Mark Petteys: 5 String Banjo, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals. Originally from Pendleton, Oregon, Mark began performing as a teenager. He played throughout the United States, appearing with Tex Williams, Grandpa Jones, Tiny Moore, Mark O'Connor, the Country Gazette and others. He has led and performed with bluegrass, swing and rock bands since then. He was the Northwest Regional Banjo Champion in 1984 and has recorded a number of albums both solo and with other musicians. See his website at www.markpetteys.com
Brian Oberlin: Mandolin, Vocals. From Grand Rapids, Michigan, Brian spent five years with Northern Accent and five years with Grasshoppah. Grasshoppah won the 2001 Jammie Award for the best band in the Grand Rapids area.
Brian has performed with musical greats Rhonda Vincent, Larry Sparks and Vassar Clements. He was a 2003 finalist at the national mandolin championship in Winfield, Kansas.
Influences
Bob Wills, Les Paul, Jethro Burns, Tiny Moore, Jerry Garcia, Larry McNeely, Cats and the Fiddle, Stuff Smith, the Mills Brothers, the Andrew Sisters, the Country Gazette, John Hartford, Sam Bush, Peter Rowan, Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker....
Ida Viper, based in Portland, Oregon, draws on the roots of American music from bluegrass and swing to jazz tunes from the 20's and 30's. Mark Petteys (5-string banjo and guitar), Brian Oberlin (mandolin) and Russ Baker (standup bass) bring high-energy improvisational arrangements to their live performances.
Mark Petteys and Brian Oberlin formed Ida Viper during the summer of 2005 in Portland, Oregon. Their CD Some of These Days was released on May 13, 2006. Russ Baker began performing with Mark and Brian in January 2006.
You guys had a burping contest with my brother across a state park last summer and then made a gallant attempt at a bluegrass version of fat bottomed girls for my sister-in-law. Forgive them, they live in a musical cave.
Come to Bend! I'd love to check out one of your shows 'for real'.
Hey Ida ... Thanks for being our newest friend... Love the tunes! Sounds Great! .. Stop by and leave us a post sometime, we'd love to hear from you... Thanks Mike Gibson, The Grass Less Traveled
hey Brian! remember me? I was the reporter at your mandolin workshop at Gettin' Picky last autumn. you liked my Merle Haggard t-shirt ;-) glad to see you have a band going. I added one of your songs to my page. keep up the good work! see you around :-)
Ida Viper BURNS!! Great show yesterday. Lots of fun workin' together. Let's do it again soon. You guys have a unique sound and choose some really cool material to perform. Keep it up!! Rick
