Camp Connell, CA…Ten Dollar Pony is Larry Nair and Liza Beth Oliveto. They met in the usual way. He asked her to sing, and people said they liked it. So they just kept singing and playing and now look what’s happened.
They’ve just released their latest album as a duo, and they certainly have a signature sound. Sure… they’ve got banjo mandolin and dobro on this one… so you might be thinking “Bluegrass??” But you’d be wrong. For starters, most of the songs on this CD are underlaid with strong rock drumming and bass, then there’s rock guitar and Reggae licks played on a banjitar, REM flavored mando, swamp soup dobro all mashed up into a country rock gumbo… maybe you better have a taste and you tell me what the genre is.

“I went into a General Store, they wouldn’t let me buy anything specific…” Comedian Steven Wright

When Larry was in his 30’s someone told him he could sing. He’s been writing songs and playing them all over northern Nevada and eastern California ever since. He can claim writing or co-writing credit on four CD’s of original material recorded since 2001. He’s been playing guitar since he was a kid, developing excellent guitar chops from finger style acoustic to electric country blues. He recently added dobro, banjitar, and mandolin to the mix. Like Guy Clark, he builds guitars and prefers to play one of his own on stage. His strongest musical influences include Jackson Browne, John Hiatt, and Nancy Griffith. His thinking is informed by Farley Mowat, Ray Bradbury, and Homer Simpson.

Liza Beth cut her performing teeth in community theater groups from Minneapolis to South Lake Tahoe, as well as gigging with other artists in the Minneapolis area. Her delicate voicing of a lyric is a fan favorite and has brought many a smile or tear. She jumped at the chance to sing in Larry’s band Playa Papaya, and the pair have worked closely ever since, her co-writing contributing an ethereal spookiness to their repertoire. Her muses run from Brandi Carlile to the BoDeans and Casey Chambers.

Ten Dollar Pony often performs as a four piece band with their two favorite sidemen, who are featured on their most recent CD “Under the Plow”. Drummer Don Piletic formerly beat the skins for the Mutilators and currently plays with Moons of Venus. Bassist Tom Patton was previously with Playa Papaya. They really bring a strong groove to a live performance. They’re f***ing awesome.

Larry and Liza Beth’s music is firmly based in a “vocal-centric” and melody driven aesthetic. Their lively blend of original and cover tunes encompasses many styles…folk, pop, blues, and country rock to name a few. Whether delivering intimate and heart wrenching ballads with warm harmonies, or raucous blues, their music ranges from sweet to wryly observant, to perversely funny, all served up with intelligence and wit. They’ve spent a lot of time in the woodshed and on stage together… and it shows.

The story of Camp Connell Continues….

The Camp Connell of today was largely influenced by the surging popularity of auto travel through the mountains inspired when Dr. D. Sargent of Angels Camp became the first to drive an automobile over Ebbetts Pass in 1908. Family camping was destined to become an extremely popular recreational activity To meet those demands, Jack Connell began construction of a campground, cabins, general store and gas pumps in 1928. He and his wife named their endeavor “Camp Connell”. Opened for business in 1929, the general store and gas station have been in operation ever since. The Connell’s continued to expand the store and added a café to serve the increasing number of visitors. By 1934 the Post Office was moved to the store and became “Camp Connell Station”. The store was a local gathering place where local residents and vacationers alike would come to share news and leave messages, much as it is today. Occasionally, Circuit Court was convened in the building. Monte Wolfe, Art and Harry Schimke, the Whittles, Hunts, Tryons, Lombardis, and Airolas were frequent visitors.

While the popularity of the general store and café continued, the campground was closed in 1949 and the property was subdivided into lots selling for $600 each. The cabins remained as part of Camp Connell until the 1960’s, when the highway was realigned to accommodate the ski resort and village at Bear Valley, as well as the development of Big Trees Village. The old highway became the current two accesses to Camp Connell and the property has stayed much the same ever since.

Today the Camp Connell General Store is one of the oldest Chevron stations in California as well as the longest continuously operated retail business between Murphys and Markleeville. It is a popular stop for visitors and a cherished part of the local community.”