Movers and Shakers

Over the years I've got to watch some great music production entrepreneurs at work

Central Oregon Community College’s campus was kind of like the cultural icon in the late '90s. It was where music acts would travel and perform. Like David Lindley, all of these acts were brought in by someone who really knew what he was doing. I helped promote the shows by creating posters and getting the word out to the town. Cameron Clark, who was the person behind the curtain at the student life was, and still is, a really ambitious guy.

He also founded Munch and Music, which is at Drake Park in downtown Bend, where during the midweek, these music acts would play, and there were vendor booths with food. It was just a really good experience, and it brought a lot of culture and color to a bland and primarily white town. It was also amazing how popular it was; I mean, the park was packed! Then eventually, he also founded the Bend Summer Festival, where the whole downtown area was blocked off, then you would see big stages with touring artists like Tab Benoit. Then at the Athletic Club of Bend private concerts, Clear Summer Nights was found by Cameron, and the team also brought in amazing names that you’d never expect to be jamming in Bend.

Meanwhile, Les Schwab Amphitheatre was being developed and created the host very big traveling bands, hosting acts that you would only see in bigger towns like Portland or Eugene, Oregon; not in Bend.

I was so inspired by who were performing in Bend, and this was the normal phrase, "can you believe 'who' is going to be here this summer," there was an excitement in the air. So much music being brought into Bend. This former lumber town on the foothills of the Cascades, with its natural beauty and recreation, already had a draw, but the music created a buzz and excitement that was never here before, and that was extremely exciting to witness.

I turned my head back to myself and asked, “wait, I really wanted to be a musician, remember that?” A friend of mine helped me out with my interest and took me to rehearse with one of his favorite bands called The Bond Brothers. They were rehearsing in a business location off of Greenwood, in a carpet store warehouse. We walked in, and there was real, live music playing in the middle of a large room with scattered cardboard boxes and carpets on racks. Real, live local dudes, and they were rocking it out with amazing funk-inspired music.

That was it for me. “Wait, these guys are local,” I said to myself. “These guys sound like they could be playing on the big stage at Les Schwab Amphitheater and these guys are probably working at local places, just like me. Doing normal everyday things like me, living in Bend.” I was inspired and needed to explore getting into music again.