Bios

Every song I’ve ever heard has been an influence in some way, probably. Pink Floyd, the Butthole Surfers, the Damned, Rush, Johnny Cash, Wendy Carlos, Dolly Parton, Frank Zappa… I pay the most attention to other people or groups who are just doing their own thing in their own way. Ultimately, I sound like me whatever I’m playing so it’s kind of pointless to try copying anyone verbatim.

I got my first guitar when I was like 13 or 14, a black Takamine electric. I kept it for a few years, learned to play on it, had a lot of fun doing the garage-band thing in high school, and the just kept on… eventually I traded it in for a new ’88 Fender Stratocaster Floyd Rose, which I’ve been playing ever since. I’ve been playing publicly on and off for over fifteen years now, done recording projects and stuff, and this is definitely the most fun group I’ve ever been part of. I’m used to playing with trios, having to keep the rhythm going as well as doing solos and textures, and it’s really great to have Cindy Lou and the boys keeping solid rhythm so I’m free to mess around… it’s kind of like surfing, but with sound!

My interest in playing drums started around age 13 when a neighborhood friend had a drum set to sell. As I had no money at the time I was able to barter the kit for a 2 seat Vespa scooter, the rest is music “history” I’ve played with a few bands over the years, and sometimes a few at the same time. Currently I play exclusively with Mobius Donut, one band is more than enough right now. Previously I’ve played with folk/rock outfit Snakes In Eden from 1998 to 2001 and rock band the Particles from 1994 to 1999. I also played in an early Genesis cover band called The Grand Parade from 1994 to 1995. What I like best about what I’m doing now is the wide variety of influences that we have and how our approach to music affords me a great deal of creativity in playing. Our band focuses a lot on dynamics and execution, but not to the point that the songs lose their edge. Lastly, the music is just a lot of fun and always a pleasure to play.

Equipment-wise I play a 6 piece Gretsch drum set. I also use Zildjian K Custom cymbals and Vic Firth sticks, size 5a.

I can’t remember exactly when I started singing. I used to con my younger sister into ensemble-ing all 15 cats, dog and horses and would hold silly concerts singing to them from a tree. I would make up arbitrary lyrics and sing every song I knew to my hostage audience. From here I decided to join chorus when I entered junior high, this led to high school choir, small ensembles and parts in musicals. My rock ‘n’ roll “career” started with two fun buddies who liked to jam. I started singing backup with the Sterling Price Quartet in a few local small-town clubs. This led to an opportunity to record a few tracks for Sterling Price at the Plant and Expressions as a project for engineering students. From here we revamped the lineup and I took over lead vocals. We put together a cover band that practiced more than we played out. After playing only a few parties we disintergrated and went our separate ways. And then a friend introduced me to the world of high-tech and Craigslist…suddenly opportunities and auditions of all kinds came up. I auditioned for mostl who would listen to me until I met Mobius Donut, their influences and direction captivated me, everyone was having fun and making great music, it felt like a great fit to me.

As far as influences go, some of my favorites are Rush, Yes, Black Sabbath, Chris Cornell, KD Lang and Bonnie Raitt. This hardly describes everything that I like but thoughtful rhythyms and crazy time signatures always grab me! I feel thoroughly blessed to have found Andrea, Kevin and Kerry!

I began playing music at age twelve when I picked up my first acoustic guitar and played along with my older sibling’s albums (I won’t embarrass myself my saying what they were). I started collecting my own albums from such bands as The Who, Rush, Pink Floyd, Yes, ELP, and King Crimson. I discovered the riffs on their albums were much more interesting and I branched out to bass playing virtually on the recommendation of then junior high school friend Jason Becker . Since then I have been in a variety of bands, most of them with my brother Kerry. With Kerry I have played in our old prog-rock group the Wake,the Particles in the mid-90′s, and currently in our new group Mobius Donut. My bass playing influences include Geddy Lee, Tony Levin, Chris Squire, Jaco, and Flea. I love Mobius Donut because the energy we create and manifest on stage is unbelievable. Holding down the rhythm section for this band is the best…YeeHaw!!