Kurt Thomas, a graphic designer and writer, is a band neophyte, but you’d never guess it. He embodies Fred Schneider like he’s been channeling rock stars all his life. Kurt is the new proud pappa of a bar in Berlin.
Vocalist Erin Shannon, a.k.a. Cindy Wilson, is the Founder of the Church of Pie, vocalist for the Derins, a sometime stand-up comic, and a self-professed legend in her own mind.
Key- and string-man Ben Feldman has been in several tribute bands in the Bay Area, including Steely Wonder (Steely Dan/Stevie Wonder), Duran Duran Duran, August West (Grateful Dead), and now Private Idaho, as well as many other original and cover projects over the past 20+ years. He loves Indian food and dogs, but not Indian dog food.
Guitarist Ray Wilcox is a producer, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist that runs San Francisco indie label Pacific Soul Records. A proud New Jersey transplant, he was previously the singer & guitarist for the Latrells and !Tang, as well as drummer/vocalist for SF Noise Pop pioneers ZIRCUS. When he's not figuring out the strange B-52's guitar parts, he also sings for New Orleans jazz group Bug Horn Rex, as well as Bay Area Supergroup Orphan Town. He also sings Shabbat at 4:30 every Friday at the JCCSF with the Mozel Tones.
Bassist Greg Smith (a simple name for a complex man, and a doctor to boot) jumped at the chance to play with the Idahos after hearing about it from Ben (long-time collaborator from Steely Wonder). Greg also plays bass and tuba with Ray in Bug Horn Rex. When he isn't plucking the four-string, Greg is jettisoning around the world cleaning up corporate messes, or more preferably, giggling with his kids.
Drummer Deirdre Lynds is a classically trained musician and composer with a rich background in performance—from classical to bluegrass to Celtic to rock. Primarily a guitarist, she played in instrumental trio Sound & Fury in Santa Barbara and now rocks with the San Francisco group Headshear. She is obsessed with surfing, and this is her maiden voyage as a drummer.
Private Idaho (otherwise known as the Ida Ho's) has its original roots in Craigslist, like many a strange romance. Then, in typical San Francisco style, a degree of incestuousness crept in, with one person telling two friends, and that person telling two friends, and onward. Connections between members include other musical projects, attendance at UCSB, and previous employment at the Bay Guardian. A motley crew (no umlaut), these players obviously share a love for their junior high favs the B-52s, as well an accompanying Peter-Pan "never grow old" mentality. Come to a show and you, too, can kick out the jams like a pre-teen dynamo.
Why do people keep commenting ontop of me.. Don't they know that I am the Private Idaho super fan. So much a fan, that I have not yet even listened to their music "cause they haven't posted it yet" and I am already seeking out ways to stalk the band and eventually attempt to kill the president (but not reall) to gain their favor. On an unrelated note, airplane glue + socks = magic
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