About II Big

Brand New Classic Rock!

A mainstay on the Northern California music scene since 1994, II BIG has been through various personnel changes over the years, but the original vision of founder and drummer Ken Ingels has never wavered—these guys come to rock!

Whether they’re playing a smoky little bar in their hometown of Ukiah or before 5,000 opening for legendary rockers in the outdoor theatre of Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa in Kelseyville, the dynamic fivesome puts on a show worthy of their status as regional legends. Over the course of hundreds of gigs, II BIG has opened for a veritable who’s who of classic rock: Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult, Loverboy, Grand Funk Railroad, Joe Walsh, REO Speedwagon, Ted Nugent, Jeff Healy, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Styx.

The vibe was more AC/DC and Van Halen-like in the early days with the original members, but since the Hansen Brothers, singer and guitarist Aubrey and keyboardist, guitarist and co-lead vocalist Tom, joined in the early 2000s, II BIG has drawn crowds from miles around to hear a sound that Aubrey calls “Brand New Classic Rock.” The band is huge on the festival, fair and rodeo circuit, playing everywhere from the Bay Area to Reno and Eureka, where they recently played the Live at the Boardwalk series.

“Although our audience seems to be made up of people of all ages, we’re most popular with those folks who grew up with the sounds of classic Eagles, Bob Seger and ZZ Top,” says Ingels. “When we play live, we mix in some covers with our originals, anything from Jim Croce to Eddie Money and Marshall Tucker, but whatever we’re doing, Aubrey puts a boogie on everything he plays. We’re always out there having a blast.”

Each of the five current members of brings the passion and perfectionism of the other work in their lives to the incredible band chemistry. The Hansen Brothers are both stalwarts in the construction business, Aubrey a concrete foreman and Tom a sheetrock texture finisher. Bassist Derek Soderquist began playing music at 15 and originally played with II Big circa 1995 (welcome back!), while Indiana Slim has played guitar alongside countless musical legends in his fulltime professional career. Ingels runs a vineyard business and also works with some of the region’s top musicians at his Russian River Studios; he formed the label Russian River Records in 1994 with David Raitt, brother of legendary singer Bonnie Raitt.

“Each individual member of is truly an artist in his own right,” says Ingels. “Their other specialties in life tie in perfectly with the artistry they bring to the band. But music is truly our sanctuary, and when we’re not out playing, we’re enjoying the creative energy we create in the studio. It’s just very enjoyable hanging out with these guys. When we say it’s ‘Brand New Classic Rock,’ essentially it’s about carrying forward the rich legacy of that classic sound everyone knows and loves.”

All of II BIG’s releases, including Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now, Like It II Much, II Big For The Radio and Sound Of The Highway, are available via outlets like CD Baby, Amazon and The Orchard. The band also has its entire catalog of over 100 songs on iTunes.

Aubrey Hansen stands up front with his solid guitar playing and soulful vocals that can bring tears to your eyes, as well as make you get up and dance—transferring the heart of any tune right to the listener's soul.

Tom Hansen, keyboards/vocals, has performed since he was 15. He adds years of professional talent and emotional feeling to the sound of II BIG.

Ken Ingels' drumming provides a solid rhythmic foundation for II BIG's sound with a style reminiscent of John Bonham. Drummers of this caliber are one in a million!

Derek Soderquist began playing music at the ripe young age of 15, and brings a lifetime of experience to the II BIG sound. His finesse on bass even goes back to a previous incarnation of this very same band, beginning in 1995, and it's great to welcome him back!

Indiana Slim snagged his guitar snake oil juice directly from his cousin, Lonnie Mack. Fully accomplished in many musical styles from rock & roll, rock-a-billy, country and blues, he has rocked with such classic performers from Jerry Lee Lewis and Bo Diddley to Billy Idol and countless Blues Legends. He has grooved alongside numerous top bands including the Allman Brothers, the Outlaws, the Doobie Brothers, Leon Russell, and Johnny Winter.

Video:

click here to watch II Big on youtube

Appearances

Upcoming Concert Dates:

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Street Dance Party
Friday, June 26th, 2009 - 8:00 PM
Willits Frontier Days
E. Commercial St., Willits, California 95428
Free!

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Party
Saturday, June 27th, 2009 - 8:00 PM
Moon Man Party
76976 Tabor Lane
Covelo, California 95428

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Robin Trower concert with II BIG opening the show!
Friday, July 10th 2009 - 7:00 PM
Konocti Harbor Resort Indoor Showroom
8727 Soda Bay Road, Kelseyville, California 95451
Cost: $39.00

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Night Club Show
Saturday, Aug. 22nd, 2009 - 9:00 PM
The Inn Place
44930 North Highway 101
Laytonville, California 95454
Cost: 5.00

Night Club Show
Saturday, Sept. 12th, 2009 - 9:00 PM
Ukiah Brewing Co.
102 S. State St.
Ukiah, California 95482
Cost: 5.00

Benefit Dance
Saturday, September 26th, 2009 - 8:00 PM
Willits Rodeo Grounds
E. Commercial St., Willits, California 95428
Cost: 10.00

Night Club Show
Friday, May 22nd, 2009 - 9:00 PM
The Inn Place
44930 North Highway 101
Laytonville, California 95454

