From left, Michael Sidon, J.D. Berlingeri and Mike E. Hicks have performed together as a trio in Southern Oregon clubs for two years. (Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell)Three's fans can enjoy its music on and off the dance floor with the release of its live debut CD this weekend.
The power trio has been blastin' dance floors at clubs in Southern Oregon and Northern California with fanny-shakin' hit songs for two years. Live performances include tight sets of modern rock and pop by artists ranging from the Beatles to Grand Funk Railroad — with a few originals thrown in the mix.
"It's been a blast so far," says Micheal Sidon, the band's guitar player. "We're looking forward to sharing our music with our fans."
Three will celebrate its new CD with release parties at 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 19-20, at Characters in the Red Lion Hotel, 200 N. Riverside Ave., Medford. It's an appropriate venue for the celebration considering the live tracks were recorded there in early January.
"We've returned to the scene of the crime," Sidon says. The band will give away 100 copies of its new compilation this weekend.
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Sidon offers nice riffs on electric and acoustic guitars, while J.D. Berlingeri and Mike E. Hicks keep the beats goin' on bass and drums, respectively. All three round things out on vocals.
Three's members met in Medford after relocating here to raise families. Sidon was born in Germany and raised in Thailand. His father played piano and drums and emceed for jazz venues all over Europe and Asia. Sidon began playing music for a living in the U.S. in the '80s, and he's shared the stage with the Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ozzy Osbourne and Lynyrd Skynyrd. When he came to Southern Oregon, he was working with reggae band The Toyes and performing at gigs up and down the West Coast.
Sidon met Hicks through a notice posted at a local music store, and he met Berlingeri at a Halloween party. The three have been playing together since.
Hicks was born in Louisiana. He played drums and percussion through high school and college and began playing live gigs at 17. He's worked with bands who have shared the stage with The Neville Brothers, the Goo Goo Dolls, Widespread Panic and others.
Berlingeri grew up in New Jersey. His father was a sax player and his uncle was a pianist and arranger. Just like Hicks, Berlingeri began performing around the country with various bands at an early age, opening for acts such as Gordon Lightfoot and Mimi Farina at the Montreaux Jazz Festival and others such as Charlie Musselwhite, Coco Montoya and Hot Tuna.
Three presents a fast-paced show that moves continuously from one song to the next accompanied by a computerized light show designed by Sidon.
"It adds a lot of light and color," he says. "It's a good time, and we take having fun seriously."
See www.threemusic.net or www.myspace.com/mythreemusic for more information about the trio.
Admission to the CD release parties at Characters is free.
Call 779-5811.
