Ron Cockerham - Composer, keys, sax, harmonica, vocals

Steven Savoie - Guitars, vocals

Tim Shaughnessy - Bass, vocals

Jim Wolfe - Drums, vocals

Katy Oberg - Vocals

Aundria Lauren - Vocals

Written  by K.C.  ~ Positively Entertainment

Level 2 is the name of a band that takes music a step above the existing cornerstone of the genre affectionately called “Rock”. Bandleader Ron Cockerham notes, “We play tasteful rock with a focus on clarity and poetic melody.”

Cockerham is the “mad scientist” whose personal magic fuels the flame from which the sound of Level 2 is forged. He says, “The name comes from the concept of reaching for the next level of creative excellence on a continuing basis. No matter what level an artist attains, there is always more to reach for.” And that fact is what makes things interesting for us. Growth is very important to Level 2

 “This may sound a little strange, but I seem to have some sort of radio playing in my imagination all of the time. Melodies and chord changes drift through my mind throughout the day...” I truly appreciate being able to connect with creative energy. I feel so fortunate and alive.

In discussing how Cockerham creates the songs, he says, “I usually write music first thing in the morning, because I find myself dreaming about music, as well as other questionable things.” This process is echoed in the words to the song Sleep Walkin’, where he says “Can’t sleep at night and I’m always having’ this dream, sleep walkin’, sleep talkin’.” “Mornings are a great time to write,” he adds. It's the time when a persons mind is free from the noise of the day.

During a recent performance by the band, this writer felt both the pull of the familiar and the thrill of the new. At only the second listen, one finds oneself singing along with Level 2’s tunes. The song Am I Alive is fast becoming a personal favorite, with the refrain, “Do you ever wonder, do you ever hunger, do you ever stand at the door and wonder if there’s more.” The song Shame On You says, “Tell me lies...shame on you...promise me the moon, shame on you.”

How did these six different people come together to form such a smooth product?

 “First I would like to say that I feel very fortunate to be working with such great musicians,” Cockerham states. “Jim Wolfe the drummer and I have a long history of making music together. So when I started this project, it was a no-brainer who I was going to ask to play drums.”

Wolfe cites over 40 years of experience, playing many styles including jazz, blues, country, rock, pop, Latin, symphonic and military music. He says, ”I cut my musical teeth playing drums in the 17-piece Jim Little Jazz Band in the ‘60s and ‘70s. Studying under the likes of Louis Bellson, my roots are solidified in the school of the great jazz drummers, i.e.: Buddy Rich, Max Roach, etc.”

Wolfe and Cockerham were also a member of the David Smiles Band. That group performed at many Northwest venues including The Last Hurrah and Euphoria. He recalls sharing the stage with groups such as Malchicks and Quarterflash and opening for national acts like Maria Muldaur. Wolfe discovered that covering others’ tunes would no longer satisfy him. He states, “A while back Ron and I started planning and putting together the Level 2 music project, the results being what I consider to be the most exciting musical journey I’ve yet to experience.”

Cockerham declares, “When Tim Shaughnessy tried out for bass, we noticed right away that he had an intuitive sense about what notes to play. He is a natural. Tim gets in the pocket of the groove and holds down a solid foundation.”

Shaughnessy’s motto is, “Follow the kick.” He has backed many singer/songwriters including Jim Brunberg, Tony Furtado, Scott Weddle, Lewi Longmire and of course the great drummer Roger Espinor. “Besides,” Cockerham adds, “his wife makes great pies and who can resist that? Dude! You’re in the band!”

At that point, they needed a versatile guitar player who could create his own parts and who could bring a strong guitar presence to the project. “We needed someone with finesse and great guitar tone. Steven Savoie was the obvious choice, and we knew it after about ten minutes of hearing him play,” says Cockerham.

Savoie remembers receiving his first string instrument at the age of three, a plastic ukulele. “And,” he says, “I got my first guitar at the age of eight and I have never stopped making noise since.” Savoie also asserts, “My influences are Peter Green, Mike Bloomfield, Otis Rush and Charlie Christian.”

Savoie continues, “My best show was for a high school in Salem. We played from eight to ten, with two 15-minute breaks for $1,2000...The worst show that I remember was for a wedding reception where a five-piece band was supposed to set up and play on a 4-by-6 brick riser. A fist fight broke out between opposite wedding parties over this situation and we never played!”

Jeremy Kaplan joined the project as a percussionist. Jeremy is a solid percussionist who comes up with great arrangement ideas,” boasts Cockerham.

Kaplan reminisces that some of his best gigs were unexpected. “When I played with the popular band Higher Ground, we played way out in the eastern Oregon desert for a biker rally. Despite earlier apprehension, it turned out to be a great gig and culturally enlightening. My last gig with that band was interesting when we played The Bite in Beaverton, Ore. First we played before the well-known band America, then the Doobie Brothers were supposed to play. Because they had a really big setup and it took longer, we were asked to play again after America. So in effect we warmed up both America and the Doobie Brothers on the same day. We were tucked between two legendary bands. For me, those types of unexpected events make playing music a lot of fun.”

Joe Good plays a cool trumpet and also adds keyboard textures and background vocals. We were all glad to see Joe come on board. Not only is he a great musician, but he also helps us with our sound set up and mix. Joe Good has a strong background in sound engineering and mixing and Cockerham ads that everyone in the band can relax and have fun, knowing that Joe will take care of the sound.

For me, the perfect gig is where the sound mix is perfect on and off stage,” Cockerham muses. “It’s a gig where all of our friends are there and they are having a great time. The perfect gig sounds good and connects people. It would be my hope that Level 2 can create a community of people, who know that when they come to a Level 2 event, they will see familiar faces.”

Cockerham says. “For me, success isn’t about making the big time, it’s about connecting with those around you. In the words of Langston Hughes, ‘To dig and be dug in return,’ that is my motto.”

Two words come to mind,” Cockerham continues, “creativity and community. This band is not about me; it’s about every member in the band expanding as an artist. It’s about developing a community of fellow musicians, fans and friends. We all enjoy playing music and sharing it with others. It’s about finding a musical family and knowing that you belong.”

Cockerham is a visual artist as well as a musician. “For years I helped produce the First Thursday open air event in the Pearl. At that time, I was doing a lot of painting of acrylic on canvas. Our flyers are mixed media and often incorporate my paintings, etchings, photography and graphics.” Cockerham’s devotion to artistry in communication is in no doubt here.

If you are looking for live music that is enticing and creative, don’t miss the band Level 2.