Night Club Show
Saturday, June 6th, 2009 - 9:00 PM
The Caspar Inn
14957 Caspar Rd.
Caspar, California 95420

Battle of the Bands
Sept. 27, 2008 6:00PM
at Russian River Records
1151 Talmage Road, Ukiah, CA

Dance/Benefit
Aug. 23, 2008 4:00pm
Recreation Grove
Commercial Street, Willits, CA

July, 19 2008, 9:00 PM
Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa
8727 Soda Bay Road,
Kelseyville, CA 95451

July, 18 2008 9:00 PM
Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa
8727 Soda Bay Road,
Kelseyville, CA 95451

Birthday Party/Dance
June, 21 2008 3:00 PM
76976 Tabor Lane, Covelo, CA

Dance Party
June, 1 2008 6:00 PM
Recreation Grove, Willits, CA

Dance/Benefit
May, 3 2008 6:00 PM
Harwood Hall, Harwood Drive,
Laytonville, CA 95454

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Previous Shows, 2007:

II BIG appeared at the
Mendocino County Fair
Rodeo Dance, Boonville, CA. Sept 15th. 9pm

II BIG appeared at the Navarro Store
on Hwy 128 in Navarro, CA. Sept. 30th, 2pm

II BIG opened for Creedence Clearwater
Aug. 10th at
Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa!

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Find II Big all over the net!

Visit our MySpace page!

join the group at Facebook!

Listen in at iLike

or Virb!

find them at Reverbnation!

and Humble Voice!

as well as on Purevolume!

and also trig.com!

plus imeem!

and our latest, songsprouts!

and last.fm!

News

May 2008: II Big is pleased to announce
their rockin' new guitarist, Indiana Slim!!!

Indiana Slim honed his sizzling guitar and performing style in the heartland roots of the Midwest, directly absorbing first hand, the sounds of classic rock & roll, rock-a-billy, roadhouse country, and authentic blues. Throughout his career he played alongside countless rock & roll legends and classic rhythm and blues performers.

Bringing his diverse talents to the West Coast, Slim created the much accredited Top 20 classic R&B band Shakin Snakes producing and leading the band through three highly acclaimed CD's. He diversified his rootstock by creating the wild and raw juice rock-a-billy band Wine Drinkin Roosters producing two authentic "Sun Records" styled CD's much beloved by worldwide rock-a-billy fans.

Most recently, having performed with drummer, Ken Ingels, and appreciating the deep talent of II BIG with their exceptional original songwriting, vocal harmonies, and world class performing ability, Slim is more than ready to join forces with II BIG and amplify the sounds of Brand New Classic Rock & Roll!

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II BIG's latest CD on Russian River Records, "Face In The Glass" features 10 songs that bring home the classic rock and roll sound that the world fell in love with.

Like the tracks on their popular previous recording, In a Mendocino Town, the songs on Face In The Glass are dynamic and new yet the vibe is comforting and familiar, with a hard rocking edge reminiscent of the classic rock we all love, laced with more than subtle hints of country and blues. Currently, six of the songs from the album are playing on over 1,700 stations around the country.

The originals range from the mid-tempo country rocker “Katrina,” which blends images of heavy weather with a love story, to the inspirational title track ballad about looking in the mirror and believing in oneself. The lone cover on the new album, the Crosby, Stills & Nash classic “Wooden Ships,” features the signature vocal harmonies that define the current sound of the band; the Hansen Brothers’ vocal textures are beautifully enhanced by those of Oakland based gospel vocalist Alfreda Lyon Campbell.

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a review of II Big from the Eureka Reporter 6/14/07:

Recordings

Enjoy samples from II Big recordings!

Face in the Glass:

• Thunder Road [MP3]
• Face In The Glass [MP3]
• Hey Girl [MP3]
• II Big [MP3]
• Katrina [MP3]
• Wooden Ships [MP3]
• Mountain Girl [MP3]

read the complete review at: neufutur magazine

In A Mendocino Town:

• If I Can't Be Your #1 [MP3]
• If Mama Don't Like It [MP3]
• She's No Stranger [MP3]
• Mendocino Town [MP3]
• Rebel (Going Home) [MP3]
• Howlin at the Moon [MP3]

• Baby Come Back [MP3]
• It's a Love Thing [MP3]
• Mendocino Town [MP3]
• She's No Stranger [MP3]
• Crossroads to Hell [MP3]
• In My Dreams [MP3]

• Sound of the Highway [ra] [MP3]
• Always in Trouble [ra] [MP3]
  
• Call on Me [ra] [MP3]
  
• Two Hearts [ra] [MP3]
• Hammer Down [ra] [MP3]
  

• Baby Come Home (Track 03) [ra]  
• Never Die (Track 05) [ra] 
• Rocker (Track 06) [ra] 
• It's Gonna Rain (Track 09) [ra]
• Hollywood (Track 10) [ra]

• Big L.A. (Track 01) [ra]
• In It For Lust (Track 03) [ra]
• I Think I Like It Too Much (Track 04) [ra]
• Don't Hold On(Track 07) [ra]
• In My Eyes (Track 11) [ra]

Contact

interested parties should contact:

Ken Ingels
c/o Russian River Records
PO Box516
Talmage CA 95481
707-468-0282