|
|
|
|
Carol D. was born in Ohio and started singing in the tub with her rubber duckie. Momma said "keep your day job" ( even though she was only three and didn't really have a job..yet...)so she followed her advice and became a banker in the 90's all the while singing whenever she could in musical theater productions and various bands. Her first pro gig was with a Cincinnati band, Wishbone. Upon moving to N.C in 1996, she hooked up with Eric Congdon and they traveled around Western N.C. with Papa Joe's Blues Review. She has also sung with the Park Rangers out of Brevard, Steve Whiteside, and Ric Praytor, as well as various other local musicians. She is very happy to have become an extra ingredient in the Sauce's recipe, and is not only enjoying the tasty musicianship but the camaraderie in the mix that makes for a deliciously saucy evening. In her spare time she hangs with the kids and plays golf whenever possible.
|
|
|
When St. Brigid lifted the golden Les Paul out of the heavenly Lake of Ale and bestowed its magic upon a young Rich Hendricks,
he knew his purpose in life. At the age of 14, Rich was a card carrying member of the Illinois chapter of the Federation
of Musicians union, playing in bars and staying up past his bedtime. When the winds of fortune blew
Rich to the urban mantle of Detroit, he took advantage of the opportunity – playing in many low rent dumps and “suffering
for his art”.
It was during this time that Rich formed a lifelong association with best friend and kibitzing partner James Vandenberg.
Through many years of sordid writing sessions did they forge the tunes from which are made legends. The vehicle showcasing
their awesome talents was the band, “The Queue”, which in no short time became a Hammtrammack (look it up) institution.
Biding his time (and trying to earn a few bucks), Rich has played more recently with "Leigh Glass", "Robert Dimao and the Beauty Junkies", “Teaser and the Firecatz” (love those
black fishnets Lee!) and “Malachi”. However, a twist of fate has found Rich and James in Asheville,
NC - once again on a purposeful crusade to share their mastery of “sauceness” with an “atomic” flare,
unleashed on an unsuspecting public, via the “Atomic Sauce” (it’s in there!).
|
Born in Portland, Oregon, raised in Detroit,
Michigan, James Vandenberg now resides in Asheville.
Originally inspired by the classic progressive rock of the seventies, James picked up the guitar at age 15.
Soon, his interests turned to jazz and fusion, with major influences by Jeff Beck, Pat Metheny,
John Scofield , Allan Holdsworth. With broad experience in jazz, rock, bluegrass, blues and pop styles, James has played professionally for 25 years. During all this time, James
and Rich have frequently collaborated in several wacky projects, and have co-written more tunes than they
care to remember (but actually do remember, and will be more than happy to play them for you!)
In addition to “Atomic Sauce”, James can be heard regularly on Sundays at Jubilee! as a member of
the “World Beat Band”, as well as in “Current Invention”, a small combo specializing in weddings,
and occasionally with the “Asheville Rhythm and Blues Society”. |
|
|
Jeff Manson got his start like most: guitar lessons early on, a stint in middle school playing alto and baritone sax,
but it wasn’t until high school when he picked up a bass. “I thought it was supposed to be for the chicks….boy was I wrong”.
Playing in bands and covering the groups of the late eighties, it was winning a talent show his senior year that really
sparked his interest in music and that there was more to it. “Even to this day, that was the one night
that I was actually….cool!”
Doing a stint at UNC-Wilmington (the beach, the babes, the cool scene…..why else would you go there?),
he started on a music education major, but that was going nowhere fast. Playing in everything from jazz groups,
wedding bands, rock groups, music theater pit groups, and even in a heavy metal band, that gave him the experience to
transfer to UNC-Asheville where he finished up a BA degree in music performance in jazz studies.
“Hell…at that point what else was I going to do! Somehow they let me get away with doing a Brand X tune,
Freedom Jazz Dance and a Level 42 song in my senior recital….still can’t believe that one!”
After that, it was playing in bands and teaching, but he had to break loose of the cosmic karma of the mountains.
Having no clue, he decided to go to Nashville. What the hell was a rock influenced, jazz educated bass player doing in
Country Music USA you might ask? “I don’t know….I was on 40 coming back from Raleigh and I think
and I fell asleep….next thing I knew it was big hats, big boots, and fringed leather jackets (I thought
the eighties were back for a moment). I had a college roommate from Wilmington there, so I decided to stick it
out for a while”. A while turned into five years, but that damn cosmic lure brought him back to the mountains.
Still not getting laid because he’s in a band,….yada yada….real job, yada yada….mortgage….yada yada……car payment,
Jeff spends his free time playing bass with the “Atomic Sauce”. “Hopefully coming soon to a Taco Hut near you!”
|
|
Ian Cunningham is simply the Master of Time! Ian has played with many bands in the Asheville area on a regular basis including Brush Fire, Robert Dimao and The Beauty Junkies and Jar-E - as well as sitting in and picking up gigs with many other bands. He is a man in demand and one of the best drummers in the Asheville area. A must see!
|
|
|
|
