Band Bios
Consisting of four musicians with varied backgrounds but sharing a common interest, Full Kilt can best be described as a Celtic rock band. The project came to life in April 2006 and has been performing since November of 2006 and consists of: Mike Zerbee (vocals, banjo, guitar), Jake Yarnish ( percussion), Mandy Passmore-Ott (fiddle and whistles), and Chris Myers (bass guitar, vocals, bodhran). For anyone out there not familiar with Celtic rock, you need only to hear it a couple times to be hooked on its feel good vibe.
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Mike Zerbee started playing rock music more years ago than he wants to admit to in this biography. Sufficient to say “a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.” Any way, after a long career of rocking in bands like “Excalibur” Mike came to the realization that unless you are Mick Jagger or Steve Tyler you cannot play rock and roll into your 40’s and get away with it. So it was then he decided to change direction. Attending a three day Celtic festival, he had his first taste of the music and realized it was where he wanted to go musically. Finding musicians that felt the same way was not easy. After some hard negotiations he talked one of his long time rocker friends, Brian Anderson, into trying the music out. Since there were just the two of them, a full band was out of the question, but perhaps an act based on Irish folk tunes and laced with Irish humor could work. They decided to use both of their first names and came up with “The Michael O’Brian Band", a highly successful act that Mike is still a part of. Mike continued to want the full band sound and to that end looked for years to find other musicians to fill out the “Full Kilt” project. It was St. Patrick’s Day 2006 when the pieces fell together to put his plan into action and the band is currently on a surge towards finding its own success in the area.
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Chris Myers grew up around music all of his life with his dad and uncles playing good old time rock and roll. He got his first drum kit at age 8 and by age 12 would jam with a family band called the "Rattlers". By 14 he was filling in for the regular drummer for the band, and one year later found himself a permanent member. Chris’ Dad, Dan Myers I, Uncles Gene & Matt, and big bro Dan II were, and remain his biggest influences. It was in the mid 90's that Dan II moved home, and he and Chris formed the first of many garage bands (some more successful than others) leading to the formation of "Beyond Reason", one of central PA's best party bands, playing straight up the gut Rock-n-roll. Recently, Chris has evolved a side project with his brother, Dan II, and drummer Mike Crocetti to form "Strings Radio". In Feb. of 06, Chris and Mike Zerbee were working together in their daytime jobs, discussing their musical projects." Beyond Reason" seemed on the verge of disbanding; not wanting to quit playing music that runs thick in his blood, Chris let Mike know he had an interest in Celtic music and wanted to be part of the Full Kilt project. Chris had experimented with some Irish Folk playing the bodrhan with his dad, uncles, and Theresa Wilson. Mike explained his vision for “Full Kilt” and that he had found a fiddler and had a drummer but, knowing of Chris' family background, asked if he could play bass guitar. Chris’ reply was “not yet”. He has learned it fast and also continues to add percussion support with that Irish drum!
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Jake Yarnish hails from Lilly, PA. Born into a family with rich musical roots…his grandfather, Mario Crocetti, has played accordion for over 80 years….and his uncle, Mike Crocetti, has been playing drums for over 45 years. Jake began his percussion interests around the age of 10 years old. After he received his first drum set, he started taking lessons, which he did for the next 6 years. He studied under Mr. Tom Petro of Altoona, who was mentored by the one and only Buddy Rich. He would take every opportunity to find an open mic night where he could go and jam with local bands. Jake was very much involved with the Penn Cambria music program in high school. He performed in the concert, marching, jazz, and Cambria County bands. He was also selected to play in concert with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown symphonic band and the River City Brass Band of Pittsburgh, while in high school. His grandfather Mario has a polka band where Jake, his uncle, and cousin take turns playing drums with him, which is where he really picked up his interest for cultural music. Jake is excited to now be a part of the Full Kilt experience!
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Mandy Passmore-Ott has been playing the violin/fiddle for 35 years. Mandy began playing the violin at the age of 8 after hearing a presentation in her fourth-grade class, fondly remembering how the “wood and song spoke to that deepest part of me, and I knew that this was the instrument I wanted to play.” She continued to study classical violin in local school programs and orchestras as well as with a private instructor during junior/senior high. She went on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Orchestra in her senior year, and then played in the Ivyside String Quartet at Penn State Altoona. Although her training is based in classical roots, she always felt the Scot Irish blood in her calling and spent many evenings locked in her room dabbling with the music. During college, Mandy began to fulfill her musical passion for Irish music and started her conversion to the fiddle (she humorously refers to herself as a "fiddleist" as she works on the transition). Currently, aside from fiddling, Mandy holds an MFA in Poetry from Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches English at Penn State University, where she has recently also joined forces with the PSU Irish Society to promote a new dance troupe, Rince na Leon. Joining Full Kilt was a long-awaited wish to play with other like-minded musicians. She met Mike Zerbee around St. Paddy’s Day by cunningly “slipping” his wife, Molly, a business card. Later she met Chris Myers and Pat Boland at a local pub, and all four members quickly began planning the project of 'Full Kilt". Fans of the band have commented upon and observed that all four members have chemistry, which comes across to the audience: “This group has fun up there.”
