Consisting of four musicians with varied backgrounds but sharing a common interest, Full Kilt can best be described as a Celtic rock band. The project came to life in April 2006 and has been performing in the Altoona/Johnstown area since November of 2006.
Mike Zerbee (vocals and guitar), Pat Boland (vocals and percussion), Mandy Passmore (fiddle and whistles), and Chris Myers (bass guitar, vocals, and bodhran) cover songs from Gaelic Storm, Great Big Sea, The Prodigals, and Flogging Molly as well as their own arrangements of traditional Celtic songs. For those people who know these groups, but do not hear their music enough, Full Kilt can give you that opportunity at a local venue. For any one out there not familiar with Celtic rock music, you need only to hear it a couple times to be hooked on its feel good vibe.
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Mike Zerbee started playing rock music more years ago than he wants to admit to in this biography. Sufficient to say “a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.” Any way, after a long career of rocking in bands like “Excalibur” Mike came to the realization that unless you are Mick Jagger or SteveTyler you cannot play rock and roll into your 40’s and get away with it. So it was then he decided to change direction. Attending a three day Celtic festival, he had his first taste of Celtic music and realized it was where he wanted to go musically. Finding musicians that felt the same way was not easy. After some hard negotiations he talked one of his long time rocker friends, Brian Anderson into trying the music out. Since there were just the two of them, a full band was out of the question, but perhaps an act based on Irish folk tunes and laced with Irish humor could work. They decided to use both of their first names and came up with “The Michael O’Brian Band”“The Michael O’Brian Band A highly successful act that Mike is still a part of. Mike However continued to want the full band sound and to that end looked for years to find other musicians to fill out the “Full Kilt” project. In 2002 he teamed with a bass player from Cresson Rick (hunk) Golden and a fiddler from Johnstown Jen Harnett, and they, along with Pat Boland, formed the first rendition of "Full Kilt". Rick had to leave the band in 2003 and Jen's husband, Matt Harnett joined the group, and they performed locally for about two years, along with a excellent Irish step dancer, Jordan Long, also from Johnstown. Matt , Jen and Jordan, decided to go in a different direction, forming the popular Johnstown band "Tree" , which you can hear at several venues locally. Mike continued to search for new musicians to rekindle "Full Kilt". It was St. Patrick’s Day 2006 when the pieces fell together to put his plan into action and the band is currently on a surge towards finding its own success in the area.
Chris Myers grew up around music all of his life with his Dad and Uncles playing good old time rock and roll. He got his first drum kit at age 8 and by age 12 would jam with a family band called the "Rattlers". By 14 he was filling in for the regular drummer for the band, and one year later found himself a permanent member. Chris’ Dad, Dan Myers I, Uncles Gene & Matt, and big bro Dan II were, and remain his biggest influences. It was in the mid 90's that Dan II moved home and he and Chris formed the first of many garage bands some more successful then others leading to the formation of Beyond Reason, one of central PA's best party bands, playing straight up the gut Rock-n-roll, and which Chris remains a member of. In Feb. of 06, Chris and Mike Zerbee were working together in their daytime jobs, discussing their musical projects. Beyond Reason seemed on the verge of disbanding, not wanting to quit playing music that runs thick in his blood, Chris let Mike know he had an interest in Celtic music and wanted to be part of the Full Kilt project. Chris had experimented with some Irish Folk playing the bodrhan with his dad, uncles, and Theresa Wilson. Mike explained his vision for “Full Kilt” and that he had found a fiddler and had a drummer but knowing of Chris' family background asked if he could play bass guitar. Chris’ reply was “not yet”. He has learned it fast and also continues to add percussion support with that Irish drum! ___________________________
Pat Boland is the heart beat of “Full Kilt” don’ ya know!!! After many years of R&R drumming and a fair measure of working other musical genres’, Celtic Rock arrived in my head via the Prodigals. From there going back was never and option.
The Bolands are an Irish family through and through, but it was not the first music I cut my “musical eye teeth” on. The big band stuff my father played as a pianist working the local clubs before I was born and many afterwards, was my first influence. He was good at his trade and our house was full of his music almost every night (I loved the Honky Tonk stuff the best). My Great Grandfather was purported to be quite the fiddler, and I can only imagine that there are some songs we do that he would be familiar with…..well sort of……like the Wright brother’s plane and the Space Shuttle both have wings don’t you know. Although I started out on the piano and flirted with the guitar, I loved the push the percussion instruments gave the music.
