Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Mike Skill of The Romantics

Mike Skill

Living in Portland since the late 80's, Mike Skill has penned and performed some of the most memorable guitar-laden pop/rock classics you've have ever heard.

A founding member of the band, Skill formed The Romantics on Valentine’s Day in 1977 (hence the band name) with Wally Palmer, Rich Cole, and Jimmy Marinos.

Skill, who will be performing at Monsters of Rock PDX with Greg Georgeson (bio), Mike Collins (bio), Jeff Buehner, and Kevin Rankin, wrote the seminal early 80’s classics What I Like About You and Talking in Your Sleep, plus many more Romantics songs.

What I Like About You, reached #49 in the US on the Billboard charts, #12 in the Netherlands, and #2 in Australia, where the band was especially popular.

The Romantics’ greatest commercial success came in 1983/84 with the release of the album In Heat.The first single taken from In Heat, Talking In Your Sleep, rose to #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Play chart. It was also a big international hit (#2 Canada, #14 Australia, #18 Germany, #20 Netherlands, #15 South Africa, #5 Sweden, #20 Switzerland, etc.).

Skill is currently touring with The Romantics with original band members Wally Palmer, Rich Cole, and Brad Elvis on Drums, but you can catch him Sat, Jan 28 at Monsters of Rock PDX.

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets ( purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5. Doors open at 8pm 

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Jeff LaBansky

Jeff LaBansky

After a ten-plus-year hiatus, Jeff LaBansky is back, harder and louder than ever. LaBansky is well-known throughout the Northwest; his heavy sound is distinct and his performances draw record crowds ready to rock.

LaBansky’s musical resume includes a “who’s who” of rock ‘n roll. He has recorded with and played in bands with members of Ozzy Osbourne, KISS, Quiet Riot, UFO, Angel, Jeff Beck Group and L.A Guns, to name just a few. He toured as a member of Portland’s original Black ‘N Blue during their 1988 final tour and was managed by Gene Simmons during that period.

LaBansky has also headlined the main stage at the Mayor’s Ball.

In addition to this extensive background, LaBansky has scored music for film and television.

His shows in Portland are legendary. This 2012 performance at Monsters of Rock PDX features Mike Collins on drums (see Collins' profile), LaBansky’s nephew, Zach Kacalek on bass and it marks the reemergence of LaBansky.

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets (purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5. Doors open at 8pm 


NOTE: TICKETS ONLY ON SALE IN ADVANCE TILL THIS FRIDAY, AFTER WHICH THEY CAN ONLY BE PURCHASED AT THE DOOR.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Shawn Sonnenschein

Shawn Sonnenschein has gotten around. He’s honed, slick, raw, and rockin’ all at the same moment. If you’ve followed rock in the ‘80s and beyond around the Pacific Northwest, you probably know of Shawn as the guitarist that replaced Tommy Thayer when he left for Kiss playing in Black N’ Blue and performing on the Hell Yeah! album.

But, Shawn’s resume is so thick with rockin’ chewy goodness, that having him as part of Monsters of Rock PDX is going to bring high-powered flavor all night long.

He fashioned his style at an early age around technical prowess and power-blues and auditioned for Keel in 1982 at the age of 16 to replace Yngwie Malmsteen. He was turned down, not for his playing, but for his age. Not dissuaded he did a 2-year stint with the L.A. rockabilly band The Stingers and did management with Kenny Kerner and Bill Aucoin of Kiss that would later pay dividends He’s also had a short stint with Billy Idol in the early 80's and then, while planning a new project with Stephen Adler (former drummer for Guns 'N Roses) in L.A. in 1984, decided to move back to Oregon to start a new band Sweet Roxx, 1985 - 1987 who opened up for Black 'N Blue numerous times. Through those gigs he met Black N’ Blue bassists. In the ‘90s he formed Ten Pound Rain with Pat Young (Black n Blue), Cory Stafford (Beauty Stabb) and Thad Smith (Hot Boy) and released "Healing the Mudd" in 1996 (NOTE: Sonnenschein will be reunited with Stafford on stage at Monsters of Rock PDX). That band later morphed into Plum after losing singer Stafford, recorded and released the 4 song self titled EP.

From there, it was the aforementioned trek to Black 'N Blue, the Oregon Rock Hall of Fame band. Shawn was Normandy Guitars first endorser (Normandy is a key sponsor of Monsters of Rock PDX). .Make sure and catch Sonnenschein on Jan 28th at Dante’s!

Sonnenschein with Black 'N Blue

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets (purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Kevin Hahn

40 songs performed by 50 of the best musicians in the Pacific Northwest, Monsters of Rock PDX will have it all. And while every player set to perform is a consummate pro, some players bring such unique talents that they stand out in the crowd.

