The Titans of Twang

Me and Lisa Theo

In 2011 I realized a long-term dream to be part of a great country band. I fell in love with country music as a teenager, at the same time I was discovering the beauty of the blues. I saw Gram Parsons with the Flying Burrito Brothers three times at festivals in the Northwest, and he and the Burritos had a big influence on me. During the '70s I listened to Merle Haggard records nonstop for nearly a decade. Merle led me to Jimmy Rodgers, Lefty Frizzell, and Bob Wills. For years I strummed the guitar and sang honky-tonk tunes at home, but for public performances I stuck to the blues. That all changed thanks to Lisa Theo.

In 2011 Lisa, a supremely talented singer, guitarist, and mandolin player best known for her work with the band Ranch Romance, came up with the concept of a band dedicated to paying tribute to the great country and western male/female duet tradition. Lisa assembled a group of the Pacific Northwest's finest country players and for some unknown reason chose me to be her singing partner.

Choosing a repertoire was the easy part. Outstanding vocal teams like Tennessee Ernie Ford and Kay Starr, George Jones and Melba Montgomery, Porter Wagoner and Dolly Pardon, Loretta Lynn and Conway Twitty, and Gram Parson and Emmylou Harris had established a vast catalogue of great recordings--there too many killer tunes to choose from. Dissecting those recordings, recreating those arrangements and harmonies, and rehearsing the new band, on the other hand, took an enormous amount of work, but the band members were dedicated pros and it all came together.

The Titans of Twang lasted a couple of years. The original lineup was Lisa on guitar and vocals; me on guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Al Kaatz on lead guitar; Paul Elliot on fiddle; Bob Knetzger on pedal steel; Greg Glassman on bass; and Peter Barnes on drums. After that group disbanded, Lisa, Bob Knetzger, and I continued on with another killer lineup featuring Terry Kingen on lead guitar, Robin Cady on bass, and Bill Shaw on drums. The Titans of Twang had some great gigs--including a showcase spot at the 2012 Wintergrass International Festival--and attracted a solid following during our relatively brief stint. Personally, I not only got to realize my dream of fronting a country band, but that band ended up being chock full of some of the best musicians I have ever worked with. And I learned a ton from Lisa about duet singing and harmony.

Some Titans of Twang performance videos and photos:

A photo from the Titans of Twang's first show, at the Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle. Al Kaatz, Peter Barnes, Greg Glassman, me, Paul Elliott, and Lisa Theo

Bob Knetzger and Greg Glassman

Bob Knetzger, me, Lisa Theo, Greg Glassman, Al Kaatz

Me and Lisa

Hard at work in the green room preparing for the show with Peter Barnes, a man who has given his life to country music

The great second Titans of Twang lineup: Robin Cady, Bill Shaw, Bob Knetzger, Terry Kingen, me, and Lisa Theo