Now I know that some of you readers out there are into Jeff Beck, Steve Morse, Joe Satriani, and Dixie Dregs. Well, there's a band in Marin that is bringing back those music memories. The band is named Heavy Rubber and these guys can play. They are what I like to call 'musician's musicians.' Lets call their style rock fusion. Heavy Rubber could be known as a cover band "but not your average cover band" says manager Greg Rocha. "these guys cover the music from their genre because it makes them feel good. This is kind of music is there first love." claims Rocha "but because of other commitments, road work and day jobs, Heavy Rubber is now called a side project." You couldn't tell that from Heavy Rubber's live shows. These guys breathe the music they play; their instruments are an extension of their expressionism both artistically and emotionally. Lets start with drummer (drummers always get mentioned last and I want this guy to know he's appreciated) Jimmy Sage. Who hasn't this guy played with? Let me drop a couple names on you: Lee Rocker (Stray Cats), which is his main gig, Willie Nelson at Willie's 4th of July Picnic, Dave Edmonds, Leon Russell, Scotty Moore (Elvis) and Bay Area favorite percussionist Pete Escovedo just to name a few. Jimmy is also talented in the recording studio as an engineer and producer. Another hat that he wears is drum teacher (private lessons) and music director at North Bay of Marin High School. Hey Jimmy, when are you going to play in my band? OK, moving on. Bassist Jason Muscat is also out there as a working musician. Like Sage, Muscat also teaches and plays a lot of gigs locally with players like Alex Skolnick ( Testament), Tim "Herb" Alexander (Primus) and Doug Doppler (Joe Satriani). Guitarist Ray Sayre is the founder of Heavy Rubber. He started the band to bring this style of music to rock and blues audiences." I'm really a rock guitarist, but I spent a lot of time listening to Joe Pass and Charlie Parker records" quips Sayre. Growing up in San Francisco, Ray started playing professionally at the ripe old age of 14 in a local band called "the Casuals". They were soon sharing the stage with artist like Bonnie Raitt, Ronnie Montrose , Buddy Guy and Huey Lewis. Sayre went on to work with with Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) Al Wilson, Mary Wells and Dell Shannon. Ray has been featured in Guitar Player Magazine's " Spotlight " column by Mike Varney. (Hey Ray, your in the spotlight section again.) (One side note: Ray also made time to attend Stanford University and graduated with a degree in mathematics.) A CD has just been completed and should be out soon. You can catch Heavy Rubber at the Yet Wah lounge in San Rafael about once a month, depending on their schedules. To find out more about up-coming gigs and when the CD will be released you can contact the group's manager Greg Rocha. 415-717-7752 or email him at
[email protected]. He will be happy to let you know where and when these talented musicians will be playing......Written by Craig Caffall (Craig is a freelance writer and musician (Craig Caffall Band). You can contact him at
[email protected]
