Jake McVey: Vocals, Guitar--
Mike Brunette: Keys, Vocals--
Michael "MG" Grate: Bass, Vocals--
Matt Gruszek: Guitar, Vocals--
Scott Lange: Drums, Cymbals, Sounds
Influences
BANDS--Little Feat, Brad Paisley, Shooter Jennings, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Dierks Bentley, Kenny Chesney, Aerosmith, Guns N Roses, Metallica, d.i.n.. Soundgarden, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Rolling Stones, Todd Snider, Reckless Kelly, Jimmy Buffett, Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, Buckcherry, Steve Earle, Wade Bowen, Gov't Miule, The J. Geils Band, Captain Geech and the Shrimp Shack Shooters, anything good from any genre.
DRUMMERS--Joey Kramer, Steve Gadd, Paul Leim, Lars Ulrich, Richie Hayward, Max Weinberg, Larry Eagle, Levon Helm, Ian Bruski, Shannon Forrest, Bryan Keeling, Matt Sorum, Kenny Aronoff, Josh Freese, Ben Sesar, Dave Stanoch, Dave Hanzel, Gordy Knudtson, Paul Stueber, Marv Dahlgren, the list goes on and on...
I am a professional drummer currently touring with country artist Jake McVey. Also a novice songwriter (8-Point Tunes, BMI). Studied percussion at McNally Smith College of Music in St Paul MN with Gordy Knudtson, Dave Stanoch, Paul Stueber, Dave Hanzel, and countless other Twin Cities local pros. I have tracked/toured with a spectrum of local and national artists of just about every genre, from Florida to Los Angeles and everywhere in between. If you are into Xbox and Playstation and stuff, you might hear some tunes I played percussion on on some of your favorite games. One time, I played with a band called Johnny Reb and the Lost Cause. That was a one time thing. Im pretty much a backbeat drummer, but one of these days Ill get my latin/jazz chops back together. Other things that currently describe me include: Film Industry Scholar, Equal Opportunity Appreciator of Pop Culture and the Obscure, Aspiring Card-Counter and Gaming Industry Enthusiast (no, not video games...) Road-Weary Traveler, International Champion of Complicated Personal Relationships, Armchair Hockey Coach, Avid Advocate for More Cowbell (I own two...) Admirer of the Female Drummer, Recovering (and relapsing) Itunes Addict, and Co-Chairman of the "Bud Light Lime--It's not just for breakfast anymore...." Campaign.
Started playing with Nashville recording artist Jake McVey
(Cedar Rapids, IA) in August 2007, currently touring the US.I am a 2003 grad of McNally Smith College
of Music in St Paul, MN, and have performed/toured/recorded with:
....
Kendall Meyer and Common Ground (Toured nationally w/ The
Bellamy Brothers, Little Texas, Brett Michaels, Hal Ketchum, Exile, Keith
Anderson, John Michael Montgomery, Billy Currington, Sawyer Brown) ....
Ten Count Junky (Los Angeles, CA, recordings placed in two
Xbox/PS2 releases), ....
Johnny Reb and the Lost Cause (Los Angeles, CA) ....
Hudson Community Theatre (Hudson, WI)....
Lauren Redpath (Twin Cities) ....
Marc Ballini (Twin Cities) ....
Bugsy (Twin Cities)....
Proud user of DW drums, pedals and hardware, Ludwig and Boom
Alley snare drums, Zildjian cymbals, Remo heads, Vic Firth sticks, Jose Cuervo
fine tequillas, and a spectrum of Budweiser products.Special thanks to Dave Hanzel (Boom Alley Drums), for his
fine craftsmanship of such fantastic drums.
