As Austin's only TinPanCeltiCowboyFolkGrass trio, the Pine Beetles tear it up on the songs you love to hear, from Celtic ballads to Tin Pan Alley jazz. The trio cumulatively plays 12 different instruments, including ukulele, walkabout dulcimer, English concertina, clawhammer banjo, tenor guitar, octave mandolin, and bodhran. Originally formed in late 2006 by Lisa Alexander, George Traugott, and Vanessa Webb, the group hit its stride with the 2007 addition of Bob Guz on ukulele. They quickly became regulars on the Bastrop music scene, playing to great local acclaim. After Vanessa Webb left the group, the Pine Beetles discarded the shackles of genre and started a musical free-for-all that continues to this day. Expect the unexpected: Irish tunes on the ukulele, torch songs, cowboy songs, and anything else that strikes their fancy.
Lisa AlexanderFounding member Lisa Alexander has been singing since birth. An active chorister and musical theater actress, she pursued operatic training in her native California. In 1995, her classical singing career took an abrupt turn when she was dragged to a house concert of Celtic music. Instantly enamored with folk music, since then she has become an avid song collector and advocate for traditional music. In 2004, Lisa took up the dulcimer, followed by the tenor guitar and octave mandolin. She has helmed the monthly Celtic song session at Things Celtic for the past several years.
Bob GuzA recovering guitar player, Bob previously performed with Austin’s notorious Los Blues Guys. His grandpa had been a ukulele crooner back in the 1920’s and Bob was ultimately won over by the uke’s charm, beauty, simplicity, and aggressive un-coolness. He currently also plays and sings with Shorty Long, a five-piece string band with roots in the novelty jazz styles of the early 20th century. Bob performed on the CD “This is Ukulele Country,” a collection of classic country tunes played on the uke featuring Deb Porter and Lloyd Maines. He is a frequent participant at ukulele festivals across the US where he performs and teaches workshops.
George TraugottIn his musical career of more than 35 years, George has played with many bands and musical groups, including the Birchwood String Band in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Greater Minneapolis Dog and Pony Show and The Cast Iron Potty Band. His band of thirty years, the legendary Blind Moose Revue, features top caliber musicians from Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas, and still performs several concerts per year at different US locations. George plays several instruments with the Pine Beetles including guitar, a 50's era longneck banjo, and a Wheatstone concertina that is more than 100 years old. His musical tastes run from haunting ballads or jumping fiddle tunes on his concertina to bluegrass, blues and old-time music on his banjo to classic country and cowboy tunes on his guitar. He is a familiar face at both bluegrass and Celtic jams in Austin, Texas.