Ian Valentine and Bill Birrell met at a jam in the wilds of Marina Del Rey sometime after the turn of the century. When they finally took a break, they found out they grew up ten years and two miles apart. All that separated them was the mountain they both hiked with their families: Rattlesnake Mountain. Eric Baum joined the jams and after swapping instruments the ‘Snakes had the core of their sound. Soon the search was on for a Banjo player west of the 405. In short, they found Scott Hillman on a bicycle. Lovely Lynn Sokolow tajes care of the bottom end and Alexander Martin plays a mighty fine fiddle!