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Mike Zerbee started playing rock music more years ago than he wants to admit to in this biography. Sufficient to say “a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.” Any way, after a long career of rocking in bands like “Excalibur” Mike came to the realization that unless you are Mick Jagger or Steve Tyler you cannot play rock and roll into your 40’s and get away with it. So it was then he decided to change direction. Attending a three day Celtic festival, he had his first taste of the music and realized it was where he wanted to go musically. Finding musicians that felt the same way was not easy. After some hard negotiations he talked one of his long time rocker friends, Brian Anderson, into trying the music out. Since there were just the two of them, a full band was out of the question, but perhaps an act based on Irish folk tunes and laced with Irish humor could work. They decided to use both of their first names and came up with “The Michael O’Brian Band", a highly successful act that Mike is still a part of. Mike continued to want the full band sound and to that end looked for years to find other musicians to fill out the “Full Kilt” project. It was St. Patrick’s Day 2006 when the pieces fell together to put his plan into action and the band is currently on a surge towards finding its own success in the area.
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Chris Myers grew up around music all of his life with his dad and uncles playing good old time rock and roll. He got his first drum kit at age 8 and by age 12 would jam with a family band called the "Rattlers". By 14 he was filling in for the regular drummer for the band, and one year later found himself a permanent member. Chris’ Dad, Dan Myers I, Uncles Gene & Matt, and big bro Dan II were, and remain his biggest influences. It was in the mid 90's that Dan II moved home, and he and Chris formed the first of many garage bands (some more successful than others) leading to the formation of "Beyond Reason", one of central PA's best party bands, playing straight up the gut Rock-n-roll. Recently, Chris has evolved a side project with his brother, Dan II, and drummer Mike Crocetti to form "Strings Radio". In Feb. of 06, Chris and Mike Zerbee were working together in their daytime jobs, discussing their musical projects." Beyond Reason" seemed on the verge of disbanding; not wanting to quit playing music that runs thick in his blood, Chris let Mike know he had an interest in Celtic music and wanted to be part of the Full Kilt project. Chris had experimented with some Irish Folk playing the bodrhan with his dad, uncles, and Theresa Wilson. Mike explained his vision for “Full Kilt” and that he had found a fiddler and had a drummer but, knowing of Chris' family background, asked if he could play bass guitar. Chris’ reply was “not yet”. He has learned it fast and also continues to add percussion support with that Irish drum!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Jake Yarnish hails from Lilly, PA. Born into a family with rich musical roots…his grandfather, Mario Crocetti, has played accordion for over 80 years….and his uncle, Mike Crocetti, has been playing drums for over 45 years. Jake began his percussion interests around the age of 10 years old. After he received his first drum set, he started taking lessons, which he did for the next 6 years. He studied under Mr. Tom Petro of Altoona, who was mentored by the one and only Buddy Rich. He would take every opportunity to find an open mic night where he could go and jam with local bands. Jake was very much involved with the Penn Cambria music program in high school. He performed in the concert, marching, jazz, and Cambria County bands. He was also selected to play in concert with the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown symphonic band and the River City Brass Band of Pittsburgh, while in high school. His grandfather Mario has a polka band where Jake, his uncle, and cousin take turns playing drums with him, which is where he really picked up his interest for cultural music. Jake is excited to now be a part of the Full Kilt experience!
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
Mandy Passmore-Ott has been playing the violin/fiddle for 35 years. Mandy began playing the violin at the age of 8 after hearing a presentation in her fourth-grade class, fondly remembering how the “wood and song spoke to that deepest part of me, and I knew that this was the instrument I wanted to play.” She continued to study classical violin in local school programs and orchestras as well as with a private instructor during junior/senior high. She went on to compete in the Pennsylvania State Orchestra in her senior year, and then played in the Ivyside String Quartet at Penn State Altoona. Although her training is based in classical roots, she always felt the Scot Irish blood in her calling and spent many evenings locked in her room dabbling with the music. During college, Mandy began to fulfill her musical passion for Irish music and started her conversion to the fiddle (she humorously refers to herself as a "fiddleist" as she works on the transition). Currently, aside from fiddling, Mandy holds an MFA in Poetry from Vermont College of Fine Arts and teaches English at Penn State University, where she has recently also joined forces with the PSU Irish Society to promote a new dance troupe, Rince na Leon. Joining Full Kilt was a long-awaited wish to play with other like-minded musicians. She met Mike Zerbee around St. Paddy’s Day by cunningly “slipping” his wife, Molly, a business card. Later she met Chris Myers and Pat Boland at a local pub, and all four members quickly began planning the project of 'Full Kilt". Fans of the band have commented upon and observed that all four members have chemistry, which comes across to the audience: “This group has fun up there.”