bio

About Waterline

Chris Pappalardo and Jim Ellis formed the band Waterline after a weekend trip to the Carolina coast. Having toured the world with slide guitar legends Sonny Landreth and Lee Roy Parnell, Chris was ready to settle down and call North Carolina his home. Jim had been performing and recording with Virginia area bands, but had always been drawn to the sea. The two of them had been playing music off and on since 1992 in various bands, but that weekend, they knew they had found their home... and Waterline was born. A loyal following of "Waterheads" grew as Waterline performed at clubs, festivals and house concerts from the Carolinas to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Waterline's sound is described as "Coastal Rock," a blend of heartfelt lyrics and memorable hooks, and is often compared to Jackson Browne, Jimmy Buffett and Train. During live shows, guitarist Chris Pappalardo switches between acoustic, electric and slide guitars, offering a variety of moods even in their duo format, all perfectly complemented by Jim's "New Orleans Bruce Hornsby" piano style and smooth harmonies. No matter where you are, Waterline will put you in a coastal state of mind.

Waterline also can perform with a backing band to create a sound similar to their high-energy recordings. Waterline's latest studio release, Long Goners, features an impressive rhythm section, including Sugar Hill recording artist Sonny Landreth and his band. This group has backed up John Hiatt as "The Goners" since the late 1980's, and Sonny's slide guitar can be heard on recordings from Jimmy Buffett to Dolly Parton.

"Seeing Waterline perform live is quite an experience...they are serious, talented musicians with a terrific sense of fun, and a dynamic between them that engages the audience in the poignancy of their lyrics" - Capturing the Spirit of the Carolinas Magazine