About Us

VOCALS/HAND PERCUSSION 

Kathy was practically born with a mic in her hand and the stage beckoned her early in life.  At age sixteen she joined a local Christian rock band and toured colleges throughout the Seattle area.  Looking back, she wishes she would have picked up the guitar along the way.  While raising her family and nurturing her career, she was able to indulge in the local karaoke bars and win an occasional competition. Her talent as a back-up singer with local workplace group Disregarded Entity quickly evolved in her becoming the band’s lead vocalist.  Her trio, Titusville Station, was born from that venture along with opportunities to play with other great local artists.  She created Party of 5 with musical friends along the way, as well as arranging “wedding bands” for private events.  Each show brings new excitement and the friendships that are made along the way are priceless.  There is nothing like being part of the music on stage while sharing with an audience.

     “I am Hooked for Life. Come Dance with Me!”

 GUITAR, SYNTH, VOCALS

Dave has been playing music since childhood, at first learning to play folk guitar. Inspired by the Beatles and other bands of the ‘60s, Dave quickly transitioned to rock ‘n roll and country rock. He played in his first band as a teen and was hooked right away on the energy created by playing live music with other musicians. He has been playing in bands in the Seattle area ever since.

Since 2009, Dave has been the lead guitarist and vocalist for the Blue Lizard Band, playing at venues and summer festivals all over the Puget Sound region. Past bands include the Rasters, Seven Times Blue, and The New Flamingos, just to name a few. Dave has also gigged with the Linda Carroll Band, Loose Gravel & New Roads, and has filled in on guitar for the Rain City Time Machine.

Besides guitar and vocals, Dave is also proficient on the bass guitar and mandolin, and adds additional dimension to the Ante Up Band with a Roland GR-55 digital guitar synthesizer, adding strings, keys and horns to the band's sound.

When not gigging with The Ante Up Band or Blue Liz, Dave spends his spare time as a space systems EME engineer for a local aerospace firm.

Dave is very jazzed to be a part of The Ante Up Band.

 BASS GUITAR, VOCALS

Originally from San Antonio TX, Jack picked up the guitar at age 15 after a football injury sidelined his sports ambitions. He was soon recruited by a band called “The American Revolution,” where he stepped up to fill a vacancy on bass.  Though he planned to return to guitar after that group disbanded, he was quickly recruited into another band “ Scot Free” who also needed a bassist. Now settled in Tacoma WA, with his wonderful wife of nearly 50 years, Jack has earned a reputation as a solid “old school” pocket player with an exceptional  groove.  Inspired by the legends of Stax and Muscle Shoals, Sam and Dave, Wilson Picket, and  Aretha Franklin, he brings a deep love for the blues, classic soul and country music to The Ante Up Band. He may not have set out to be a renowned multi-genre bassist, but he certainly loves to boogie. 

GUITAR

TJ is a passionate guitarist whose soulful, expressive style draws deep inspiration from Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan and many more. Having split his life between England and the United States his musical influences are wide and varied. He reveres the blues greats like Muddy Waters and B.B. King to the legends who shaped modern country-blues hybrids. TJ blends raw Delta and Chicago blues with Texas swagger and country grit. While rooted in tradition he aims to deliver with personal honesty.

DRUMS

John is a seasoned musician who works hard to give the music good groove and feel.  It’s hard to two-step, cha-cha, or just shake your hips if the music feels clunky.  He has always chosen the feel over the flash.  He learned this by teaching himself to play drums while playing along with Beatles records as a kid.  Ringo always provided just what the song needed, and John has always tried to do the same.

Fast forward about 15 years when the Navy brought him to the Pacific 

Northwest.  He and a two Navy buddies started a band that eventually 

turned into The Bullets, performing at a number of renowned Northwest 

venues during the '80s and '90s, including the Ad Lib Tavern, Parkers, and the Aquarius.

As the years passed, John developed a distinctive style that set him apart 

and helped him forge lasting friendships with fellow musicians and bands.  He frequently sat in with groups such as North of 50, the Iron Stallion Band, Casual T, and others on stage.  By chance, a mutual acquaintance 

introduced him to Kathy Rad at a pivotal moment for both him and Ante Up. John auditioned for the band and was immediately drawn to the wide variety of music that Ante Up performed.  The band liked his fit and he is now settling into his new role and looking forward to playing many gigs with this polished and eclectic band.

SOUND ENGINEER 

Joe grew up playing keys and accordion but decided to take a hiatus from music for several years to raise kids, race motorcycles, fly airplanes, and scuba dive.  As his wife began singing with different bands, he applied his technical skills to live sound engineering but swears he may pick up an instrument again.  He has mixed for several bands in small to medium sized venues with different hardware/software combinations.  For The Ante Up Band, he uses Presonus, Sennheiser, and EV equipment as both front of house and on stage monitor engineer.