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This website copyright The 
Pocket Rockets, 2002. 

Questions?  Concerns? 
Hernias?  Email the band @ 
pocket_rockets@hotmail.com
(beauty, eh?)

The Legend of the Pocket Rockets 

   There have been many stories told about the origin of the Pocket Rockets,  some holding more credibility than others. 

   It was widely believed, in some circles, that the Pocket Rockets were three members of a minor league hockey team who    missed their team bus back to Moose Jaw, and settled in Nanaimo with nothing to do but take in the live jazz and funk in the inner city.  Some say the boys came to the west coast after working professionally in the donut business in Toronto, operating a string of Tim Horton's franchises between them.  Yet another story paints them as  former women, brought together by a transsexual support group and a passion for the baritone saxophone and soft underwear. However, here, for the first time in print with a really gaudy yellow font, is the official history of the Pocket Rockets. 

    September, 1996;  the Malaspina University - College fall semester is in full swing, and the jazz department's big band 
 featured three baritone saxophonists.  This was the second year Mike had worked with Tom in the band, while Matthew was in his rookie season.  The three had a natural friendship, buoyed by a similar interest in music, hockey, humor and beer.  All three 
 proved to be capable soloists and always tried to out-do each other with different quotes in their runs on the blues. 

    It is generally agreed that Tom came up with the idea of the three bari saxophones creating their own band to perform a 
 jazz/funk set at a local jazz jam.  Historians differ to whether Tom was under the influence of a black and tan or a Shaftebury 
 Cream Ale at this point.  Mike and Matthew readily agreed - to have another beer - and afterwards concured that, yes, a 
 baritone saxophone trio would be cooler than the rest of their beer.  It had been out of the fridge for some time. 

    The three horn players had a super secret meeting at Tom's house, which they told all of their friends about. They listened to 
 approximately 100 tunes while eating pizza, Cheeze Puffs, and drinking Coca-Cola.  (Mike starts to suggest the band play 
 Boney M tunes after a few beers.)  Out of the 100 tunes, a short list was suggested, and the arranging began. 

    For support, the boys drafted Mark Amero, a jazz department graduate and total winner to play drums, and Dave Baird to 
 handle the bass chores.  Under the band name "The East German Swim Team" (among others), their set at the jazz jam proved to be a huge success, as well as their following performance at the University-College's End of Year Beer Garden, highlighted 
 by Matthew's falling off the stage and landing on his back on a table while still continuing to play a funk solo.  The crowd 
 responded by throwing pretzles at each other. 

    The following year, Megan Fredericks was recruited to take the place of Dave, who took off to Austrailia to hunt sheep. 
 Mark moved up to play keys and his wild assortment of analog synths, while Robbie Kuster took over the drumming duties. 
 The band name - which, up till this point, had changed everytime the band got together, was finally settled on.  With references 
 to hockey, big metal objects making noise,  and nothing to do with sex whatsoever, The Pocket Rockets seemed a perfect fit. 
 With an even bigger selection of tunes and more powerful arrangements, the band delighted a packed bar while opening up for 
 the Philosopher Kings on their 1998 Canadian tour.  A return trip to the Mal U-C beer gardens also proved a huge success. 

    The fate of the Pocket Rockets, however was in jeopardy;  Alex Trebek himself said so.  Tom had taken a hiatus to the east 
 coast of Canada.  However, rumors that Tom had been practicing funk licks ten hours a day proved to be true, and he 
 returned to the west coast and the Pocket Rockets, once again, were back together. 

    Since then, the band has survived an exodus by Megan and Robbie to Montreal in a search for a proper donair by recruiting Brodie "Naked Except for My Sweater-Vest" Ketelsen to handle the drums and provide a sweaty rehearsal space, and Jim "Groovedoctor" Bennett to slap the bass like Al Iafrate slaps a puck.  A live CD was recorded and was quickly picked up by bari sax fans and family of the band members everywhere.  Shows continue to sell-out from Ucluelet to Tofino; the band submitted a tape to the Hockey Night in Canada theme song contest; and, buoyed by an increasing number of original tunes, a new studio CD is in the works for mid-2002!

The Pocket Rockets also double as the "Retro Rockets," featuring the same instrumentation and personnel, but performing jazz standards and originals for formal shows and events.  The Rockets are also proud to have a running relationship with the local BCHL team, the Nanaimo Clippers, performing the Canadian National Anthem on a regular basis as well as being involved in various promotions.