MSCB History

The Middle Spunk Creek Boys bluegrass band and Big Macs are both 35+ years old this year. Somehow, that seems more than appropriate.

The band was formed in 1968 when Alan Jesperson and Ron Colby invaded C. J. (Craig) Anderson’s living room one day. Al had a guitar and mandolin, Ron and C.J. both had banjos. After a round of scissors, paper and stone, Al got to play guitar, and Ron the banjo. The loser, Craig, had to play the mandolin. (That tradition still holds true!)

After a few minutes of the relentlessly dedicated rehearsals that are still a hallmark of the band thirty-odd years later, the Boys got a gig at the famous 10 O’Clock Scholar Coffeehouse. You know, where Leo Kottke got his start. Actually, the gig was an open stage. But the band did play, and was even entertaining enough that the Boys were invited back again and again for real paying gigs.

Rudy Darling was the first newcomer to join the Iron Three, adding the sound of a fiddle to the group. Craig left to be a private detective, and was replaced on mandolin by the young John Bellville, who had to get permission from his home-room teacher. Steve Block joined on bass. John got caught skipping classes, and had to go back to school. Ron Colby departed, to be replaced by the famous Al "Lightning Fingers" Struthers. (His fingers never touched the same place twice....)

Steve Block moved on and Jerry Flynn took his place on the bass, learning (as Steve had) that, while a bass is easy to hide behind, you can’t run with it very fast. Then Peter Ostroushko joined so he could learn to play bluegrass mandolin, which took him roughly two weeks. After a spell, Peter quit for the glitzy life on the road with Dakota Dave Hull and others.

In 1976 the remaining Boys recorded their first album before anyone else could quit.This album had no name, and therefore is called "The Middle Spunk Creek Boys." After selling out in its vinyl form, it has been re-released in CD and cassette.

The Boys at about the time of the first album
mscb_1975.jpg (10968 bytes)

Rudy Darling Jerry Flynn
Alan Jesperson Alan Struthers

1978 (from the Prairie Home Companion website):
More collaboration with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, including the PHC-comrnissioned "Weaver's Song and Jig" by Libby Larsen for the Powdermilk Biscuit Band and Orchestra. In March, PHC moved to the World Theater on Exchange and Wabasha, St. Paul. Butch Thompson was joined often by Claudia Schmidt, Papa John Kolstad, the Chenilles, Bill Staines, Jerry Rau, and the Middle Spunk Creek Boys.

John Niemann joined, initially to play mandolin, although he is about one of the best fiddle players ever anywhere. Rudy moved to the California mountains to study wood ticks up close, and had to quit as the commuting back to Minnesota wasn’t too practical. Mark Briere joined to play mandolin so that John wouldn't have to. Then Al Struthers left and was replaced on the banjo by Pete Anderson.

John moved (temporarily) to Alaska. Mark and Pete also quit, to be replaced by John Bellville (who hadn’t learned his lesson the first time) on mandolin and fiddle, and Jim Tordoff on banjo. Andy Kozak bolted the Pocono Mountain String Band to bring his Dobro collection to the MSCB. John Bellville quit (for what he swears is the last time) to be replaced on mandolin and fiddle by Bruce Jaeger, who was still playing in the fading Buckacre. Jim Tordoff quit. Buckacre was raided for a final time for Barry St. Mane’s banjo; we had to take Barry with it. Then Barry briefly moved to Colorado. Tom Nechville filled in for a year or so until Barry decided he liked it here better and moved back. This was in 1993, when we recorded "I’m With the Band."

Andy left, and the multi-way-too-talented Mark Kreitzer joined, initially on fiddle. When Barry left, Mark switched to banjo, and the band has been happily four-piece ever since, although with the "Instrument-Henge" array of instruments that Mark stacks up on stage, it’s like having a six-piece band.

In 1998-1999 we recorded our third album, "No One Else," that features the current MSCB Four. Of the 13 songs, nine are originals (eight by Mark); we refer to this as "Mark’s Demo Album" when he’s not around. When he is around, we refer to it as "Mark’s Demo Album," just to show that we don’t sneak around behind anyone’s back.

In 2000 we released our fourth album "Table for One." It's been getting a nice reception, including more reviews than "No One Else."

In 2001 Jerry Flynn decided to retire from the band and, well, have a life of his own. The current bass player is Mark's brother Chuck Kreitzer, a classically-trained bassist. (But we'll knock that out of him!)

In 2002 we recorded our fifth album, a bluegrass Gospel collection named "A House of Gold."

1974 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, Rudy Darling, Alan Struthers
Bottom: Peter Ostroushko

1974 or thereabouts. Left-to-right:
Jerry Flynn, Peter Ostroushko, Alan Struthers, Rudy Darling, Alan Jesperson

1975 or thereabouts.
Top: Rudy Darling, Jerry Flynn, Alan Jesperson
Bottom: John Niemann, Alan Struthers

1976 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, Jerry Flynn
Bottom: Alan Struthers, John Niemann

1976 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, John Niemann, Jerry Flynn
Bottom: Mark Briere, Alan Struthers

1977 or thereabouts.
Top: Mark Briere, Alan Jesperson, Jerry Flynn
Bottom: John Niemann, Pete Anderson

1980 or thereabouts.
Top: Jim Tordoff, Alan Jesperson, Jerry Flynn
Bottom: John Bellville, Rod Bellville

1981 or thereabouts.
Top: Bruce Jaeger, Jim Tordoff
Middle: Andy Kozak, Jerry Flynn
Seated: Alan Jesperson

1982 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, Jerry Flynn, Andy Kozak
Seated: Barry St. Mane, Bruce Jaeger

1990 or thereabouts.
Jerry Flynn, Tom Nechville, Alan Jesperson, Bruce Jaeger, Andy Kozak

1997 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, Mark Kreitzer, Jerry Flynn
Seated: Barry St. Mane, Bruce Jaeger

1999 or thereabouts.
Top: Alan Jesperson, Bruce Jaeger
Seated: Mark Kreitzer, Jerry Flynn

2005
Jim Tordoff, Alan Jesperson, Chuck Kreitzer, Bruce Jaeger, Mark Kreitzer
(Click on photo for a hires version)

	Copyright 2008, The Middle Spunk Creek Boys. All Rights Reserved. Last updated 05/03/2008
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