The band

 West of 5 is Kaite’s first time performing with a live band and she’s loving every minute of it. A native of Orange County, CA, she moved to North County San Diego in 2011. Prior to West of 5, she recorded music in her closet under the moniker Leimleit and did lots of karaoke. She considers herself lucky to be performing with the amazing musicians of Wo5 and meeting the audiences that have long followed the band or are just discovering our sound. 

Bruce, a San Diego native, began playing keyboards at the age of 13 on a 500 pound Hammond B3 organ. It is rumored that he still owns the Hammond today and would bring it to gigs if the band would help him lift it on stage (which they won't!). Bruce's multi layered keyboards are integral to West of 5's diverse sound. Prior to joining West of 5, Bruce has played with many popular San Diego bands including The Risk, Who Cares, Indoor Fireworks, and Robyn Banx. Bruce also performs in Bottomline, where his keys can be found on 3 original albums. He's also performed on numeous single recordings and demo tracks. Among his influences are: Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Styx, Asia, ELO, and The Alan Parsons Project.

Jorge (goes by George) is West of 5's guitarist/vocalist. Hailing from Miami, Jorge is one of those quiet guys who let's his musical chops do the talking. He's got a great, clean guitar style with incredible tone. He's also modest about his vocals, which add a lot to the band.

 Michael was born in El Centro, where he began playing drums at the tender age of four. By the age of six, he was gigging with his uncle's band. His mother used to calm his early stage nerves by giving him chewing gum to help work off the excess energy. And energy is something Michael has plenty of! His drumming is amazingly powerful and quick at the same time. Michael has an immense drum set, which almost entirely surrounds him on stage. He has played with many popular San Diego bands such as Big City, Robyn Banx and Planet. He also performs in Bottomline. His drumming can also be found on 3 original albums by Bottomline and Big City. Michael's musical influences include: Dream Theatre (a major fan), Yes, Journey, and Styx . 

 From Albany, NY, Frank bought a bass with his high school graduation money. He asked his guitarist friend "How do you play this?". Later, that friend called him and asked him to join a band saying "We have a gig in 3 weeks". That was all it took and Frank was hooked. After a move to San Diego, was itching for the challenge, joy, and excitement of playing live music again. Frank became a founding member of West of 5. Frank's not flashy, but plays "in the pocket". His musical influences and bass idols include: John Taylor, John Paul Jones, James Jamerson, and Flea. 

 We enjoy playing and interacting with each other and have a lot of fun on stage. Kaite is our shining star, radiating energy and a positive attitude. She'll absorb you with the versatility of her voice. Jorge masters the guitar with tasty licks and spot on guitar tone. Bruce's keys bring great depth and versatility to the sound of the band. He always has two hands on two different keyboards, with the perfect patch applied. People always marvel at Michael's drum set. Then, they hear him play and are even more impressed! The guy has some fast hands! Complimenting Michael's drumming is Frank on Bass. He's usually smiling and captivated by the groove.