Sandy Saunders Band
Pro players hit club scene with fever pitch
Sandy Saunders
Like all things in life, bands have a circle of life. They start out with a few friends getting together to jam, then take on a life of their own. They build momentum and a fan base as they grow as a unit, adding songs and getting tight as a group.
A new band on the PDX scene started out just like this. Lead singer Sandy Saunders has worked in Portland for a while as the singer for a band called The Usual Suspects. It’s a funny name considering this band is made up of police officers and a PDX prosecutor. Behave yourself if you decide to catch one of their shows.
Saunders was born and raised In Augusta, Ga., but now resides in the great northwest. She began performing at the many open jams in this great city, making friends and building her chops. The desire to play more often led to the development of The Sandy Saunders Band. With a collection of Portland’s pro players, she is hitting the club scene with a fever pitch.
Sanders’ most recent band member is drummer Bruce Gifford, longtime local drummer and a constant player in the open jam scene. (He’s also webmaster for PE&D.) Gifford had his first live performance this week at the Dublin Pub. What better place for your first show than the Dublin, which has been host to so many great bands over the years. If you find yourself there, be sure to have something from the menu; you can’t go wrong with the fish and chips. Gifford is a true pro and a great addition to any band. He plays with confidence and just finds the right spot and sound level every time.
Guitarist Joe Rutledge keeps this band on its toes as he leads them from song to song. A player who has clearly done his time in the trenches, he plays with ease and moves from full sounding rhythm tracks to some very clear and inspiring lead solos. Rutledge has learned the tricks to play a wide variety of music, covering broad ranges of artists while capturing the original tone of each guitar player.
Last but far from least, Tom Sundin on bass gets the job done. A three-piece music ensemble is so much fun for a bass player; it allows so much room for a signature that is free from the overtones of a second guitar player or a keyboard. Sundin lays down a great steady beat with a professional tone.
With a busy schedule, this band is sure to build a strong blues following in Portland. You can catch Saunders at the Rock Creek Tavern on Sept. 3. A birthday party for Sandy Saunders will be at Cactus Jacks on Sept. 10 with some special friends coming to jam. The band is excited to play a benefit show at the Tiffany Ballroom on Sept. 12 to help raise money for the Portland transition project helping families recover from tragedies and get back on their feet. Check out the band at myspace.com/sandysaundersmusic and be sure to see them at one of their upcoming shows. (See ad and Bandstand for more.)