Sarahtonin is: Sarah Jane Burke - guitar, bass, keyboard, raspy bellering, bedpans; Ryan McPhaill - drums, percussion, psychology; Sarah Tiedemann - flute, bass flute, piccolo, angelic crooning, swearing; Richard Harris - guitar, bass, sitanjo, mandolin, harmonica, shred dog, celebrity impersonations with additional help from: Marty Jennings' visceral violin, Tom Cheek's blazing bari sax and bewitching bass clarinet, and Erin Pasco's opaline oboe. (Well? You think of a good "O" word that goes with "oboe.") About Sarahtonin: Sarahtonin has been rockin' it old school, and new school, and Quaker school, and all the schools in between since the band's inception in 1997. Surrounded by slightly damaged musical instruments and with little inclination to work, these four former suburban music store employees united in slacking off by jamming on kazoo, tambourine, organ, and upright bass versions of Hotel California, the Rocky and Bullwinkle theme, and other favorites. Soon they would move on to recording tracks in Sarah Jane's studio, and out of her genius the quasi-psychedelic jazzy folk-rock masterpiece "Wayward" would be born. Fast-forward nine years: "Wayward" is released to critical acclaim, and the band members have abandoned their run-down music store beginnings and become productive members of society. Sarah Jane recently became a registered nurse in her spare time. Sarah-without-the-Jane is a professional flutist, flute teacher, and booking agent for classical musicians. Ryan plays drums and percussion in various performing and recording ensembles in the Portland area and also has a full load of drum students. Rich currently tours as a Buckwheat celebrity-impersonator. OK, no he doesn't. He's a very talented multi-instrumentalist in high demand for live and studio work. So please, buy the record and support Sarahtonin's continued deliquency, not to mention the time-honored tradition of not playing any shows because they're all too busy. And hurry up, they're already working on their second CD, "Angel Food." Peace out, yo.
