Skeeter Creek :: Biography

Skeeter Creek: Call to Book! (518) 842-7809

Skeeter Creek started off in 2002 as a 3 piece traditional Bluegrass band formed by Tim Seabolt of Walton, West Virginia, and Joe Kulewicz from the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate New York. Skeeter Creek has become much more than a band, it's a way of life for these talented professional musicians.

Joe Kulewicz

"It's been a great ride, and a great time for sure!" says Joe. " The band has been through alot in the past 6 years, and I am the only remaining original member. I look forward to every show that we do, and I thank the good Lord for the opportunity to entertain Country music fans every time I take the stage. It's more fun every time we play. There's a very cohesive feeling in the band now, something that's very hard to come by". Joe plays Gibson Les Paul, Fender Telecaster, and Martin guitars and Ampeg Amps.

Matt Howenstein

"I've been playing guitar since age 17 and have always appreciated musical diversity" says Matt. "After a few stints in cover bands, I went on to co-found the Progressive Rock/Metal band Aztec Jade. After a decade together and 4 CD releases, 'all good things came to an end', and I was at a musical crossroads. Thankfully I got a call from Joe asking if I'd be interested in auditioning for Skeeter Creek. The rest is history, and I'm blessed to be able to satisty my love of Country music in Skeeter Creek as well as getting my Rock/Metal fix in the band Pariah."

Bruce Saddler

Bruce has been playing drums for 40 years and has performed with jazz, rock, country, and (yikes!) disco bands. His musical influences include many jazz and rock drumming greats including Dave Weckl, Steve Smith, Tony Williams, Virgil Donati, Buddy Rich, and Joe Morello. He has been a member of Skeeter Creek for almost three years during which time he has endured bad jokes about vegetarians and hot Italian chicks. He proudly plays drums from Roland, Sonor, DW, cymbals from Sabian and Zildjian, and a Kazoo from an unidentified Asian country.

Dave Ochal

(See picture above) 'nuff said!

Brian Flaherty

"Although I enjoy all genres of music, country and rock are most prevalent in my life. I have been playing guitar on and off since the age of 14 and singing all my life" says Brian. "Of course, until 5 years ago, most of the singing was in the shower or my car. I have been in a few local cover bands over the years and am very happy to be a part of Skeeter Creek. I have been a member for the past year or so. It has been a lot of fun and allows me to perform some of the best country music with a great group of guys at some of the best venues in the area. When not gigging with Skeeter Creek I am rocking out with my other band Pariah. I have many musical influences. A few of the more important ones are Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Gary Allan, Toby Keith, and Montgomery Gentry".

Jeff Baldwin

Skeeter Creek has built a reputation as "some of THE hardest working, most dedicated musicians to come from the Northeast Country Music scene in years". "It's just what we do. We play music that we love to perform live". Over the last few years, Skeeter Creek has been fortunate enough to have played with some of the best musicians and performers around, performing with Artists such as Darryl Worley, Rhett Atkins, Chad Brock, Jeff Bates, Jim and Jeff Hagar (Hee-Haw), Pirates of the Mississippi, Chris Cagle, Emerson Drive, and most recently Mark Wills.

Skeeter Creek was nominated for 4 awards at the 2005 Northeast Country Music Association awards: Bluegrass band of the Year, Vocal group of the Year, Instrumental band of the Year, and the Sunrise award. They were the winners of the 2004 Colgate Country Showdown in the Albany, New York region, winners of the 2005 and 2006 Froggy 107.1 Country Shootout, and most recently named at the top of the 2006 and 2007 Metroland Magazine Readers Poll for Country Band of the Year.