The Pontunes are a rock and roll band that has been playing a musical stew of vocal harmony infused rock & pop, old school R&B, soul, and jazz throughout the Pacific Northwest for decades.  The band originated as a group of hometown friends in Issaquah, Washington (memorialized in member Phil Paige’s song Issaquah Boys), listening to records, learning how to play in their parent’s basements and graduating to beer halls, wild parties and eventually respectable establishments and charitable events.   Grounded by the AM radio pop music of the 60s and 70s, the Pontunes collected a wide range of influences, from the Beatles, Kinks, NRBQ, and Allman Brothers to Dean Martin, Duke Ellington, Glen Campbell, and Ray Charles, reflected in their own compositions and extensive catalog of good music from a variety of artists. Members Mark Swanson and Paul Tappa were trombone playing buddies throughout school who channeled their antics in an orchestral setting into a rock band and added bass (Mark) and keyboard (Paul). In college they conspired with other musicians in Bellingham, Washington to start a horn-driven performing funk band called Chain Reaction. Meanwhile, friends Phil Paige, Mark Monrean and Scott Fischer were ripping it up on their mini-bikes, guitars and drums in Issaquah and formed the rock band Suggestion, playing tasty hits of the day but never afraid to take it sideways and play it their way. They wrote songs. The fusion of pieces of Chain Reaction and Suggestion became Jack, then the Pontunes, playing a variety of styles in addition to the band’s original songs. Doug Cruickshank eventually joined the band, making an immediate impact with his tasteful lead guitar lines and soaring solos. Eric Swanson came out from behind the soundboard in recent years and now spices the band’s sound with vocal harmony and congas. Phil, now back in Washington after living in California for many years, developed a polished solo act and a stack of original compositions. Scott lives in Thailand now but joins the band on vocals and drum kit during his triumphant annual returns.

The Pontunes are:

Mark Swanson – bass, vocals

Scott Fischer – drums, guitar/mandolin, vocals

Mark Monrean – guitar/harmonica, vocals

Phil Paige – guitars, vocals

Paul Tappa – keyboards, melodica, accordion

Doug Cruickshank – lead guitar, vocals

Eric Swanson – percussion, vocals