The Oly Mountain Boys

The Oly Mountain Boys are a South Puget Sound bluegrass institution, picking and singing around Olympia, Washington since 2008. They bring a Pacific Northwest sensibility to the bluegrass sound through traditional tunes and original compositions, and showcase the power of the American bluegrass music tradition.

 

Tye Menser - Banjo & Lead Vocals

Tye was born in Southern California but likes to point out, for bluegrass credibility, that his parents and entire family are from Western Kentucky. Tye learned to play bluegrass in Fairbanks, Alaska starting in 2004, studying the bands of Carl Hoffman, the Father of Alaska Bluegrass, and the hard-driving style of his banjo disciples. 

 

Phil Post - Dobro, Bass

Phil is the only Oly Mountain Boy with bona fide Southern heritage, growing up in the Ozark Mountains in Missouri. Phil's musical journey began singing for a Springfield, Missouri church choir. He moved to the Pacific Northwest many years ago, studying jazz and composition, and has played a number of instruments in a variety of regional bands through the years, including Big Idea, Heliotroupe (jam band), Head For the Hills (bluegrass), Milroy Holler (psychedelic), Cabin Kind (newgrass), Tilted Stilts (alt-country), and the Erev Rav (klezmer).

 

Josh Grice - Fiddle

Josh Grice was raised near Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved to Olympia to work and stare at the mountains. He stumbled into a bluegrass jam in early 2009 and soon wound up a member of the Oly Mountain Boys. He also performs original and classic newgrass with Briarfinch, “whiskey stomp” country with Montgomery Brown and the Cowboy Apocalypse, and occasional "violin" with the Olympia Symphony Orchestra.

 

Derek McSwain - Mandolin

Derek McSwain picks the mandolin with drive and passion.

 

Tom Pell - Bass

Tom Pell is holds it down on bass. While new to playing with the Oly Mountain Boys, he engineered the band's latest release “Diamonds and Flowers.”

 

Eric Schweizer - Guitar

Eric Schweizer is a California native who splits his time between Shelton, Washington and Antarctica. When he's on the continent, he plays bluegrass guitar and frequents the Northwest's old-time jam circles.

 

Leif Halvorson

Leif Halvorson is an Oregon native now residing in Raymond, Washington. Leif's grandfather, Gilbert Halvorson, made a living performing old time country full-time in North Dakota throughout the 30s, 40s, and 50s and had a regular radio show. Gilbert passed on his love of music to his grandson, and Leif has been playing bluegrass for more than 20 years. Leif also performs in a duo with his wife, Aileen.