Courtesy Clerks yada...

Formed in Eugene, OR, in 1998, the power trio known as The Courtesy Clerks have been bringing a combination of rock and punk into the Eugene music scene. Originally comprised of Mark Rogers (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Mike Barnhill (Bass, Vocals), and Ron Bullard (Drums, Vocals), Mike B. left the Clerks and the Northwest in late 2003 to pursue personal interests across the country in Florida. Filling the void of their missing bassist, Adam Lockwood stepped up and brought his own kick-assedness to the group, completing the formula.
Described by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2003 as "cocksure, girl-stealin' party rock", The Courtesy Clerks are a high energy rock and roll act. Their sound is something truly their own, mixing the energy and straight-ahead rock of AC/DC, the heavy sounds of Black Sabbath, and the pop sensibility of Cheap Trick to round out their supercharged ensemble playing style.

When not gigging outside of Eugene, The Courtesy Clerks have been heavily involved in the local music scene developing a small but fanatical following. The trio has played every type of local venue from the WOW Hall and the Wild Duck, to clubs like John Henry's and Taylors, to all-age party venues like the Campbell Club and the Alamo. The group has also participated in many benefit shows, raising money for the Navajo, Leukemia, and the Children's Miracle Network. A true party band, The Courtesy Clerks rock until every last person is covered with sweat and left with their ears ringing.

Mark Rogers (lead vocals, lead guitar, guitar, songwriter) has been playing guitar since he was 14, honing his chops under the guide of well known Portland-based guitar wizard Jerry King. Favorite players and influences include Cake, Beck, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, and Tony Iommi. He usually plays a Gibson SG through a 100W Marshall head and two mismatched 4x12 cabinets of unknown origin. Mark's goal is to see how many gigs the Courtesy Clerks can play before he finally breaks down and puts castors on the 4x12s.

Hot bass playin'
Adam Sez: "I’m originally from Hermiston, a small hick town in eastern Oregon. I’ve been around music all my life. My pops plays the guitar and is really into old Country, Honky Tonk and Rock n’ Roll; the good stuff like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Everly Brothers, all the old Sun Records stuff. My older brother played guitar too, and he’s the one that got me into metal in the 80’s (Judas Priest, Maiden, Metallica, etc.), and then punk in the early nineties. My parents were really cool about music. They started me with trombone lessons at age 12, bought me my first bass at a garage sale at 15, and let my high school punk bands practice in the garage. I played in a Tex-Mex group with my dad during high school. I was also a band geek like Mark and Ron. Since I moved to Eugene I’ve been in tons of go-nowhere bands here, some where good, some terrible. The last one I was in was SomeCheapChrist."

Sloppy drummin'
Ron Topofyou (drums, vocals) has been playing drums since he was 8, under the tutlage of known Portland-area session drummers Steve Coogan and Gordon Rencher. Musically Ron is still stuck in 1971 with his main influences being Keith Moon, John Bonham, and Ian Paice. Ron plays a vintage '69 Pink Sparkle Ludwig Kit, sizes 14x26/10x14/16x16/16x18, '98 Black Beauty snare, Paiste 2002 and Signature series cymbals, and a single DW 5000 pedal.