Stick Men

Prog-Rock Powerhouse Stick Men Return to San Diego with Chapman Stick Virtuoso Tom Griesgraber

Nearly two years since their last San Diego performance, Stick Men — the progressive rock supergroup featuring Tony Levin, Pat Mastelotto, and Markus Reuter — return to the Bornemann Theater in San Marcos. This marks a special homecoming of sorts, as Mastelotto and Reuter were the first national touring act to perform at the Bornemann’s Grand Opening in May 2024, along with Trey Gunn as part of their band TU-NER.

Formed in 2007, Stick Men is known for their adventurous sound built around electric touch-style instruments like the Chapman Stick and the self-designed U8 guitar. Levin (Peter Gabriel, King Crimson) anchors the trio with his mastery of the Chapman Stick, an instrument that simultaneously covers both bass and melody. Mastelotto brings an innovative approach to percussion, blending acoustic drums with an electronic setup, while Reuter adds layers of depth and texture with his custom instrument. Combined, the band’s members have contributed to records selling over 100 million copies worldwide.

Opening the night is renowned Chapman Stick player Tom Griesgraber, whose genre-blending performances often include guitar Theremin and collaborations with artists from the California Guitar Trio to RYMO featuring Slightly Stoopid’s drummer Ryan Moran. With over ten releases and a resume that includes touring with Jerry Marotta and opening for legends like Steve Hackett and Al DiMeola, Griesgraber’s set promises a diverse and compelling lead-in to the night’s headliners.

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