The Oly Mountain Boys were born in Spring 2008 when recent Alaska-to-Olympia transplant Tye Menser stumbled into three other disciples of the traditional bluegrass he loves. The quartet added Josh Grice on fiddle in early 2009.
CHRIS RUTLEDGE plays the guitar and provides vocals. Chris hails from Shelton, WA, and currently resides in McCleary, WA. Chris has previously played in blues-oriented bands and the Oly Mountain Boys is actually his first foray into bluegrass.
TYE MENSER, on banjo and lead vocals, was born in Southern California but likes to point out, for bluegrass credibility, that his parents and entire family are from Western Kentucky. Tye learned to play bluegrass in Fairbanks, Alaska starting in 2004, and played in a band up there called Rural Delivery. He currently resides in Olympia and also provides banjo for an outlaw-country band called Rodeo Kill.
DEREK McSWAIN grew up in Olympia, studied mandolin for a number of years, but only recently joined performing bands, formerly playing with the Bluegrass Renegades and now the Oly Mountain Boys. He resides in Lacey, WA, and plays the mandolin and sings baritone.
PHIL POST, on bass and tenor vocals, is the only member with bona fide Southern heritage, growing up in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. Phil's musical journey began singing for a Springfield, MO church choir. He moved to the Pacific Northwest many years ago, studying jazz and composition, and has played a number of instruments in a variety of regional bands through the years, including Big Idea, Heliotroupe (jam band), Head For the Hills (bluegrass), Milroy Holler (psychedelic), Cabin Kind (newgrass), and currently the Erev Ravs (klezmer) and Tilted Stilts (alt-country). Phil resides in Olympia.
JOSH GRICE was raised near Milwaukee, WI and now resides in Olympia. He joined the Oly Mountain Boys in early 2009. Josh squanders his free time playing "violin" with the Olympia Symphony, and also provides fiddle sounds for Abby Blue and the Outskirts and the Tilted Stilts.
Greetings Derek! Last time I saw you was at the Fiddler's Inn in Seattle, Its been 5 years. Good to know you're still playing. Maybe I'll see you sometime in Portland! Cheers!
Hey Guys, You all sound great. It was wonderful to meet you up at Wintergrass and so much fun that we bumped into each other just out on the road like that. Thanks for coming to that show too. It was so cool to see you out there.
Come join Z Kamp this Saturday April 4th at the East Side Tavern with two other amazing bands Glass Elevator and Eldridge Gravy. Show starts at 9 and Z Kamp ends the night!
Whoa guys thanks for top-friending us! It's crazy, I saw Liz Longley in your top friends, do you know her or what? I ask because i go to school with Liz here in boston! Anyway, funny coincidence.
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