In 2003, David Gerow (mandolin), Don Henson (percussion) and Mike “Cheddar” Schmitt, (bass) were in the employ of a delusional huckster in the numbing cold of Howell, Michigan. They were all releaved of their duties. Gerow (mandolin), Henson (keyboards), “Cheddar” (drums). Filing home one-by-one a transformation took place under the grey clouds of perpetual Oregon rain.
Gerow and “Cheddar” at once reconvened. The two formed a musical core busking at gas stations, in coffee houses, on buses and street corners. At times there was a fiddle, other times a guitar. Names like “Classical Grass” and other such nom de plume's entered their musical vernacular.
Henson returned home a month later to witness the joy being spread by these two skylarking rapscallions. With nothing better to do, Henson found himself an unexpected percussionist. After long hours of rehearsing and careful conceptualization the trio dubbed themselves Sneakin' Out.
It was around this time that Henson added a typewriter to his arsenal. Next stop: world domination.
Gigs came at a mind boggling rate. Sometimes two or three a day. From this sprouted their first CD release, aptly titled “Train Wreck”. Recorded and mixed at Kung Fu Bakery,
a chance meeting with Thomas Lauderdale of Pink Martini occurred resulting in the trio opening for k. d. lang at Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall and performing Gershwin's
“Rhapsody In Blue” with Lauderdale on piano. This was the turning point, as they say.
Sneakin Out then opened for the incomparable John Jorgenson. Stints opening for Pink Martini, Everclear and forming an orchestra and debuting “Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” in its entirety at Mississippi Studios came next. Performing on Portland's radio show LiveWire, McMenamins Great NW Music tour and recording a live CD with singer/songwriter Ashleigh Flynn were soon to follow.
The trio then recorded it's next CD. The all original soundtrack to the movie that doesn't exist “Opera Tuna Teen Ox” (aka “OTTO”). Realized at Mississippi Studios with the band and Jim Brunberg co-producing, OTTO shows how far the trio can stretch the sonic boundaries of their instrumentation. The trio were joined by guest artists including
James Dineen on field recordings and inhuman sounds, Lisa Molinaro on french dialogue, Eugene Gray on island crooning, Kina Muir on cello section and Jim Brunberg
on the subtlest of textures.
Since then the boys have played The High Sierra Music Festival, The Portland Bite,
National Earth Day, Hillsboro Celebration and many other art and cultural events that
require them to rock. They are now in the process of recording their third CD ”Laughing,
Crying, Dead”. Sneakin' Out, like pure momentum itself, continues to evolve spiraling
uncontrollably to an almost certain uncertainty. Like sands through the hourglass the
sn'out keeps eakin'!