ABOUT US

Meet the band

Gary Backes

Keys, vocals, and our band dad

Gary, the band “MATRIARCH” is an OG Member and Crash Course’s amazing key player and VOCALIST

Gary’s First Car  = 1985 IROC Camaro

First Concert = Deep Purple w/ Bad Company

How did I get hooked on music = Jon Lord playing "Perfect Strangers" on his Hammond Organ!

Hobbies outside of music = Motorcyles, Dune Buggy, Fishing, Hunting, Snowmobiles, Computer geeking... too many to list!!

Dream Career/business... what would it be? = Rocket Scientist

Favorite Food = Tie between Walleye and Prime Rib

Favorite Cocktail = LIMON & COKE!!!

Favorite song To play - Perfect strangers

John Ose

guitar, vocals

John is crash course’s lead guitarist and joined the band in 2016. John loves making mean faces at the band like Tom from Tom and Jerry when someone screws up a song at practice. (google it and you’ll understand)

First car- 1976 Chrysler Cordoba

First concert - Cinderella w/Bullet Boys and Winger opening

How did you get hooked on music? - I come from a Very musical family

Hobbies outside of music - Fixing up old vehicles, carpentry, metal work

If you could be doing any career/business what would it be? - Studio engineer or luthier

Favorite food - Grilled steak

Favorite cocktail - Canadian Whiskey and Coca-Cola

Favorite song To play - Barracuda & Unchained

amanda birnie

vocals and accoustic guitar

Amanda is our newest member and joined crash course end of 2022. Amanda keeps her band uncles “young”

First car- 1984 Buick century sation wagon

First concert - The goo goo dolls!

How did you get hooked on music? My mom was in bands my whole life with my aunt and uncle and I learned the guitar and started to sing around age 13-14

Hobbies outside of music - yoga, biking, skiing, traveling

If you could be doing any career/business what would it be? I would be retired real estate investor :) Singer by night

Favorite food - Anything with rice or salad and veggies and a runny egg on top

FAvorite cocktail - margaritas

Favorite Song to play - Barracuda/lay it on the line/sweet child (can’t decide)

dave Truesdell

guitar and vocals

Dave is another og member and graces us with his high vocals and lead and rythym guitar. dave is scottish blood (obviously) and is a certified boston (the band) expert

First Car: ‘71 Charger 500

First Concert: Beach Boys in 1980.

How did you get hooked on music? My dad plays guitar and thought that was cool.

hobbies outside of music: Hunting, fishing, working on my ‘68 Charger, swing dancing, WWII re-enacting, shooting, and spending time with my family.

Dream career/business what would it be? A pilot or talk radio show host or farming.

Favorite Food: Steak or prime rib.

Favorite cocktail: Captain Coke

Favorite song To play - Foreplay/long time

dave peck

drums

Dave is our amazing beat keeper and joined the band in 2020 just in time for covid. dave drinks protein shakes at practice and everyone else drinks beer

First car- 1974 Alpha Romeo Spyder

First concert - Quiet Riot with Whitesnake opening

How did you get hooked on music? - family piano lessons and Van Halen 1

Hobbies outside of music - motorcycles, weight lifting, skiing, mountain biking

If you could be doing any career/business what would it be? - Formula One driver

Favorite food - Sushi

Favorite cocktail - Belvedere Martini

Favorite song To play - rainbow in the dark

rick Laurent

bass and vocals

rick gets to be last because he’s always the last one to arrive to practice. Rick is an original member and joined the band in 1749. (just kidding)

FIRST CAR - PLYMOUTH VALIANT '77 - RED VELVET INTERIOR WITH PIONEER 8-TRACK/FM ONLY STEREO

FIRST CONCERT - 1984 IRON MAIDEN WITH CONEY HATCH AND FASTWAY HOW DID YOU GET

How did you get HOOKED ON MUSIC? - WATCHING MY OLDEST BROTHER JAM IN THE BASEMENT WITH HIS BAND GROWING UP. I WAS ABOUT 4 OR 5, AND THE DRUMMER GAVE ME COOKIES. MY BROTHER PLAYED BASS AND KEYS. MY MOM TAUGHT ME PIANO WHEN I WAS YOUNG, AND THEN I PICKED UP GUITAR AND BASS BECAUSE THERE WERE INSTRUMENTS LAYING AROUND THE HOUSE. HEAVEN AND HELL, LED ZEP II AND PIECE OF MIND ALBUMS (PLUS MISC BLUES TUNES) WERE THE MOST HELPFUL TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY BASS

HOBBIES OUTSIDE OF MUSIC - WHY WOULD YOU NEED ANY?

IF YOU COULD BE DOING ANY CAREER/BUSINESS WHAT WOULD IT BE? - PARTICIPATE OR RUN AN ORGANIZATION TO STOP AND PROSECUTE SEX TRAFFICKING OF PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY MINORS

FAVORITE FOOD - BBQ RIBS COMES TO MIND FIRST, A WELL PREPARED SALMON WORKS TOO

FAVORITE COCKTAIL - E&J/COKE (do I get a commision for that from either company?)

FAVORITE SONG TO PLAY - BLUE COLLAR MAN OR THE JOURNEY/CCR MEDLEY