With experience comes refined skill, and Marietta, Ohio's Vinnie Mele of Vinnie Mele and the Lubricators has plenty of experience.

Mele first started swooning crowds during recess on his elementary school playground and has not stopped since. He is now fluent in the saxophone, guitar, piano, upright bass and harmonica. Before breaking out on his own, Mele was a member of Marietta cover band QP3.

Mele will be displaying his diverse skill set with the help of his three piece backing band, the Lubricators, on Friday, April 13, at the Smiling Skull.

Although his musical style includes influences of bluegrass, jazz, blues, and country, you can expect a heavy dose of blues from Mele, as he begins to promote his debut solo album, 35, which is due at some point this summer.

Opening for Vinnie Mele and the Lubricators on Friday will be Athens' own Whip & Tickle.

Whip & Tickle's covers of bluesy rock bands such as The Rolling Stones, Stone Temple Pilots, and Taj Mahal will mesh nicely with Vinnie Mele and the Lubricators' slick grooves. They also feature tunes from The Grateful Dead, Ray Charles and David Bowie, showing that they too have wide musical range.

Much like Vinnie Mele and the Lubricators, Whip & Tickle also have recently released their first album, What Were You Thinking. The six-song EP includes originals and covers, including a rendition of Elton John's “Bennie and the Jets.”

So, if you are looking for some smooth grooves and slick guitar playing, come on down to The Smiling Skull Saloon for Athens regulars Whip & Tickle followed by Vinnie Mele and the Lubricators.