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Zach Collins aka KJ Rias

Born in Alaska and raised in Hawaii, KJ (KitJockey) Rias always wanted to be a drummer. He got his first drum set at the age of 14, after his mother noticed his habit of banging on any surface within reach. Shortly after, he began playing in the local punk scene with friends and various musicians. Without the means for traditional drum lessons, Rias developed his drumming skills in the jam room; Playing with as many musicians as possible. This process of learning by sound and feel is what he attributes his unique playing/teaching style to.

By 19 years old Rias had played and recorded for over 15 bands, and performed hundreds of live concerts around the Hawaii music scene. Through his various music projects he was able to share the stage with such bands as Dashboard Confessional, T.S.O.L., Good Riddance, The Dwarves, Hatebreed, D.I., and many other artists.

In early 2002, Rias moved to California to pursue drumming in a larger setting. After settling in Los Angeles in 2004 he began recording with local groups and performing live as often as possible. Over the years Rias' talents caught the ear of several popular LA based musical groups, and in 2009 he was asked to go on his first tour Europe with the LA/London based rock group, Good Knives.

In 2010 Rias decided to break off on his own. He started teaching drums and making drum cover videos for his now popular Youtube channel (youtube.com/kjrias). This eventually lead to the creation of KJRIAS.COM, an online drumming community where he could place all of his drumming knowledge, tricks, and techniques to help fellow drummers reach their next level of drumming. If you have any lesson requests for KJ Rias, he can be reached via kjrias.com or at facebook.com/kjrias.

"Keep Playing."

Robert Watt

Robert Watt was born into a musical family in San Diego, California in 1977. Throughout his childhood he traveled with his father's band where he discovered a love for drums and music. By 1994, Robert was part of the thriving hardcore punk scene that was happening in San Diego. Years later he would settle in to the Coachella Valley where he still enjoys being part of the desert music scene as a professional drummer.

Katie Cathcart aka KT Cathcart

KT Cathcart is a female drum sensation hailing from the desert rock scene of Southern California. She is a highly accomplished drummer who has earned many accolades throughout her career, which began at the age of four. By the age of 17 she had co-written and recorded 40 original songs across three independently produced albums with the band, JeKKeL. Her first album, "Loser Geek" was written and recorded when she was only 13 years old.

During this leg of her career JeKKeL played all over Southern California and became an active member of the local music scene. KT spent her 14th birthday opening up for headliner, the Atomic Punks at the world famous Whisky-a-Go-Go. The following year they opened up for headliner Tyler Hilton at the old Knitting Factory in Hollywood. JeKKeL was voted the Desert's Best Punk Band in the 2002 and 2003 Cannibal Awards and won "Best Pop Punk Band" at the Coachella Valley Music Awards in 2005. During 2005-2006, JeKKeL was a finalist in the 99.5 Battle of the Bands and a semi-finalist in the Desert Band A&R Showcase. The band wrote and produced their final recordings as a three-piece (a 5-track self-entitled EP) in 2005.

KT studied music in school as well. Her elective class in middle school was always band and she earned the "Director's Award" every year. In grade 8, KT tried out for her high school drum line and earned a spot becoming bass five out of six. She marched competitively with La Quinta High School and as a sophomore she became the first girl in the school's history to make it to snare drum. During her involvement, the LQHS winter drum line competed throughout Southern California on the ADLA drum circuit growing into a World Class division drum line.

In addition, KT competed in the Desert Cities' Junior Miss program (now called the Distinguished Young Women program) her junior year. As a finalist and scholarship recipient, KT advanced to the state competition. In the summer of 2004 she became a semi-finalist and won the Spirit Award of the California Junior Miss program. Most significantly, KT won a Talent Award for a solo performance she gave on her drum set.

KT then attended the University of Southern California where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Music Industry. She graduated magna cum laude in 2010. Her graduation was delayed a year due to an automobile accident in the fall of 2008. She suffered severe nerve and tendon injuries to her left hand from having the car window break into it. She spent the follow two years undergoing two different surgeries and intense occupational therapy to rehabilitate what she could.

Since graduation, KT has built a home studio, earned her Masters in Education, formed a new band named Bridger, and has recorded a new 4-track EP. KT has been a featured interview in Tom Tom Magazine known as, "the only magazine in the world dedicated to female drummers." In addition she was recently selected as one of the Most Interesting & Influential Women of the Coachella Valley, having a featured article in "The Women's Issue" of the CV Weekly. Her new band Bridger has also been featured in the CV Weekly as a Local Music Spotlight, as well as a Publisher's Pick for Tachevah (A Palm Springs Block Party). Bridger is currently recording new material and actively playing shows.

Links:

Featured interview in Tom Tom Magazine,
"Katie Cathcart: An Inspirational Story"

Local Music Spotlight in the CV Weekly (Coachella Valley Weekly)
"Bridging the Gap"

CV Weekly Publisher's Pick for Tachevah:
A Palm Springs Block Party (2014).

Facebook:
facebook.com/thebandBRIDGER

Twitter:
twitter.com/thebandBRIDGER

Website:
thebandBRIDGER.com