FAULTLINE: Artist Profiles

Erik Thomas - mandolin and vocal

A California native and Livermore resident for the past twelve years, Erik is one of Northern California's top mandolin players and vocalists, and is well known for his work with various bluegrass bands including Due West, Feather River, Brushy Peak, and the Erik Thomas Band. Erik appears on Due West's self-titled album that includes multiple Grammy winner Rob Ickes, and Grammy nominee Jim Nunally. More...

Gary Pilcher - guitar and vocal

Gary Pilcher is one of the finest bluegrass singers on the west coast. He does much of the lead singing for FaultLine, and his tenor harmonies are truly memorable. Gary lives in Mariposa where he hopes to retire from the California Highway Patrol next year after 30 years of service.

Dennis Vied - acoustic bass

Dennis Vied is a retired airline pilot and a 35-year resident of Livermore. He's a founding member of the Brushy Peak Bluegrass Band, and has performed with Wild Rye, Liver City Ramblers, and as a guest performer with Potomac Valley Boys of Leesburg VA. He has been married to Karen for 32 years, has a daughter, Jennifer, a son-in-law, Brian, and a new granddaughter, Megan Elizabeth.

Karen Orozco - fiddle and vocal

Karen Orozco's excellent fiddle and vocal work bring an exciting dimension to FaultLine. Born in Boston, Karen started performing bluegrass at age fifteen. As a San Francisco bay area resident since 1993, she joined the hard-working band Blackthorn. She has also performed with the Opinions and Brushy Peak. When she's not fiddling or singing, she works as a nurse and keeps busy with her family.

Larry Chung - guitar and vocal

Multi-instrumentalist and singer Larry Chung hails from rural Illinois and has been playing bluegrass for the past five years. He currently leads two groups, the Bump City Bluegrass Jam in Oakland and the Cole Valley Ramblers in San Francisco, and performs with several other acoustic music groups throughout Northern California. He lives in San Francisco where he serves as an arts administrator and program director for youth-oriented classical music programs.

Brian Anderson - 5 string banjo

Brian Anderson played banjo with a full-time gospel bluegrass band "Gloryland" in 1979. During his one year stint with the band they toured the Western United States playing concerts in churches and festivals, and cut an album. Since that time Brian has devoted his time to Christian ministry, playing banjo for his own enjoyment. He has been married to his wife Debbie for 20 years and has two teenage sons. He lives in Sonora, California where he is a house church planter.