This Is The Place To Keep An Eye Out For Updates, Shows, & Our Live & Studio Albums!
On The Spot (OTS) Trio: a fiercely funky threesome of musicians from Santa Cruz, Calif., determined to take decisive action in espousing the doctrine of soul jazz dance parties across the land.
OTS Trio is:
Danny Mayer: Guitar, Jeff Wilson: Drums, & Kristopher Yunker: Hammond Organ, Rhodes, Clavinet, and Bass Keys.
The inspiration is rooted in 1970s soul jazz and funk. The guys in OTS Trio mold that inspiration into a millennial soup of rock, jazz, afro beat, and improvisational groove. Based out of the fertile musical soil that is Santa Cruz County, California, OTS Trio give the NorCal treatment to the old-school tradition of the Hammond organ trio. If you’re looking for the scene of inspired musical action, OTS Trio stands as a great place to start.
Alan Evans — drummer extraordinaire of Soulive — produced and appeared on OTS Trio’s debut album, “Straight Out the Garden.” During those sessions, recorded at Evans’ East Coast recording studio, the band forged a creative bond with the Soulive skinman that now results in the band’s second album, “SHAG.”
Recorded in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains, OTS Trio and Alan Evans bind their musical minds and talents together to create “SHAG;” a fresh combination of funk, soul, jazz, & afro beat, tinged with a hint of rock and plenty of inspiration from the redwoods which surround the property where the album was recorded.
“SHAG” hits shelves and digital stores in March 2012. As a bonus, expect a 7” vinyl-only release of extra tracks from OTS Trio’s “SHAG” sessions on Colemine Records, as well as an EP titled “Full Mono Breakdown,” containing mono remixes of tracks from the album.
OTS Trio have entertained funk-hungry audiences at venues in Santa Cruz County, up and down California, and well beyond. They have secured monthly residencies at such renowned venues as the Boom Boom Room in San Francisco and the Crepe Place in Santa Cruz, Calif. They’re a nationally touring band & have appeared at venues including the Catskill Chill Music Festival in Hancock, New York, as well as clubs throughout The Pacific North West, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, & Vermont! The band have appeared and performed with Alan Evans (Soulive), DJ Logic, Monophonics, Eric Krasno (Soulive), Stanton Moore (Galactic), Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio Band), Joey Porter (The Motet, Juno What), Ray Paczowski (Trey Anastasio Band), Nigel Hall, (Soulive, Warren Haynes Band), Sam Kininger (Soulive), and Big Sam Williams (Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation), Wil Blades, 7 Come 11, Teddy Presberg Quartet, Boca do Rio, Juno What, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Orgone, Particle, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk and many more….
-By Graham Haworth
Keep An Eye Out For The Trio On Tour & Come Check Us Out!
Peace!
On The Spot Will be playing the Catskill Chill again this year on Saturday, September 8th!! Danny will also be playing with AE3 for this festival. This will be an event not be missed if you are able!! Check the website here for more details.


On The Spot Trio is pleased to announce (if you haven’t heard about it yet) that Danny is now the Guitarist of the Alan Evan’s Trio also known as AE3. Be sure to check them out here to read all about them and listen to their new album Drop Hop. AE3 will be on their Drop and Run Tour beginning August 5, 2012, with over 25 stops across the country including Los Angeles, Santa Cruz, San Francisco, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and more; ending in Florida for Bear Creek Festival


On The Spot Trio is pleased to announce that we will be playing the inaugural Hangtown Halloween Ball in Placerville California this year. This fresh annual festival, hosted by Pet Projekt Presents, features Railroad Earth who will be playing a show every evening. Come on out and enjoy the whole weekend. There is camping available, along with RV hookups. Hope to see y’all there! www.hangtownhalloween.com

In 2009, On The Spot Trio played over 45 shows in the Pacific North West. 16 of those, consisting of a successful tour of 15 consecutive nights. The trio has had the honor of sharing the stage with major influences and friends such as: Eric Krasno (Soulive), Stanton Moore (Galactic), Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio Band), Ray Paczowski (Trey Anastasio Band), Nigel Hall, (Soulive), Sam Kininger (Soulive), & Big Sam Williams (Dirty Dozen Brass Band). On The Spot Trio spent December 2009 in the northeast using two very successful shows in Montpelier & Burlington, VT to fuel a ten day campout at Playonbrother Studios in Hatfield, MA. With Alan Evans of Soulive at the helm, ‘Straight Out The Garden’ came to reality filled with warmth and groove. Evans recorded, mixed, co-produced, & added percussion, rhythm guitar & vibe on ‘Straight Out The Garden’, which is set to be released on the trio’s own terms in February 2010.
On The Spot Trio aims to fill 2010 with heavy touring in support of ‘Straight Out The Garden’. The Trio is available for headlining shows, support runs and festivals from Colorado to the West Coast starting March 2010!
“It’s very rare that an outsider gets to experience the recording of a band’s first album. I feel very lucky to have been involved with Danny, Kris, and Emery. At the beginning of the session we were basically strangers but by the end of the session, we were like family. That only happens when the music is right and the vibe is right. I know everyone who hears their album and sees these cats live will feel the same way.”
-Alan Evans (Soulive)
“On The Spot Trio caught my ear right away, from the first note. Groovin, melodic, B3, guitar, and drums. Not a pretentious lick in them. Great guys too.
I was in San Fran and they were playing. I made sure I went to check them out. They had me sit in which was an added bonus.”
-Russ Lawton (Trey Anastasio Band)
“On The Spot Trio Lit Up The North Star”
-Craig @ North Star Craft Brewery (Shasta Lake, CA)
“Santa Cruz’s Favorite Organ Trio!”
-Moshe @ Moe’s Alley (Santa Cruz, CA)
“Rising Stars On The Local Music Scene”
-Graham Haworth (Santa Cruz Sentinel)