Meet the Band

Jon Wallace, Lead Guitar

Most people know Jon Wallace from his years as the owner-operator of Duff’s Garage and before that, Premier Guitars. However, before he got into the nightclub business he was a surf-rockabilly guitar player in bands from Los Angeles, California; Granada, Spain; Mannheim, Germany; Eugene and Portland, Oregon. As a teenager, Jon got his start trying to play Carl Perkins and Chuck Berry songs in the middle of the Heavy Rock era of the 1970s. The world had moved on but Jon never did. He continued to play roots American music all thru the 80s, 90s, 2000s and, yes, to this very day. He is heavily influenced by the deep sounds of Dwayne Eddy, Link Wray, and Dick Dale, which he incorporates into the neo-country pop sound of Western Edition.

Heidi Hellbender, Vocals

Heidi Hellbender learned to harmonize to the abcs and has been singing and writing ever since. She began forming bands at age 15 and cut her teeth in the NW alternative scene, singing with bands M99 and The Oblivion Seekers. She soon found her way to the bar circuit with Americana band, Big Whiskey, eclectic acoustic project Gothic Outhouse, and traditional country and bar-band outfits Mutts on Fire and The Can’t Hardly Playboys. She has sat in with countless blues and roots acts, and most recently added her pipes to old school R&B burlesque act, The Fondells. There is nothing she loves more than singing with her friends and she has had the pleasure of doing so with some of the best musicians in the NW. In Western Edition, she lends her pen to prolific songwriter Jon Wallace and enjoys singing those sweet, sweet harmonies with Elyse Rosenberg. 

Elyse Rosenberg, Fiddle, Vocals

From Modesto, California and Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Elyse Rosenberg has been playing fiddle and singing in bluegrass, folk, country, and Americana bands for over twenty-five years. She started playing at age five, grew up singing close harmony and playing a variety of styles with her musical family, studied classical violin for more than a decade, and plays her Grandpa’s fiddle. Music is Elyse’s mental health plan – she loves to jam with friends, family, and her drummer husband, Matt Kramer. Elyse plays regularly around the Portland area with Americana band Fiddleschtix and sits in with other artists as well. She is excited to play original music with Western Edition! 

Fred Ingram, Drums

Portland native, Fred Ingram got his first drum set in the fifth grade and has been playing ever since. Growing up in a musical family he was marinated in the sounds of vaudeville, dixieland, swing, and jazz until old enough to buy his own LPs of the Beatles, Creedence, Hendrix, and Zeppelin. An appetite for a range of musical styles has led to work with Portland’s Sheila and the Boogiemen, Nu Shooz, Jon Koonce, Rick Welter, Dover Weinberg, Joni Harms, Steve Bradley, The New Iberians, Sportin’ Lifers, TooLoose Cajun Band, Geebsville, JT Wise, and the late, great, Jaime Leopold, among others. Current projects include recording original music with the Portland-based quartet Jazz Interlude and the formation of retro-country group Western Edition.

Jason Ballard, Rhythm Guitar

Jason Ballard’s love of country music and old school rock and roll shine through in his guitar playing, and have led him to take part in projects with some of Portland’s best. He’s lent his lead playing skills to The Satisfied Minds, The Redeemed, and the Texecutioners and played lead and rhythm guitar in punk-soul outfit The Oblivion Seekers, and rhythm and blues burlesque act The Fondells; sat in with country outfit The Can’t Hardly Playboys. In Western Edition he holds the rhythm guitar position in his capable hands.

L.W. McGrath, Bass

Bass player L.W. McGrath is a Willamette Valley native currently indulging his love of traditional country music. Playing horns from fifth grade band all through high school started his musical career, and punk rock turned his attention to electric guitars. Difficulty finding bass players sealed the deal. L.W. has been involved with many short-lived acts such as New Iberians, Metropolitan Farms, Hawthorne, Racing Wheel Whistle Pigs (with his three brothers), Lisa & Her Kin, Sauvie Island Moon Rocket Factory, among others.

Mitch Gilbert, Pedal Steel

Mitch Gilbert started performing in bands as a teenager in Dallas, Texas, playing British Invasion rock and roll. After moving to Portland, he began playing in new wave and rockabilly bands around town, eventually falling in with Rancho Notorious. Here he got a taste for country music, mimicking the sound of a pedal steel on a synthesizer. Finally, he just decided to try the real thing and he got hooked! He has since played in Portland bands Walkin’ After Midnight, The Texecutioners, and The Redeemed. He has been with his band Shorty & the Mustangs for over 20 years, and now adds his fingering skills to Western Edition, too.