43 & Change started with a couple of friends playing around in a garage and exploded out from there. We are a rapidly rising future “legendary” band rehearsing out of Sandy and playing across the Portland Metro area (and beyond?).
Our members bring a wide diversity of experience, from jazz and grunge to traditional bluegrass, punk, worship, inter-mountain country western, classical, and “oldies” rock – and our sound (at times) certainly reflects those roots. Our songbook includes covers of traditional bluegrass and newgrass standards (and some interesting b-sides), classic rock, blues, old-time, and a growing double handful of original compositions.
Current Personnel
Benny Westberry
.
Guitar
Guitar player and heart of the band, Benny Westberry is an aspiring bluegrass musician living in Sandy, Oregon. A truck driver by trade, when he isn’t playing bluegrass music, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Chris Wilson
“Mr. Wilson”
Bass
Mr. Wilson, forming the foundation of the band’s sound literally from the bass, describes himself as “an odd note plucked from the northwest,” and says that “I feel the bass & sign from the heart.”
James White
“The Autistic Mandolinist”
Mandolin
James “The Autistic Mandolinist” White is a relative newcomer to bluegrass AND to mandolin, coming to the genre from jazz, where they have played the piano for over 3 decades. When not rounding out the band’s rhythm section, James works as a data scientist and spends long hours with his dog Mario.
Patrick McLaughlin
.
Banjo
Patrick McLaughlin makes his living as a registered nurse in a local cancer clinic, When not working, he enjoys playing the 5-string banjo of which he has been performing in the Gresham/Sandy/Welches area for nearly 25 years. He also dabbles in playing the ukulele, dulcimer, and trumpet. In addition he has a fondness for otters and old lunch–boxes for which he has amassed a large collection that adorn the walls of his office along with an eclectic collection of antique sheet music and vintage instruments all in various stages of disrepair.
Past Personnel
Jeff Stave
.
Dobro, Fingerstyle Guitar
Jeff Stave, a retired elementary school music teacher, picked up the resonater guitar to fill a need in the band. He is, however, a multi-instrumentalist, having taught using several instruments, mostly acoustic guitar. The band is grateful for Jeff’s contributions over the year and a half he played with us and wish him well in his future endeavors..