Join us to celebrate local bands Me & Thee and Squid Eye at a unique live music double bill at C5 Studios!
Doors open at 6:30pm, the show starts at 7pm.
ABOUT THE BANDS:
Me & Thee:
Since there is no prospect of record sales or international stardom (yet), Gillian McChesney (vocals) and guitarist/singer Greg Smith (guitar, vocals) please themselves, and wish to please you, with a mixture of styles, eras, and genres. From Irish Celtic to jazz standards to rock/pop covers, they hope there will be songs from the past that you have never heard before or at least not like this, as well as some originals from their favorite contemporary songwriter, Chris Alexander. In fact, Chris would turn the duo into a trio if he did not live in Fairfax near San Francisco.
Unheralded yet exceptionally gifted musicians, Gillian (Gilly) and Greg met over 20 years ago after a concert in the old ICA room on Main Street in Bishop and have been performing ever since under the stage name of Me & Thee.
Gilly’s voice is warm, pitch-perfect, and clear like a bell, while Greg’s understated and dynamic guitar virtuosity excels with harmonic richness and inventive solos. Their chemistry is natural and relaxed, and if anyone believes that the Irish and English don’t get along, the duo’s joyful interplay and on-stage banter will surely prove them wrong.
Gilly has loved music since she was a wee girl, singing at the top of her voice with her brothers and sisters in the backseat of the family car in rural Ireland. Among her early influences were Elton John and Irish music icons Sinéad O’Connor, Christy Moore, and Mary Black, before discovering Maura O’Connell and deciding that she wanted to pursue singing and performing more seriously. Besides playing music, Gillian is also a highly touted and in-demand physical therapist.
Born in New Zealand and raised in Southern England, Greg has been playing guitar since his early teens, first inspired by classical music and guitar legend Julian Bream, then by American folk artists Josh White and Peter, Paul, and Mary; later by 1960s’ English folk music innovators such as Fairport Convention, Pentangle, and guitarist Martin Carthy, among others. He also cites Joni Mitchell as an important inspiration. Greg’s other pursuits include teaching, poetry, literature, and rock climbing, a passion that influenced his move to California in the early 1980s
Squid Eye:
In the vast ocean of musical genres, Squid Eye is most often found dwelling in the deep waters of the Gulf of Americana, Folk, and Country. Performing handcrafted original music alongside songs from some of their favorite artists, this trio navigates a wide musical current, bringing a fresh and distinctive perspective to everything they play.
From heartfelt and soulful to playful and humorous, the Squid Eye sound is uniquely their own. Each member brings a singular musical voice to the trio, and together they create rich vocal harmonies, imaginative arrangements, and an expressive instrumental interplay. Their performances are rooted in a genuine love of storytelling, melody, and musical connection.
Based in Bishop, California, Squid Eye is:
Kim Milliron (guitar, vocals) brings a lifelong love of music to Squid Eye, drawing on her experience as a singer and her early career as a professional oboe player in the classical genre.
Howie Schwartz (guitars, vocals) is a virtuoso guitarist and bluesy vocalist known for his distinctive slide-guitar style, deep roots in old-time music, and inventive use of multiple guitars and tunings.
After many years playing in bluegrass and old time oriented bands, Bruce Tulloch (mandolin, vocals, bass) is enjoying finding new roles for his mandolin in Squid Eye’s more eclectic repertoire. His songwriting often finds inspiration in the unique landscapes and people he encounters in the Eastern Sierra.
Joining us for this event will be the wonderful Michael Carroll (percussion), who has been drumming on any surface within reach since childhood. Recently relocated to the area, Michael regularly travels to perform with Yoseff Tucker and the Bow Ties.