Abe West

What do you do when you don’t have to go to work? Start a Rock and Roll band, is the answer my two best friends, James and Ryan, and I had when our offices were closed during the October 2007 San Diego fires. This jam session came to be known as the “Witch Fire” session, lasting long into the next morning and consuming its fair share of whiskey. Jam sessions like this would continue for several months, until we had written enough songs to play at a backyard BBQ on Memorial Day 2008. At this stage we were a three peace. James was on electric lead guitar (sometimes bass), Ryan was on keyboards, and I took care of vocals and acoustic rhythm guitar. A drummer in the audience liked our unique blend of alternative, country, folk, and blues rock songs and wanted in. We let John in on drums. Having a drummer allowed us to progress to the next level, get a little heavier and continue to write more material. John brought in his friend Dave to play bass. Dave was not only a great addition to the rhythm section but he could sing as well, filling in the background vocals and taking lead vocals at times. Now it was five of us and the gigs at clubs began. With James dominating the fret board of the lead guitar, and Ryan adding in his distinct and colorful stamp of keyboard into each song, our power house rhythm section, and me belting out vocals and harmonica, we rocked the hell out of every show we played. People, who haven’t heard our band, ask us what kind of music we play. Now I say it’s a blend of alternative, country, heavy and southern rock (with a dash of Irish to boot), basically Heavy-alt-irish-country-rock from deep in Southern California. You don’t want to miss it… Its toe tappin, but most of all, it’s a whole lotta fun.