Soled Out
Dynamic classic rock act
packs Hing's

by Patrice Raplee

Welcome to Hing's in Oregon City. The sultry Oriental environment that greets you is perfect for watching a classic rock and roll show. The band Soled Out exemplifies the term classic rock, right down to their classic torn jeans. A dynamic, in your face group of experienced musicians puts on a unique show. Well chosen sets and artful arrangements of everyone's favorite tunes keep the club packed whenever Soled Out plays.

Mike Whitlatch, bass player and backing vocals, is the driving force behind the group. The direction and production of the group is a job Whitlach does for the music, not the profit. Many of the band's stage props and banners are the brain child of Witlach. Although appearing to blend into the background, this seemingly silent partner is responsible for a good deal of the innovative visuals that are put forth in the group's stage show.

Gabrial Golescu, lead guitar and vocals, played music in the states for 12 years. A classically trained music graduate from Europe, Golescu states: "I was doing too well in Europe, so I decided to take on the challenge of moving to the U.S. to play rock and roll."

Tom Phelps, rhythm, lead guitar and vocals, is the Methuselah of the group. A native Oregonian, Phelps attributes his solid and consistent playing to performing in pop and show bands over the years. A bit on the quiet side, Phelps makes his presence known when breaking out with a fiery guitar lead or adding his rich voice to the collective.

Steve Jellerson, keys, drums and vocals hails from, if you can believe it, Fargo, N.D. Grinning, Jellerson admits, "I grew up playing gospel music, maybe that's why I am so warped." Perhaps being warped gives Jellerson the adeptness to play several different instruments equally well.

Wayne Smith, drums and lead vocals, started playing music in his dad's country band when he was 12 years old. Performing in various southern rock and metal ensembles, this front man laments, "I played in a punk band for three weeks once, that was scary!" Not half as scary as this wild front man who will leap up on your table and belt out a rib splitting vocal that would send Steven Taylor running home to his mama.

Jerome Couture, fiddle player, joins the group about 50 percent of the time. A graduate from the San Francisco Conservatory, Couture honed his skills in Montana for ten years the hard way. Native Americans would throw tin cans at him if he played show tunes.

This dedicated bunch of musicians builds a wall of sound together that even Phil Spector would be proud of. An exceptional version of Devil Went Down to Georgia had the crowd speechless. The fiddle screamed across the room with such gripping force, you would swear the fiddle had it's own soul. This writer is extremely impressed and has never heard an electric fiddle played live, rivaling the best in the U.S.

The group has quite a few set changes, including band members switching instruments and coming down from the stage to interact with the audience. An interesting part of the act centers on playing themes from popular television programs, such as Bonanza, Star Trek and the Flintstones. As the evening progresses, so does the intensity of the show. A secondary drum kit is set up on the dance floor towards the last set for a grand finale. There are so many changes in this show, you are left wondering how these guys have the time to have families and day jobs, then come and take half the night just to set up the stage. The answer is dedication; this relatively unknown band is totally underrated and well deserving of recognition for putting on one of the best rock shows in town. If you want to hear really well-produced arrangements of your classic rock favorites and see a one-of-a-kind show to go with it, take a group of friends and go see Soled Out. You will definitely hear and see the true definition of classic rock. (See Bandstand for schedule.)