For bookings, please contact us at: shakadownstreet@gmail.com

Philip Johnson (Guitar, Vocals) started playing music on the streets of Ann Arbor, Michigan in the late 1970s. The first song he learned to play on guitar was the Grateful Dead’s Wharf Rat, chosen because the first part of the song required only two chords and two fingers. His first Dead show was 11-01-77, in which the Dead inexplicably started 20 minutes early, resulting in him listening to the Tennessee Jed solo while running frantically around the outside perimeter of Cobo Hall. Prior to joining Shakadown Street, Philip played in Mabanzi, an African marimba band. Philip was a bandmember from late-2006 through mid-2008, and has rejoined us in 2009.

Justin Murata (Guitar, Vocals) has been playing music from the tender age of six. After becoming disillusioned with the music business and tired of having to practice piano, he took a hiatus at the age of seven to pursue other interests. Somewhere along the line, he discovered Ledward Kaapana and Leo Kottke, ended his hiatus and took up the guitar. His professional music career exploded with performances all around the Hawaiian island of Oahu, during which time he became very proficient at hauling around and setting up PA systems. A move to the East Bay brought him to his first Grateful Dead concert and the realization that he could never haul around a system so large. He decided to focus on playing the guitar and has done so ever since. Justin is an original Shakadown Street bandmember.

Paul Perrone (Drums/Percussion, Vocals) moved from Madison, Wisconsin to Hawaii in early 1992, after a long stint with internationally-renowned acoustic guitarist Willy Porter and various local/regional acts. Paul started playing drums in the second grade after his parents “relieved him of his duties” as a fledgling classical violinist. (Thirty-plus years later, Paul admits to having deviously orchestrated this change of plans.) Like so many others, Paul was turned on to the Grateful Dead in college, and attended (and taped) a slew of shows during the 80s and early 90s. Over the years, he has played in bands representing a wide cross-section of American and world music, and currently also gigs around Hawaii with his oldies rock & roll band “Johnny Blastoff & The Afterburners” and plays congas in the traditional Hawaiian group, “The Pahoehoe Band.” Paul lists Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart, John Bonham, Stewart Copeland, and Charlie Watts among his major drumming influences. Paul is an original Shakadown Street bandmember.

FORMER MEMBERS AND EXTENDED FAMILY:

Stephen Bazo (Electric Upright and Fender Bass) has been playing bass since the late 1970s. He played extensively in the Washington D.C. and California Central Coast areas and backed up many blues greats including Dean Rosenthal, Guitar Ron, Lee Durley, Eric Clapton (the skinny one from Kentucky, not the old one from England) and a host of others. Steve played with Shakadown Street during 2007-2008.

Jennifer Eisenberger (Vocals), a love child of the early sixties, spent her youth wandering the countryside with her family…a nomadic band of gypsies, circus performers, and musicians. Her father was a trapeze artist & her mother, the bearded lady. While they were busy performing, Jennifer would sneak away and get private ukulele lessons from the organ grinder’s monkey. The ukulele led to the guitar, which led to the pipe organ, which led to the kazoo, which led to the sitar, which led to the spoons, which led to singing. Previous (brief) appearances with The Swimmers (Columbus, OH) and The Travel Agents (San Diego, CA) paved the road to Shakadown Street. Jennifer sang with Shakadown Street throughout most of 2008.

MURF (Harmonica) - This man-with-one-name is a TERRIFIC blues harpist and a blast to play with! Check him out gigging with all sorts of folks around town...and appearing on Shakadown Street stages whenever possible!

Nakana Wong (Acoustic Upright Bass) - Nakana is a fantastic acoustic upright slinger and our original bassist. He stays real busy playing Hawaiian music, but we've recently rekindled our creative recording partnership with him. You're in for a real treat if we can get him to our next acoustic gig!

Estimated Prophet (6-20-2008)

Eyes Of The World (6-20-2008)

Shakedown Street (6-20-2008)

Earth Day 2007 Videos (Univ. of Hawaii)

Shakadown Street performs "Brown Eyed Women" on the NightTime with Andy Bumatai show (broadcast 2-25-2008)