The Alcatraz Islanders

Peter Funk · Post by **Peter Funk** » 26 Nov 2015 5:14 am

Just found this cool group on the internet. I think, they're great, check out their videos:

http://www.alcatrazislanders.com/

Peter Lindelauf · Post by **Peter Lindelauf** » 26 Nov 2015 12:31 pm

Wow. Great stuff. Thanks for the link.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 26 Nov 2015 3:54 pm

Mikiya Matsuda on steel, Lee Jeffriess on bass. I love these guys like fam.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 26 Nov 2015 5:13 pm

Great stuff. That's the real deal.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 27 Nov 2015 5:51 am

Great instrumentation, fabulous shirts, and they're having a lot of fun--and look at those slants Matsuda is making.
Beautiful music.

Rick Bernauer · Post by **Rick Bernauer** » 27 Nov 2015 7:43 am

Thanks for the link - I didn't know about the Alcatraz Islanders. Over the last few months I've been watching Mikiya Matsuda's YouTube videos repeatedly for inspiration - or at least to remind myself of how far I have to go to get to that level.

Check out "On The Sunny Side of the Street"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qeMQuljkH80

He also has a nice "Monk's Mood" video.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 27 Nov 2015 8:27 am

Another vote here! They're awesome. And kudos to the great Steel Player Lee Jeffries for backing up another steel player. Love this sound.

Mikiya Matsuda · Post by **Mikiya Matsuda** » 28 Nov 2015 11:26 am

Thanks for the kind words, fellas.

Abe, Iâ€™ve been learning upright bass this past year. Once I get good enough, Iâ€™m hoping Lee will agree to switch instruments!

Russ Blake · Post by **Russ Blake** » 28 Nov 2015 11:46 am

Nicely done boys! How about bringing it up to Portland?

Paul Honeycutt · Post by **Paul Honeycutt** » 28 Nov 2015 1:19 pm

Someone posted about them on Facebook recently. I really like what they're doing musically. I aspire to get good enough to be in a band like that.

Andy Volk · Post by **Andy Volk** » 28 Nov 2015 1:39 pm

Great stuff, guys!

Jim Pitman · Post by **Jim Pitman** » 28 Nov 2015 1:39 pm

Aw love it. Sounds like a 6th tuning on the rear neck and a major tuning with 1/3/5 on top on the front neck.
Love the irony of the band name too. Alcatraz isn't your typical resort island that you might hear this music at.

Abe Levy · Post by **Abe Levy** » 28 Nov 2015 5:10 pm

Haha! I hope you don't switch! Love your playing. How about twin steels like in the west coast ramblers? That sound is awesome.

David Matzenik · Post by **David Matzenik** » 29 Nov 2015 12:36 pm

I loved the videos too. Great tone and balance. I think the tasteful and restrained drumming deserves praise also.

Andrea Tazzini · Post by **Andrea Tazzini** » 30 Nov 2015 8:10 am

great band! beautiful sound,
thanks for posting

Nathan Laudenbach · Post by **Nathan Laudenbach** » 2 Dec 2015 6:50 pm

That is soooooo cool. Fantastic steel guitar. Man, that's what good music is all about. Very inspirational.

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 20 May 2017 8:33 pm

Just found this...worth bringing up again in case others had missed it...great music !!

Larry Lenhart · Post by **Larry Lenhart** » 6 Jul 2017 4:38 am

I cant get enough of this group...makes me want to go to San Fran to check them out in person ! To me, that is the perfect set up...wonderful musicians, very tasteful ! Seriously, it brings tears to this silly old mans eyes...love it !

John Morton · Post by **John Morton** » 14 Jul 2017 7:21 am

I'll add my compliments to Makiya Matsuda and his wonderful group. The classic guitar-less rhythm section is clean and powerful. Hapa haole done right!