If you’ve been one of the thousands that recently have seen the Journey tribute band, Stone In Love, then you know singer/guitarist Kevin Hahn can belt out Steve Perry as good as, well… Steve Perry. Honing his chops by spending the last 16 years in the music industry as a touring musician, producer and audio engineer of Opal recording studio in Portland, Hahn not only is a high-energy performer, he’s also one of the area’s best producer/engineers where his recent studio projects include the Scorpions and the industry work for Portland Trail Blazers.

As a musician, past bands include Castella and Tri-Polar alongside bassist Craig Montoya (Everclear). In the last two years, Kevin has toured Europe and Japan playing lead guitar for the original rock band Kleveland and can currently be found fronting Stone in Love.

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets (purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Greg Georgeson

When the concept for Monsters of Rock PDX was spawned, we knew that we wanted to go out and get the best players, but also those that represented the city as institutions – those players that have stood the test of time – the ones that have been relevant for many years.

As the man probably best known as guitarist, vocalist and songwriter for the Pacific Northwest based band Sequel, having Greg Georgeson on the roster for MOR PDX was a top priority. With Sequel inducted into the Oregon Music Hall of Fame, in October, the band is seen as one of the best. Over the years Sequel has shared the stage with Journey, The Tubes, Eddie Money, Sammy Hagar, Triumph, Greg Kihn and Bryan Adams as well as releasing three full length records with two of them receiving regional airplay, and the third (recorded and released in 2006) receiving international airplay. Over the last 10 years, Greg has played across the U.S. as lead guitarist for Tommy Tutone from 1998 to 2008. In January 2009 he released his debut solo CD "100% By Volume". He was featured in the January 2011 edition of Vintage Guitar Magazine for his second solo CD release "Imaginary Theme Songs". Still a mainstay, he can be found playing in clubs regularly in the Portland area, and beyond.

In what is bound to be one of the highlights of Monsters of Rock PDX, Georgeson will be joined up with Mike Skill, the lead guitarist of The Romanitics, Kevin Rankin on drums, and a special guest on bass for a 3-song set.

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance through all Ticketswest outlets (purchase online here), or at the door where the cost is $5.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Geoff Metts

Monsters of Rock PDX sees an incredible mix of shredders, in the pocket rhythm, and enough thump to make you jump all night. But, the one thing that makes or breaks any band is the pipes – the singers that count the most.

As the singer and guitar player of Western Aerial and Ants in the Kitchen, Geoff Metts brings an incredible mix of grit, soul, and power to Monsters of Rock PDX. Whether ripping slide, or working the crowd, Metts has played hundreds of shows including the Vans Warped Tour, multiple appearances at KUFO’s Rockfest and was honored with an invitation to play "The Star Spangled Banner" for a sold out crowd of 25,000 at the Rose Garden Arena (see the kick butt photo above).

And, his music isn’t confined to just Portland. His material has been heard internationally on radio, film and television.  Along the way Geoff has shared the stage with Alice in Chains, Buckcherry, Seether, Incubus, Everclear and The Supersuckers.  He has also played alongside Portland legends Jennifer Batten, Terry Robb, Eddie Martinez and Robbie Laws as part of the PG3 concerts.

Monsters of Rock PDX is taking place at Dante’s in downtown Portland on Sat., Jan. 28 starting at 8:30pm. Tickets available in advance at Ticketswest outlets, or at the door where the cost is $5.

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details

Monsters of Rock PDX Player Profile: Brian Harrison

Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to perform at the events, with the first one being on Sat, Jan 28 (see here for details)

Try to come up a superlative to describe Brian Harrison’s guitar playing and the words “versatile”… “tasty”… “shredder”… “chameleon” … might come to mind. The Portland, Oregon native has been playing in local venues for a couple decades, solidifying not only his chops, and songwriting, but as one of region’s best players.

His first notable recorded work was through the nationally distributed album, Dirty Rhythm “Feel the Fire” which was Produced by Paul Dean of Loverboy. Since then, he’s waded into instrumental, folk and blue grass influences through his solo CD “Nine Lives and Ten Songs”. More recently, he has followed up with more great hard rock on the CD “Dirty Little Fingers” and the latest release “Brian Harrison and the Last Draw”, both of which he has supported extensively live. When not supporting his own material, he plays power-R&B with Ants in the Kitchen

Harrison has sat in and tore it up recently at the All-Star Jam Tribute to Joey Lomelo in early October, lending his versatility to shredding wood on classics ranging from The Scorpions, The Cult, and Journey with other great Portland artists. Expect more of the same at the Monsters of Rock PDX events

Past projects: ROXX, Roulette, Dirty Rhythm, Burn Again Mission, BUZZMEG, and many others

Current projects: Brian Harrison and the Last Draw , Dirty Little Fingers, Andrew Paul Woodworth, Ants in the Kitchen

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Monsters of Rock PDX is highlighting some of the players set to play over the course of the events. Check back often for other bios.

What is Monsters of Rock PDX all about? See here for details