Mark “Sugartone” Scardello: Mark realized his life’s mission was to be a guitar player when he heard a recording of The Ventures playing Perfidia through a neighbor’s open window as a child in Peoria, Illinois. He’s called Sugartone for his sweet, chimey rhythm tone, which is the result of his use of a vintage guitar pick; which he has a lifetime supply of. A mellow dude who doesn’t sweat the small stuff. Sugartone is all about Vibe. He’s already made his mark (no pun intended) playing huge rock festivals in the midwest with guys like Ted Nugent, Ritchie Blackmore and REO Speedwagon. With his trusty ‘65 Stratocaster churning out that trademark tone. He’s just happy to have a string, wrapped in nickel, stretched tight over a magnet, buzzing in his hands.
Jeff “Medicine Man” Moon was a vagabond who was born in the Ortiz Mountains, learned to crawl over the lush hills of Marin, skipped over the chili fields in New Mexico, and walked through the deserts of Arizona, to settle back into Marin for a while. It was in Arizona where he found his purpose in life while playing bass in a surf-jazz-rock band on the Hopi reservation. This was back before Burning Man was burning, man. He eventually came back out of the desert wiser, stronger… eclectic. Bass is where he hangs his hat. Metal, Jazz, Surf, Classical, Honky-tonk or Rockabilly- “it’s all good.” An artist with a degree in filmmaking, Jeff is currently pursuing a degree in music when he’s not out swing-dancing with the ladies.
Stuart Brandt: The Brooklyn Banger. Stu’s music career started back in the day in the early sixties. He was a part of the landscape and saw it all happen. He played drums in Brooklyn in the notorious Lundy Beats and was the talk of the boroughs right up until the Beatles landed. Then things shifted- went psychedelic and there was Stu, spinning discs as DJ and soundman at the Electric Circus in Manhattan. After he got his full of Warhol’s whiny bantering, he packed it in for the Nashville countryside and lived on a farm where hogs were raised for their testicles. He eventually made his way to Hollywood, before finding his bliss as a hard-hittin’ traditionalist on the drums. A stickler for the details, Stu administrates the Eldorados empire from beautiful downtown Fairfax.
Scotty C. is really livin’ it up, Full-Time. When he’s up there playing the candy-apple red Jazzmaster, it’s easy to see that he’s cut the candle into thirds and got all six ends burning up. A man with many hobbies, Scotty C. actually does surf. He also skates, SCUBA-dives, fishes and has a degree in Marine Biology he hasn’t had much use for. He was born in the coalfields of Appalachia, grew up in San Diego County, and moved to San Francisco with the intention of being a musician. Half a lifetime later, he’s still living the dream. Along the way he’s been in many Bay Area bands, including one that made the big time. He likes to keep moving, he’s met Chet and he’s hung with Nokie in Nasville, but he calls Terra Linda home.
PHOTOS