Amish Cowboys Singer May Even Rumba With Audience

Who are The Amish Cowboys:

Jeff Ramsey, 34, guitarist, runs a marketing and promotions business with his wife.

Paul Schille, 37, guitarist, works in marketing for an Internet design company.

Don Myers, 33, singer, works as a hairdresser.

The Cowboys have been together for about 3 1/2 years and released their first CD, "Joy," in the fall. The band also includes Doug Hamilton, Connie Stiver, Rob Stewart and Dave Smith. How they describe their music: "Well, our press release says it's `highly energetic pop music, incorporating rock, jazz, folk, blues and Celtic rhythms.' It's really just typical rock music," Schille said. "It's got a little bit of everything." What they're all about on stage: "A lot of fun," he said. "We have a lot of energy. People seem to want to dance to us." Myers occasionally will jump down from the stage and dance with fans. He's a ballroom dancer and recently took a rumba lesson. How they got their name: "Somebody mentioned it once at a rehearsal and it stuck." It has no religious significance. Musical influences: "Someone once said we were like `REM meets Van Morrison,' " Ramsey said. "We got some real folk influences, some edgy and rock influences as well."

Don has been accused of singing like Van Morrison, Eddie Vedder, "the guy in the Counting Crows," Joe Jackson, David Lee Roth. Now, he said, he's just trying to sing like himself. First albums they remember owning:

Schille: The Beatles' "Magical Mystery Tour."

Ramsey: a used copy of Jimi Hendrix's "Are You Experienced?"

Meyers: an eight-track of Grand Funk Railroad.

Three songs they play and what they're about:

"Sally Firecracker": "A guy who was going to get married and he meets this redhead and falls in love."

"Buy My Way to Heaven": "A tongue-in-cheek look at religion. A real funny, kind of bluesy tune looking at TV evangelists."

"Middle Class Life": "About middle-class life and what it's all about."

Three CDs they'd take on a cross-country trip:

Shawn Colvin (first album); the new Counting Crows; Van Morrison's "Moondance" Where can you hear them: Saturday at the Backstage; March 22 at Sit & Spin.

Are you in a local band? If you'd like to be considered for Sound Check, send a cover letter telling us about your band and your upcoming gigs, the name and daytime phone number of your manager or contact person, a tape and a photo to Sound Check, Seattle Times, PO Box 70, Seattle WA 98111.