Musical Background

Music Resume

Jay Kirschenmann

1970s – Guitarist in high school jazz band, playing Aberdeen, S.D., concerts and touring regional cities including Sioux Falls. Also stood in as lead-guitar player at dance band jobs with the Del Woodard Band.

Guitarist with Driftwood while attending Northern State University, playing dances and events nearly every weekend throughout South Dakota, North Dakota and Minnesota.

1980s – Moved to Florida, formed duo Pete & Jay and played many Anna Maria Island, Bradenton and Sarasota clubs for several years. Added a jazz piano player later in the decade and formed Eleventh Hour, playing more upscale clubs performing pop and jazz standards. Also stood in many times with the Sherri Smith (country) Band and Smucker's Blugrass Jam band.

Gave beginner guitar lessons to high-school-age students. Several went on to win school talent contests and form bands.

1990s – Joined Heartland Bluegrass Band in Aberdeen, S.D., for three years, playing mainly guitar and some mandolin and fiddle. Quit to join Stardust, a four-piece country rock band based in Bristol, S.D., for several years playing guitar, then helped form Full Coverage based in Aberdeen, playing rock and Top 40 and some country. Played mandolin, fiddle and piano during several songs in each set.

2000s – Continued with Full Coverage, playing South Dakota towns through the early 2000s. Moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., in October 2002, writing for the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. Stood in with many musicians since then, and experimented recording original songs with home equipment, including “Ten Below,” “Fire in the Heart” and “Blind Side.”

Formed Medicine Creek in 2009 – played events and art openings and performed during the final Saturday at the Sioux Empire Fair. Also play during area “open mic” nights. Host the weekly online music show "Link Live," 1 p.m. Fridays at www.argusleader.com/linklive, and write music stories for the Argus Leader.

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JIM & JAY

What started as a trio for the local fair, then a four-piece band for a JazzFest performance and club dates in Sioux Falls, S.D., Jim Dews (left) and I started breaking out into a duo, too.

Banner (above) recently on Latitude 44, Sioux Falls, SD 

The four-piece band

The four-piece Kickin' Analog band, below, is me and four other musicians. Our music broadened our earlier three-piece sound to including more blues, rock, jazz and some Western swing oldies. Hear some audio samples on the site. We played Club David in Sioux Falls in March 2010, the Gage Brothers company party in April and are booked to play the Soiux Falls JazzFest on July 15, 2010.

Kickin' Analog, above, is (from left) Laura Pulscher, Jim Dews, Becka Cavin and Jay Kirschenmann

Early three-piece configuration as "Medicine Creek" for the Sioux Empire Fair.

MEDICINE CREEK

Guitarist Jay Kirschenmann (left), playing the Sioux Empire Fair, August 2009, with Laura Pulscher and Jim Dews as "Medicine Creek."  Below: CD case artwork. Hear some of our music online.