Back in 1998, Daniel Venzon and Ken Martin envisioned a band that was comprised mainly of acoustic instruments. When picking a name, they reached high into the mountains of central Idaho and chose the name of a spire called The Finger of Fate as their namesake. They practiced hard so that one day they could play before a mass of people, somewhere in the USA.
Their first album was titled “Fickle” and was supported by Jeff Rue: the biggest, baddist Bassist in the whole of the Northwest. This man could carve out a tune like a downhill mogul runner, sweeping through the pines, and he does it with clarity of will and tone. The other addition came from Michael Claire (which by the way means Clear) alias Dr doom the wrestler, who’s lead on “Too Many Mountains” was as clear as a mountain stream and twice as refreshing.
“Fickle” sports all original tunes by Dan Venzon, some co - written by Ken Martin, except for three tunes: Jefferson Airplane’s “Coming Back To ME”, Tom Waitt’s “New Coat Of Paint” and Leo Kottke’s “Tiny Island”.
Ken and Dan have returned with their next offering, a two album set named “Better Way To Love” and “Patch of Blue”. You might combine those titles and call it “Better Blues”, but they didn’t, they had a huge amount of tunes, too many for one album and quite diverse in their scope, tone and timber: so it was broken up into two separate albums and they rock, roll and blues you down. All songs are original except for “Running and Hiding” which is a Jimmy Reed tune. This new disc features Jim Guerin, alias Jimmy Keys, on Piano, organ and bass piano; Alan Phillips on the Roland, Congas, drum kit and percussion; Trip Sprague on drums, and Sax; Stacy Ralph on drums; Marty Soreno on lead; Claudia Fernetty on back up vocals, Deborah Smaller, my beloved, and her fantastic flute, Ken Martin on lead guitar and, of course, Daniel Venzon on lead vocals and rhythm guitar. We hope you simply love these tunes and the spirit in which they were written and played!
Coming soon is their next opus, now in process and labeled “Melting Pot: Opera Americana”. You will be able to find these discs on Amazon, Itunes and CD baby.
I hope you love the music and keep on living the dream as it was meant to be lived, with a song on your lips, a tune in your heart, love on your mind, and a oneness of purpose: meditation in action.