High School and College drumming (Parade, Stage, Symphonic, and Jazz Bands) expanded my musical horizons. I was there for the British Invasion and got my first set of drums shortly thereafter and remember when the MOOG Synthesizer came out. My first paid “gig” was in a Country Band though. First Rock Band – the Bush. I loved it all then and still do today.
My work in music has been that of the semi-professional/weekend warrior. The neat thing about that is I have been fortunate to work with some truly gifted regional musicians. Sometimes we provided warm up for national acts, which even led to offers to go “full time”. The tug of family and kids won out….and although you always think “what if”, I’m glad I took the path I did. In recent years I continue to work with several bands but in each band we only take a limited number of engagements throughout the year. That means a lot of “Basement Time” for me but also, a “feast” of music and the joy of working with many talented people….Damn, What FUN!!!
I married a great (did I mention beautiful) woman who still helps me have the best of both worlds. As life goes, sometimes it gets kind of rough and tumble but “My Rose” always knew I was a music man and had to be about performing…..or I just couldn’t BE period! And three boys later……now they and their women are Celtic Rock affectionatos.
Mike and I worked together in 5 or 6 bands over the years (Southern Rock, Soul, Top Forty R&R, Classic Rock, Big Hair stuff etc, etc). Our paths separated and came back together lots over the years. But the respect and friendship always remained. Some time in ’02 or ’03 he laid out his intent to foray into Celtic Rock to “see what happens”. He invited me to help anchor the project as we recruited likeminded musicians. At first the structure and how to work the rhythms confounded the Rock & Roller in me. Getting used to the ediquette of wearing a kilt took a bit of time (I’m a drummer you know!) But after my introduction to Guiness and Jamison, “IT dawned on me”…….I haven’t been right since. ______________________
Mandy Passmore has been playing the violin/fiddle for 20 years, and some of her friends refer to her as a modern-day filidh or bardd: these two sects of Celtic minstrels/poets/mystics helped pass on culture, history, and the “deep mysteries” reflected in the natural world via song and verse. Mandy began playing the violin at the age of 9 after hearing a presentation in her fourth grade class, fondly remembering how the “wood and song spoke to that deepest part of me, and I knew that this was the instrument I wanted to play.” She continued to study classical violin in local school programs and orchestras as well as with a private instructor during junior/senior high. She went on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Orchestra in her senior year, and then played in the Ivyside String Quartet at Penn State Altoona. Although her training is based in classical roots, she always felt the Celtic blood in her calling. Mandy has always been interested in ancient Celtic history and culture and has immersed herself in the pre-through-Roman occupation of the British Isles and ancient-through-modern Ireland via music, texts, poetry, and art. During college, Mandy began to fulfill her musical passion for Irish music, and “converted” thoroughly to the fiddle. Currently, aside from fiddling, Mandy holds an MFA in Poetry from Vermont College and teaches English at Penn State University. Joining Full Kilt was a long-awaited wish to play with other Celtic-minded musicians. She met Mike Zerbee around St. Patty’s day of 2006 by cunningly “slipping” his wife, Molly, a business card. Later she met Chris Myers and Pat Boland at a local pub, and all four members quickly began planning the project of Full Kilt. Fans of the band have commented upon and observed that all four members have chemistry, which comes across to the audience: “This group has fun up there.”
Thank ya kindly for the nice comments. I enjoy what you all are doing. I am of scottish heritage, and enjoy hearing celtic music. I/we will have to check you all out sometime. Best Regards, Mama Corn
The Irish outlaw Reilly Ramones is not rambling along rainy green Irish valleys. This time he troubles the spotless under the hot Mexican sun and drowns Mariachi trumpets in Guinness. Come and listen to the fine crossover of traditional irish tunes, Rock'n Roll and Hip Hop on the new album "Kind Of Green". www. myspace. com/insearchofarose or www. insearchofarose. de
Mikey, are you having fun in Ireland you lucky shit?!!!!!!! I'd give anything for ANY kind of vacation this summer, but Ireland would be freaking awesome!
We just updated our calendar with your June shows. Keep in touch- let us know when you have new gigs- we will keep posting them to our website. Check it out!!!! www. PA-AreaMusic. US C & K
