U&I TAVERN/SUNSET
RED BAND
By Terry Hampton
This past weekend found this writer checking out the sites and sounds
of the U&I Restaurant and Lounge, located on the corner of N. Saratoga
and Interstate Avenue with easy access off I-5 and plenty of front street
parking.
The U&I is owned by successful businessman Arthur and Carol Dixon.
The Dixons have operated the tavern since June of last year and have
kept busy remodeling the place and adding additional restrooms. The
tavern is spacious with lots of bar and table seating and cozy booths.
U&I offers all Oregon Lottery games, a pool table with nine ball
tournaments on Sundays, darts, online golf machines offering a chance
to win some great prizes; and a big screen TV for watching all your
favorite sporting events. The U&I also offers a full liquor bar
and dining menu.
Great food with reasonable prices are no problem here with daily lunch
and dinner specials starting at just $3.50 and bar munchies for just
$2. The menu also offers a variety of hearty breakfasts served all day
with all orders available for take out. Patrons told this writer the
fish and chips here are excellent.
The service is friendly; Heidi has tended bar for the last six years
and knows most of the folks here by name. She claims it's just a friendly
neighborhood place to have fun. The hospitality doesn't stop here; the
Dixsons have owned and operated Magoos Bar & Grill, located at 5028
N.E. 42nd, for the past two years.
The U&I also has a big dance floor and the hottest bands in the
area playing every Friday night with no cover charge. (See Music
on Tap for entertainment listing.) This weekend, Sunset Red rocked
the house.
Sunset Red is a professional diversified classic rock and roll cover
band that has entertained fans at casual, public and private venues
in the Portland area including performances at the Rose Festival for
the past two years. The band was formed at the turn of the millennium
by a group of veteran musicians who individually share impressive musical
and performing backgrounds collectively. Sunset Red is one of the most
dynamic and entertaining bands on the Portland music scene today.
Sunset Red creates a smooth four-part harmony sound that keeps them
true to the original music. Although the band is primarily a classic
rock and roll cover band, their repertoire includes country, rhythm
and blues, pop, top 40 and original music. They enhance their performances
with lighting effects and professional gear that can be tailored to
fit any occasion and venue.
Sunset Red was formed about two years ago, led by accomplished vocalist,
guitarist, percussionist and songwriter Shirley Sanders. Sanders attributes
her talent to a background of family entertainers. She transcended
from California to Portland in 1989 where she has successfully pursued
her career as a soloist, duo, trio and big band performer. She has
headlined some of the biggest venues in the area for over a decade,
including the Rose Festival since the mid '90s.
Gary Mueller is the bass player, vocalist and one of the founding members
of the band. He is a Portland native and has played with various bands
in the area for the last 23 years and spent several years working as
a sound engineer for a local recording studio. Meuller is a music connoisseur
and his musical influences range from classical and jazz, to rock and
beyond giving him the key ability to explore and expand the band's musical
horizons.
Tim Kramer is a lead guitarist and vocalist who joined the band about
a year-and-a-half ago. Kramer hails from Livingston, Montana, and moved
to Portland in 1991. His mother was a piano teacher, so musical training
started early for him. Kramer admits sometimes he would rather have
been out playing instead of taking piano lessons but it has certainly
paid off over the past 20 years. Kramer's abilities on guitar, keyboards,
piano and vocals have allowed him to play in numerous bands and record
with various local artists. Together with "Misty," Kramer's
favorite Fender Stratocaster and stage companion for over a decade,
he plays old school rock 'n' roll like Steve Miller, Kiss, Aerosmith
and Joe Walsh. Kramer is also credited for coming up with the band's
name.
Bob Jackson joined the band in late 2000 and is the drummer and lead
male vocalist for the band. Jackson was born in Minnesota but grew
up in Alaska and moved to Portland in 1990; he is a successful construction
contractor. Jackson's talents as percussionist, guitarist, keyboardist,
vocalist and songwriter has led him to play with many bands and open
for such groups as Dr. Hook.
The newest member of the group is Jeff McCaslin, a world class keyboardist
and pianist, who joined Sunset Red in January of this year. McCaslin
is a music major graduate from the University of Oregon and former member
of Eddie & The Tide, a band that formed its own independent record
label, released three albums and received five Bay Area Music Awards.
The band also received a MTV Basement Tape Award for Running Wild,
a song featured on the Grandview U.S.A. movie soundtrack featuring Jamie
Lee Curtis, Atlantic Records recording artist touring with such bands
as Tower of Power, Billy Idol and Brian Adams, just to name a few.
McCaslin was nominated three years in a row for best keyboardist/synthesist,
along with Johnathon Cain from Journey, Sean Hopper from Huey Lewis
and the News, and Night Rangers keyboardist. McCaslin is a music teacher
and performing artist.
Besides a desire to perform and entertain, the band shares one common
element, a sincere sense of gratitude for being able to play with such
fine musicians as the Sunset Red Band. (See Bandstand
for schedule.)
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