Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Scott Crabtree heard “ta ta tee-tee ta” as he rolled around in his crib.  His mum’s efforts to teach rhythm evolved into teaching little Scott to bang on the piano keys.  Fast forward, Scott melds rhythm and melody like he could not only be the band’s singer, guitarist, and trumpeter but also the drummer.   In fact Scott played drums in his previous bands Desiderata (rock), Hatful of Rain (alt rock), Doris Daze (rock pop folk), and Powderfinger (a Neil Young tribute band, now Fuzzball).  Scott has an uncanny ability to channel Neil Young’s high and lonesome vocals.  Sometimes the band just wants to stop and listen (but Scott would crush us, he’s a powerful man).  We suspect Scott is siphoning energy from Neil’s soul.   

Lead guitarist and vocalist Chris Wilson’s ancestors fell off the Mayflower and brought glass flowers to Harvard’s Natural History Museum.  Chris once had an obsession with photographing flowers, which naturally led to being an AP football photographer.  But when it comes to guitar, Chris is all roots and shoots - Chuck Berry, the Beatles, Steve Howe, XTC, and sham-a-lama-dingdong.  He honed his licks playing Lyle Lovett around the campfire, learning jazz riffs with Dan Balmer, and gigging with acoustic duos Andy Harrison and the Underhills (see Chip and Drifty), and the 60’s cover band Danny and the Originals, whose highlight was a tour to the World Expo in Vancouver, Canada.

Bassist and obsessive songwriter Erik Merrill’s Viking ghosts followed Brigham Young and invaded the Great Basin.  They ate grasshoppers, made hats, and thought about having many wives. Erik has one wife, Chris’s sister. On his best singing days, Erik can approximate Lou Reed.  So, he relies on Scott and Chris to bring melody to his lyrics. This collaboration (or dependency) is what makes a band a band.  Erik’s first live-performed song was Black Sabbath’s Paranoid with No Reason at a high school prom queen assembly.  Erik’s bass anchored the Deadbolts (ska, mod, REM jangle rock), Pollo Elastico (Tucson cow-funk juggernaut), Tribal Train (protest rock), the Strolling Bones (Stones tribute band), Doris Daze, and Big Pete (alt country).    

Drummer Andrew McGough’s folks were fresh off the boat from Scotland and Ireland, settled in Toronto, fell south to Chicago, and became lifelong union workers.  Andrew is all about solidarity and foundation -- he makes the waves that the rest of the band surfs over and rocks it like closing hour at an Irish Pub. He cut his teeth in Chicago’s early punk scene drumming for the Generics, the Wighats, and Bozo and the Pinheads (featuring Kim Thayil, Hiro Yamamoto, and John Pavitt).   In Portland, he’s played with Hummingfish, the Tony Green Orchestra, and Big Pete.  Listen to Andrew, he speaks the truly truth.

We are joined by guests live and in recording including Eric Schrepel on accordion (y la bamba), Shay Scott on organ and engineering, and Jeff Lester on mandolin.

Recipe:
•    1 cups Beatles
•    2 cups Rolling Stones
•    2 cups Bob Dylan, sifted with Grateful Dead
•    1 cup Neil Young, diluted in a solution of Phish
•    1/2 cup finely chopped Meat Puppets
•    Pinch of John Haitt flavored Bonnie Raitt
•    Hint of Billy Bragg, the Gourds, and the Replacements
•    Dusting of Pearl Jam
•    Talking Heads to taste

Preheat amps to 350 degrees.  Grease instruments with hippie jam love, then wipe clean with REM.  With drums at high speed, mix in Billy Bragg, the Gourds, and the Replacements.  Slowly beat in classic rock ingredients.  Fold in Pearl Jam and Talking Heads.  Top with Meat Puppets.  Bake until ½ done.  Serve hot.