Peter Dammann
Chicago-born Peter Dammann is probably the world's most seriously under-rated blues guitarist. He backed Paul deLay for nearly 20 years, recording several chart-topping CDs with the northwest harmonica legend. Although the blues is his first love, Pete is an all-around musician, and he can be found playing Brazilian music as well as classical guitar, from time to time. Peter also serves as talent coordinator for the Waterfront Blues Festival on behalf of the Oregon Food Bank.
Steve Kerin
Born and raised in the Heart of Cajun Country, Steve discovered piano at the age of four, and studied classical music in college. But he soon found himself playing a different kind of music regularly with such Louisiana greats as "Big Daddy" Harry Hypolite, former guitarist for Zydeco great Clifton Chenier, as well as Grammy nominated songwriter David Egan. In 2005 Steve played at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival alongside such artists as Randy Newman and The Black Crowes. A true student of the New Orleans style, Steve's playing is complex and dense, and his voice has the gruff New Orleans sound. From Jazz to Rock to Blues to Classical, he goes wherever his talent and soul take him.
Jason Asby
From North Louisiana and then New Orleans, Jason has made a career out of being a sideman in all styles of music. Well-versed in New Orleans music of all kinds, and Cajun & Zydeco, Jason has played with many big names such as Bo Dollis and the Wild Magnolias, James Andrews, and members from the Irma Thomas band, just to name a few. He has opened for many big acts such as Morris Day and The Time, New Orleans funk legends Galactic, and Meters founding member Leo Nocentelli. This PNW transplant is looking to become a fixture in the Portland scene — and he’s off to a great start!.
Lefty Head
Lefty, a native of Portland, started playing old time American music on the mandolin in the year 1977. He went on to find traditional French and Cape Breton music with the band Cour des Miracles. He later plied his carpenter skills on the fiddle with the legendary Willamette Valley band Blackfish. He now works his downtuned fiddle and the frattoir with TooLoose.
Rick Obbink
Influenced early on by his accordion playing German grandmother, Rick played the piano accordion at the family house parties. Adept at boogie-woogie piano and the guitar, he has worked the single row Cajun accordion for several years. He has been known to get delusional when singing and playing the tunes of Lefty Frizell, Hank Williams, Merle Haggard and others.
Robert Lee
Robert Lee's soulful singing and true grit fiddle playing combine the subtlety of a seasoned performer with the polish and irreverence of a big city kid. He grew up listening to Louisiana-inspired rock'n'roll in New York City in the 50's and 60's. Leaving the east coast for San Francisco in his twenties, he worked his way into the music business first through folk guitar and then bluegrass banjo. At the ripe age of 37, he found the fiddle and "that was all she wrote". Robert's style and repertoire are strongly influenced by the rhythm and melody greats of the Mississippi Delta and French Louisiana – the pianists, fiddlers, drummers, and songwriters who give the music its unique sound. Visit
Robert's web page.
Gary Keaney
Gary Keeney is a university-trained drummer who puts feel before flash. At home on any drum riser, Gary has long lurked the I-5 corridor with original soul, blues, roots and jam bands.
Jennifer Smieja
What little is known about the latest member of Too Loose comes mostly by way of rumor and innuendo. Some suggest she's the direct result of an unholy union between a Polish debutante and an enterprising blacksmith – while others claim she is just a sweet girl from Madison, Wisconsin. Whatever you choose to believe, she certainly brings a welcome dose of femininity to this otherwise manly band. Visit
Jennifer's webpage.
Tim Shaughnessy
As we, the Too Loose Cajun/Zydeco band, move forward into the future we do so in a bittersweet missing man formation. Words can’t describe the loss of our beloved conjurer of joy & rhythm, our bass player Tim Shaughnessy. So we will just say — we know he will be counting us in, from beyond, and keeping us on a smooth & steady path as we gratefully and excitedly continue to take the stage in his honor.
“ Gimme two hits! “ .