Country music circuit
Coyote Creek
electrifies crowd at Jubitz
When Coyote Creek Band takes the stage, there is electricity, energy and a clear love of what they are doing and playing; the music is clearly the only reason they are there. They recently pleased the crowd at the Ponderosa Lounge at Jubitz Truckstop.
Coyote Creek
(Photo by Kurt Johnson)
This band kicks it up with a lead singer who takes charge and commands the stage and teases, mesmerizes and owns the stage!! The bass player lays down the groove and locks in with the drummer to drive the beat while the lead guitarist shreds and lights things up. The keyboardist livens it up and holds it all together. The result is a kick-ass show that leaves the crowd begging for more and hanging on every note, whether it be an original or cover tune.
Coyote Creek is bandleader Robert Lee on keyboards; front person and lead vocalist and entertainer Kelli Mcintosh; drummer Rick Hoffert; bassist Rick Bartel and lead guitarist Tommy Pierson.
Together for almost three-and-a-half years in various configurations, the band tours the northwest country music circuit and anticipates playing 125 shows this year, including county fairs, private parties, club dates and major festivals opening for national acts. Their shows include both top-40 country western cover tunes and originals from their CD Wild Horses.
Coyote Creek’s music is characterized by tight, crisp, punchy bass, soaring vocal harmonies, a mix of both electric and acoustic guitar and polished and practiced musicianship.
The mesmerizing stage show tops it all off with lead singer Kelli McIntosh. She sashays around the stage, teasing, enchanting and drawing the crowd into the show, music and onto the dance floor. In short, McIntosh owns the stage; and the crowd is like so much putty in her hands. She's that captivating!
But all that aside, this band is all about the music. Bandleader Lee explains the band's main thrust; "Good music. We want to be on the national stage with the national bands, work our way up. For us, we just aim to make enough money to live on. Good commercially viable rock-centric songs. We don’t want to plagiarize anybody. We are not trying to reinvent the wheel. We're a simple bunch of people trying to get out and play and get radio coverage to get people to come out and see us."
Lee continues about their new CD, Wild Horses; "It's pop-country, a little of an edge to the songs, a little rock edge." He describes their creative process for composing new songs; "We all come with an idea, Rick will write a whole song. We all write some and contribute. It's not all one person.” You can see more of Coyote Creek at their myspace site, ww.myspace.com/coyotecreeksounds and see ad and Bandstand for schedule.
On this evening, Coyote Creek appeared at the Ponderosa Lounge at Jubitz Truck Stop in North Portland. The Ponderosa Lounge hosts both the best in local country acts, along with a steady stream of national touring acts. The room is big and comfortable with a roomy dance floor to accommodate western swing and line dancing. The truck stop itself is full-service with all the accommodations necessary for long-haul truckers to service their rigs, enjoy a solid meal, get cleaned up and find everything they might need for the long haul on the road. That includes a fully stocked store, restaurant and hotel. The Ponderosa Lounge also has a fully-supported sports bar, pool room and bar for visitors’ enjoyment. (See ad and Music on Tap for music schedule.)