THE BAND:
Drive To Space is a keyboard-driven band that combines prog rock, funk, 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 Terry stumbled across Steph's ad, he chatted with long time friend John Raden, and the two decided to reply to the ad. The three of them got together, and almost instantly - the jokes were flying, the jams were flowing, and they knew 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, who 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's own “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 SCI), 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, and has spent the last 26 years doing so!
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 Eugene acts Candy Apple Bleu, Hyper Sloth, and Connecterine. Terry is currently holding down the low end, not only with Drive to Space, but also Hyper Sloth.
Most recently, Travis Mason (of Ripple Vision) has joined the crew on guitar. His original music draws from American classic rock and psychedelic side burns of the 1970s. The stories and messaging is clear, love your life and make the most of everything. His soulful riff-ages burn bright yet subtle, melting on top the miasma of sound created by the band.
These musicians come together to create and vibrate with an intent to feel good and shake.
