheet music. She went from shower singer to center stage in just a few awkward rehearsals, bringing unfiltered energy to every performance. Musical influences include Etta James, Grace Slick, Stevie Nicks, Melissa Etheridge, and P!nk.

Kirk Puffenberger-Keys/Vocals

My musical journey started early on drums with the Colonial Williamsburg Fife & Drum Corps, where we won multiple competitions up and down the East Coast. From there I played in my high school jazz band, in the orchestra for College of William & Mary stage productions, in various jazz groups throughout Williamsburg, and on drums for the youth group Up With People. Along the way I also picked up guitar and sang in choirs through high school, college, and later in church groups.

Working so closely with jazz piano players, I fell in love with the instrument and decided to learn it myself. Then came a traveling career and raising a family, so there was no time to be in performing bands. I still made time to keep studying. I studied classical piano under Al Masters with the Royal Conservatory, and jazz piano with Ted Howe of Berklee  College of Music and Grammy Award-winning pianist Kevin Bales. Now that I'm retired, I'm thrilled to be back on stage playing with the very talented and versatile Hardee Station Band! 

Victor (Big Poppi) Caiazzo – Bass / Rhythm Guitar / Vocals

A self-taught bass player who started at age 13, Victor recorded in NYC in the 80s and has played in many bands over the years. He spent over 25 years with The Basement Boys Band on and around Long Island, NY. Since moving to South Carolina, he has performed with Exit 8, Silver Sunset Band, and The Double D Band. He currently performs with The Hardee Station Band in and around the Hilton Head area. You never know where life will lead you!

 Tom Gross – Lead Guitar

Tom grew up on the South Side of Chicago, a vibrant center for blues and many other musical influences. He started playing bass at 14, playing parties through high school, and switched to guitar while attending the University of Miami, where he played with and learned from a number of excellent musicians. He has played in bands in Chicago, Miami, Charlottesville, VA, and Richmond, VA. He studied guitar and music theory with several jazz teachers in Virginia and for five summers at the National Guitar Summer Workshop in Connecticut. Comfortable in many styles — including Classic Rock, Blues, Jazz, Metal, Country, and Fusion — Tom has taught guitar in the past and currently teaches several students. He is privileged and excited to contribute to this very talented group of singers and musicians that is The Hardee Station Band. 

 Frank Ruggeri – Rhythm Guitar,  Vocalist
Like most boys growing up in the late 60s, Frank wanted to be a rock star — The Beatles, The Stones, The Animals, and even The Dave Clark Five. He took guitar and piano lessons and joined a few bands at 13 and 14. Then life happened: marriage, kids, and everything in between.
For his 50th birthday, his family chipped in and bought him a Martin acoustic guitar, and the bug came back. After a move to SW Florida playing open mics and house parties, he landed at Latitude Margaritaville Hilton Head, where he met Rusty Colman of the Silver Sunset Band and connected with like-minded musicians — ultimately joining The Hardee Station Band.
As he thinks back to that 13-14 year old kid he used to be, "SHOUDA, WOUDA, COUDA" comes to mind without the "L" . The "L" is all the stuff, in between, that we "L"eave out on purpose!

Michael Biglin – Drummer / Backround Vocals

New to the South Carolina music scene, Mike is a professional musician with over 40 years of experience, contributing drums and vocals to numerous recording and cover bands throughout Greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. His early influences include Yes, Genesis, and Frank Zappa, evolving over the years to yacht rock, reggae, and world beat. Spending 25+ years with the Mighty Parrot Band, he had the opportunity to open for national acts including The Neville Brothers, Herbie Mann, Tower of Power, and Jefferson Starship.