THE BAND:
Drive To Space is a keyboard-driven band that combines funk, rock, jam, reggae, Americana, bluegrass, and more into a cohesive, mind-meld of sound -- complete with tempo and key changes, odd meters, tight jams, and well-written, complex material interspersed with improvisation, and three-part vocal harmonies.
Choice cover selections tastily blend with a trunk load of original music.
This paves the way for an epic drive through an aural landscape!
Welcome aboard the spaceship! It's a good ship. Buckle up as we Drive to Space!
Drive to Space was founded in late 2022 as a result of a Craigslist ad Steph had posted looking for players to start a band with.
After stumbling across Steph's ad, Terry chatted with long time friend John Raden, and the two decided to reply.
The three of them got together, and almost instantly the jokes were flying, the jams were flowing, and they knew that this was something worth exploring.
After a couple of years and many different guitarists, Travis Mason joined in the summer of 2024, quickly learning the band's repertoire, and bringing some of his own original music to the table.
Drive to Space is fronted by Steph Kay on keyboards.
In the past, spent time in the past performing nationwide with the St. Louis-based Widespread Panic tribute “Mom's Kitchen”, Summercamp Music Festival's VIP Tent alums; “Easy Riders”, with the Grateful Dead tributes “Another Dead Cover Band”, “The Jerryatrics”, and “Token Rhymes”, as well as Eugene, OR's now-defunct “Left On Wilson” and “Blue Lotus”. More obscure acts that Steph had an active role in are, but not limited to, “Defined Perception”, “Copecetic”, “Spread”, and “Truffle Jam”. Steph has also shared stages with notable artists such as Victor Wooten, Vince Herman, Vinnie Amico and Al Schnier (of “moe.”), Jason Hann (of Sring Cheese Incident), Jaik Willis, Sam Holt, Ike Willis and Ray White (of Frank Zappa's band), Andy Frasco, and Jay Cobb Anderson (of “Fruition”) just to name a few.
Simply put, Steph likes to play.
The band is backed by John Raden on drums, and Terry Travis on bass guitar. John and Terry been performing together for over 30 years and have been best friends since high school.
Around the Eugene, OR, area, you may know John from The Music's Edge Rock Camp, or possibly from his private drum instruction business - He has been teaching students in Lane County for over a decade! John also drums for the best yacht rock experience in the Pacific Northwest, Candy Apple Bleu, and also Hyper Sloth and many others.
Terry is currently holding down the low end, not only with Drive to Space, but also Hyper Sloth and Calico Crows.
Terry is a groove-driven bassist who brings deep-pocket rhythms, melodic instincts, and a little controlled chaos to every set. Influenced by funk, rock, jazz, and the spirit of improvisation, they keep the music moving while leaving plenty of room for the unexpected.
Whether locking in with John on drums, or venturing into uncharted territory, Terry is always chasing the next groove.
Travis Mason copilots the spaceship on guitar, joining the band in a wide-open landscape of groove, melody, and improvisation.
His original music draws from American classic rock and the psychedelic sideburns of the 1970s, while keeping its eyes firmly on the present. The stories and messaging are clear: love your life and make the most of everything.
His soulful riffs burns bright yet subtle, melting over the miasma of sound created by the band. He knows how to lock into a groove, but he’s always ready to take things somewhere unexpected.
Whether Travis is holding things down while taking the reigns, ripping into a solo, or comping to support others, he brings a lot of heart to the stage.
