Serpentone is a three-piece band from Portland, Oregon, fronted by Erika Meyer. Coming to life in 2004, Serpentone’s first regular lineup included Cyrus Yates (Hi-Fashion, Disseverence, Sunny Sunnae) on drums and a bassist named Tom who put a lot of effort into the project until June 2005, when he announced his departure during a gig at Portland’s (now defunct) Porky’s Pub by stripping down to his shorts, and smashing Cyrus’s girlfriend’s bass onstage. Tom then went on to make his mark in another band that broke up within weeks of their first gig, while Cyrus, disheartened, also left for another band.
2005, 2006, 2007… was marked by a seemingly endless rhythm-section search, with Erika continuing to write and play solo as well. There were several short-lived line-ups, with nothing lasting longer than a couple of months, and each band implosion more impressive than the last. But many great staples of the Portland music scene rocked the band including nolan void (Decliners), Morgan Grace (Kleveland, Morgan Grace), Sam Henry (Wipers, Napalm Beach, Pete Krebs, Morgan Grace), and Tim Flanary (Stealing Daisies).
In late 2006, Cyrus and Erika reunited to play some gigs and then a friend, Marty Vincelli, offered to help Erika record some of her songs at his home in Vancouver. Cyrus freed up some time to be part of the recording process, and a new bassist, Skot “Withakay” Duthie (Volitle Mood, Zek) was recruited to fill out the trio. Erika eked out money from here and there and paid everyone much less than they are worth just to get it done. Finally, in early 2008, the album Spiraling was done.
SERPENTONE
www.serpentone.com
info(at)serpentone.com
myspace.com/serpentone
503-752-5219