Music
Press
"The Pine Beetles are a favorite band of mine, playing traditional Irish tunes with non-traditional instruments. You will hear concertina, guitar, bodhran, octave mandolin, ukulele, and tenor guitar. Their vocals are beautifully arranged by Lisa Alexander. Bob Guz is known around the country for his knowledge and prowess on the ukulele. George Traugott is a fabulous guitar and concertina player. The Pine Beetles make wonderful music together, so sit back and enjoy this CD..."
-- Bill Smith, Music Director for the Bothy Folk Club, Mankato, MN - Bill Smith, Music Director for the Bothy Folk Club
"...[Bob] Guz can coax sounds from [his] instrument that sound nothing like what people traditionally think a ukulele should sound like, including sounds of a harp." - Jean Lundquist, The Mankato Free Press
Discography
Celtic Heartland 2008
-airplay for "Lowlands of Holland"
Photos
Bio
As the only TinPanCeltiCowboyFolkGrass trio in the Austin area, The Pine Beetles tear it up on the songs you love to hear, from traditional Celtic ballads to Tin Pan Alley jazz.
Originally formed in late 2006 in the "Lost Pines" of Bastrop, TX by Lisa Alexander, George Traugott, and Vanessa Webb, the group hit its stride with the 2007 addition of Bob Guz on ukulele. They quickly became regulars on the local music scene, and after Vanessa Webb left the group, the Pine Beetles discarded the shackles of genre and started a musical free-for-all that continues to this day.
Expect the unexpected: Irish tunes on the ukulele, torch songs, cowboy songs, and anything else that strikes their fancy.
Lisa Alexander: Founding member Lisa Alexander has been singing since birth. An active chorister and musical theater actress, she pursued operatic training in her native California. In 1995, her classical singing career took an abrupt turn when she was dragged to a house concert of Celtic music. Instantly enamored with folk music, since then she has become an avid song collector and advocate for traditional music. In 2004, Lisa took up the dulcimer, followed by the tenor guitar and octave mandolin. She has helmed a monthly Celtic song session in Austin since 2006, and serves on the board of directors for the Austin Celtic Association.
Bob Guz: A recovering guitar player, Bob was ultimately won over by the ukulele's charm, beauty, simplicity, and aggressive un-coolness. (His grandpa was a ukulele crooner back in the 1920's. ) Bob has played and sung with Austin's notorious Shorty Long, a five-piece string band with roots in the novelty jazz styles of the early 20th century, including performances of Pops Bayless' critically acclaimed "American Novelty." Bob also performed on the CD "This is Ukulele Country," a collection of classic country tunes played on the uke featuring Deb Porter and Lloyd Maines. He is a frequent participant at ukulele festivals across the US where he performs and
teaches workshops.
George Traugott: In his musical career of more than 35 years, George has played with many bands and musical groups, including the Birchwood String Band in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Greater Minneapolis Dog and Pony Show and The Cast Iron Potty Band. His band of thirty years, the legendary Blind Moose Revue, features top caliber musicians from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas, and still performs several concerts per year at different US locations. His musical tastes run from haunting ballads or jumping fiddle tunes on his concertina to bluegrass, blues and old-time music on his banjo to classic country and cowboy tunes on his guitar. He is a familiar face at both bluegrass and Celtic jams in Austin, Texas.
THE PINE BEETLES
A partial list of past performances:
Bothy Folk Club - Mankato, MN
Austin Celtic Festival - Austin, TX
Lone Star Ukulele Festival - Dallas, TX
Fiddler's Hearth - Austin, TX
Things Celtic - Austin, TX
Genuine Joe - Austin, TX
Maxine's on Main - Bastrop, TX
Second Saturday Saleabration - Bastrop, TX
Yesterfest - Bastrop, TX
http://www.thepinebeetles.com
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