Mainstream | Press | Eastside Journal

Mainstream stands out with 20 years together
by Patti Payne, Eastside Journal
December 12, 1999

BANDED TOGETHER: Not many bands stay together for two decades. However, popular local band Mainstream will be celebrating its 20th anniversary Tuesday and heading into the Millennium hoping for 20 more.

Co-leaders are Ken Morrison and Don Gaines, both from Cougar Mountain. By day, Morrison, who sings lead and plays lead guitar, is a producer of specials for KOMO television, programs like the recent “Inside Monday Night Football.” Gaines, Mainstream's drummer, is a top exec as treasurer for Puget Sound Energy.

They started the band after playing in rival bands in college. Gaines keeps the books for the band, handles the contracts and does the annual reports. “He actually still has the receipt from 1979 for the original sheet music for 'Feelings,’ which has long been ousted from our repertoire,” laughs Morrison. Mercifully, “Feelings” has been replaced by mammoth requests for Ricky Martin's “Livin' La Vida Loca,” and Santana's “Smooth.”

The other band members are Kenmore's Bruce Wilson, who plays sax, Seattle's Dave Pascal on bass and Edmonds' Andy Roben on piano.

Mainstream has played about 1,000 gigs. Over the years it has been the band of choice for more than 700 wedding receptions. “A few people have actually hired us to play for more than one of their weddings,” quips Morrison.

Mainstream is busy the rest of this month with company office parties, including Microsoft's big bash Friday night. The whole of Meydenbauer Center is rented out for that one. New Year's Eve was booked a year and a half ago. The guys will be playing their tunes at Canterwood Golf Club in Gig Harbor, and no, their wives won't be there to see in the new century.

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