Red Eye Revue

The Red Eye Revue is a new band featuring familiar faces from the SF Bay Area music scene. The band consists of Mikie Lee Prasad on vocals and guitar, Dan Stanton on bass, vocals and slide guitar, Johnny "Bongo" Koeller on vocals, guitar and percussion, Mark Carrabello on drums and vocals and Larry Shushan on saxophone. The rules in Red Eye Revue are simple---everybody writes, sings and plays exactly what they feel. While Stanton and Prasad have an impressive songwriting history and both have a successful track record producing their own solo efforts there is simply nothing better than playing in a band where everyone contributes. Can I get an "Amen!!!!"

These boys are a real rock 'n' roll band who know a lot about both serious and not-so-serious music. Their diverse musical tastes come together into something special and unique. Stanton notes "Although there are a variety of influences(in the band) we all want to sound like Lowell George in some way!" Despite the fact that on paper influences like John Coltrane, Steve Earle, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and Sly and the Family Stone may seem an odd combination, Red Eye Revue cooks them up into a delicious gumbo all their own. On their best days the band would like to think of themselves as reminiscent of great rock bands like Little Feat, The Band, and The Meters.

This band has worked hard to get where they are musically. For 20 years beginning in 1992 they performed under the name Heavy Petting Zoo... originally named by Mikie's brother (and original member) Che. HPZ saw the beginning of Stanton and Prasad's songwriting team that now offers over fifty original works. HPZ released their self titled debut in 1994 (with four more albums to follow), and it recieved radio play on SF's KFOG 104.5. The band also went on to perform at Sam Goody's national battle of the bands competition in Vail Colorado. Eventually the name proved to be an albatross around the band's neck (as many people would latch onto it) and the name Heavy Petting Zoo was retired... Time to move on.

On cue... Introducing the Red Eye Revue! With a new name and a new attitude as a real band where everyone contributes openly and evenly the future looks great! Long live rock n roll! Red Eye Revue wants to become part of "The Song" as Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes phrased it. Your guess as to what that means is as good as anyone's.... Today the band lives by what the great Stevie Ray Vaughan once said of his music career " Well, my momma had me and I just keep on tryin' " . That's what they do ---they just keep on tryin'!