Member Since: 8/16/2005
Band Website: crosscutband.net
Band Members:
Mike Hoffman - Guitar, Vocals
Born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Mike was immersed in the musical heritage of his hometown from birth. The Blues that migrated from the Delta and into Memphis are as permanent a fixture as Beale Street, Graceland, and the Mississippi River rolling past its bluffs. The birth of Rock and Roll at Sun Records, and the unique blend of Soul and R&B from STAX and American Studios also left an impression. Later, after hearing Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and other heavy rock icons of the 60's and 70's, Mike's musical influences took on a new dimension. Mike also grew up living in the "shadow of the King." The back fence of his childhood home was literally the back fence of Graceland. Mike was a frequent visitor at the home of Vernon Presley and family, who lived three doors down. Picking up a guitar and trying to sing for the first time at age 23, Mike was a late bloomer as a musician. Mike paid his dues playing for tough audiences in the bars and clubs of his hometown before relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Joe Howell - Drums
Joe is a San Francisco Bay Area native who has absorbed the rich musical diversity of the region. Joe's father, a heavy metal musician, exposed him to different musical genres from an early age. Joe loves all kinds of music, from Acoustic Blues to raw Modern Rock and Metal. Being the youngest member of the group, his youthful enthusiasm lends itself to the hard driving beat that is part of the Crosscut signature sound. When he's not pounding out the backbeat for Crosscut, you might hear him playing blues riffs on the harmonica.
Bryan McCue - Guitar, Vocals
Bryan, a native San Franciscan, grew up experiencing first hand the “San Francisco Sound†that revolutionized the music of the late ‘60’s and early‘70’s. Practically born under his father’s piano, a well known musician and professor of music himself, Bryan studied trumpet as a youngster leading him into the Orchestra and Dance Band at Lowell High School. Graduating in ’67 “The Summer of Love†he fell under the spell of the guitar sounds of the times. Bryan’s passion for the blues was ignited by seeing the original Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s last performance at the original Winterland in SF, which was the onset of his insatiable appetite for the Blues Greats, such as the 3 Kings, Albert Collins, T-Bone Walker along with the arrival of young guitarists like Peter Greene (Fleetwood Mac) and Eric Clapton, Johnny Winters, early Allman Brothers, Santana, etc beginning the onslaught of many of the young rock/blues guitarists to burst into local venues as the Fillmore, Avalon Ballroom, Winterland, various Haight st. clubs, park concerts, etc. That set the scene for Bryan to start playing Blues/Rock music with various local musicians. Rich times were had living with Francis Clay (Blues Hall of Fame) in early 70s experiencing the life and learning the music of the blues. Surviving an extended adolescence, he took a hiatus from the blues lifestyle, in order to develop a career that actually pays the bills and find that elusive love we were all singing about. Bryan (now happily married) is back doing what he always enjoyed and could not be denied – writing and playing the blues…
Gary Allsebrook - Bass
Gary's music careet started in woodwinds while in the music program at Serra High School, playing clarinet, flute, alto, tenor, and baritone saxes. He later switched to electric bass and fell in love with the instrument. Gary has been involved continuously in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene since the 60's. Although he can play almost all music styles, his passion is for Blues and R&B. Gary's early influences include Paul McCartney, Jack Bruce, Noel Redding, John Entwistle, anything Motown, Tower of Power, Cold Blood, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Joe Louis Walker, Michael Hills Blues Mob, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Sting. He has played with musicians such as Neal Schon (Journey), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), Eddie Money, Michael Shreive (Santana), Jimmy Greenspoon (Three Dog Night), Barry Melton (Country Joe & the Fish), Lydia Pense (Cold Blood), John Cippolina (Quicksilver Messenger Service), The Isley Brothers, Bobby Day, etc. and have played on stage with the Turtles, Bob Kuban & the In Men, The Charlatans, Captain Zoom, The Byrds, Sly & The Family Stone, etc.