Frog Hollow Band Celebrates Album Release

WAITSBURG - The Frog Hollow Band - voted Best Local Band in the Union Bulletin's People's Choice Awards the last four years running - is becoming as much a part of the fabric of the Touchet Valley as wheat fields, Walla Walla Sweets, fine wine and hot air balloons. The band will say "thank you" to their supportive fans with a free party on May 31at 7 p.m. at the Walla Walla Elks Lodge, in celebration of the release of their CD album titled "Days Like These." Singer/songwriter Zach Winters of Ellensburg will open at the event.

"The party is free because we want everyone to be able to come and celebrate with us," said band manager, guitarist and vocalist, Ty Lane. The band first began recording with JEC-T Studios owner Joe Deleon in 2011. "This album has been a long time in the making. I can't even describe the feeling of relief and accomplishment we feel from getting this project done!"

A typical Wednesday night finds the six band members - all of whom work full time "day" jobs - rehearsing in the basement of drummer Brian Richards' Waitsburg home. The music of the high energy alternative country band spans the generations - as do the musicians themselves, ranging in age from 26 year-old lead singer Shane Ugalde to sixty-something (no one knows his exact age, says Lane) Jerry Yokel, who adds musical depth with the fiddle, mandolin and harmonica. Other members include Lane's father and band co-manager, Kit Lane on guitar and Jim Pearson playing bass and providing back-up vocals.

Lane says he appreciates having six different musicians, who know each others' playing styles, and can come together to make a great piece of music. "There's a lot of songwriters out there that don't have a full band behind them. I'm lucky that I can bring a melody to practice, and within a couple minutes the group working together can fill in the blanks and make something really awesome."

The band regularly honors their small town roots by playing small venues in Starbuck, Prescott and Waitsburg, where they'll be playing the Burgers, Band and Brew Fest on May 17th, as part of Waitsburg's Celebration Days Event. But they're no stranger to the big stage. The Frog Hollow Band has performed before thousands - playing their original material along with classic rock and country covers -- at the world-famous Pendleton Round-Up, The U. S. Bank PBR Classic and as the opening act for RCA singer/songwriter Sara Evan's during her 2012 "All In" tour.

The band has come a long way from the original Frog Hollow Band formed in the 1990's by Kit Lane and original drummer John Spain (who lived on Frog Hollow Road, hence the band name). A school-age Ty Lane played trombone with the garage band that generally only performed once a year. That band fell to the wayside, but in high school, Ty joined with lead singer Nick Berg and other high school musicians to form the band Straight Shot. Impressed with their talent, Spain and Kit Lane nabbed Ty and Berg and rekindled The Frog Hollow Band, which became a regular at local fairs, rodeos and watering holes.

That band -- Ty Lane, Kit Lane, Berg, Spain, Yokel, Gary Diagastino, and Chris Anderson --recorded the album "Playing all Night," which was completed in 1999. "We did all the recording, manufacturing and distribution ourselves . . . and we didn't really know what we were doing," said Ty Lane. "I think those old songs sound pretty good for a bunch of rednecks doing it themselves."

The band produced a professional 5-song EP of original songs in 2012 called "Love4aSixGun,"whichis no longer available. Shortly after the release, Berg left the band to be replaced by Ugalde. "During most of 2013, those tracks just sat in the studio while we worked with Shane and wrote new material," said Lane. Eventually, the original tracks were re-mastered, with Ugalde on vocals, and seven new songs were added.

The new album, "Days Like These," will be the band's first professionally recorded and distributed album. In addition to recording in a professional studio, the band is utilizing an online marketing company. "They'll distribute our album everywhere, just like a big label would," said Lane. "In addition to selling CDs at our shows, we will also have music available on Amazon.com, iTunes, Google Play as well as big box stores and independent record stores all across the country. Technology has really allowed musicians like us to get our music out in the world fairly easily. We've even been asked to submit music to a couple internet radio stations in Nashville - so that's pretty exciting."

Lane says the band looks forward to growing and booking bigger events. "When a band has to replace their lead singer it can be a serious blow. I don't think most bands survive a change like that," said Lane. "Shane has put forth the effort and it's paying off. It took us a full year working with Shane to get back to a position where we feel confident that we can hold our own on the big stages. Now we just have to book the shows. I think our new album will help us sell our live shows to a broader audience."

The band's website (www.thefroghollowband.com) proudly displays a down-to-the second countdown ticker marking the CD's release. If fans simply can't wait until the free CD Release party they can listen to many of the songs right on the website or join the folks in Waitsburg on May 17 for the Burgers, Band and Brew Fest (tickets must be purchased in advance). Details can be found at the band's website and on the Frog Hollow Band Facebook page.