>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

ABOVE: I4NI is, from left, Christopher Bechtel, Jeff Carman, Debbie Rudd, Scott Arnson and Tony Grier.TOP: Band leader Scott Arnson gives his guitar a break. (Submitted photos).

Community Stadium will be rockin' for a patriotic Fourth of July.

Local band I4NI will play beginning at about 7 p.m., right after the kids' parade concludes.

The music will continue until about 9:30 p.m., followed by a flag ceremony, the Pledge of Allegiance and the fireworks show.

"It should be fun," said Jeff Carman, a vocalist and bass guitarist for I4NI, which plays classic rock to modern top-40 rock. Expect songs from the Eagles, Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, the Beatles on up to Sheryl Crow, Creed and Norah Jones.

"It's pretty much a mixed bag for everybody," Carman said.

Besides Carman, the I4NI lineup includes newly-wed band leader Scott Arnson, vocals and guitars, Debbie Rudd, vocals and keyboards; Christopher Bechtel, guitars; and Tony Grier, drums and percussion.

The large crowd that turns out for the music and fireworks at the stadium and in the neighborhoods make it one of the best attended single events of the year in Union County.

Arnson has been been a part of the Northwest music scene since the late '70s. He was musical director for the Coffey Twins Band, the leader of Take IV, KLUE and I4NI. An accomplished audio technician, Arnson has provided sound reinforcement for artists such as Vince Gill, Clint Black, Paul DeLay and dozens of others. Arnson has played lead guitar for The Hagar Twins, Dry Creek and others.

He now serves as technical consultant for Eastern Oregon University Student Activities.

Rudd, meantime, is also a local music stalwart. She has been involved with many bands including The Mike Mallory Band and Sirius.

But Rudd does more than just rock. She's achieved success in country music, having been on the European charts with two recordings. She's recorded in Denver, Canada and Nashville with great studio musicians such as the lead singer from the '70s group, Firefall, and players from the albums of April Wine, The Dixie Chicks and Ricky Skaggs.

Rudd's working with a Nashville producer on presenting her demo to major record labels.

Carman has been alternating wet and dry sides of the state for years. He started his first cover band in 1990 under the name "Stratus," then moved to Portland to join "Tommy Gunn." He later returned to the East Side to form Napalm Blue with Christopher Bechtel and Ron Abram from Stratus. Carman then did his first stint with the popular cover band I4NI.

Carman returned to McMinnville to form Time Piece Music, where he released his first album, titled "Call It What You Want."

Carman returned to the dry side for a second time to form The Dead Ringers with Bechtel and Nate Grier. They released one album before Grier returned to the Navy. Then Carman and Bechtel formed Aftershock with Joe Maffeo and Bekah Kinney.

The musical evolution continued with The Crossroad Band, a present day phenomenon involving Bechtel and Joe Maffeo. Carman plans to release another solo album, titled "Lost Horizons," this summer.

Bechtel, meantime, started playing guitar in his early teens. He co-founded "Stratus" with Carman, Ron Abram and Andy Query. Once that project faded, he re-teamed with Abram and Carman to form Napalm Blue. After playing in other bands throughout Eastern Oregon, he returned to La Grande to form The Dead Ringers with Grier and Carman and then Aftershock and The Crossroad Band.

Bechtel also owns and operates Digital Whispers recording studio, which opened in 2002.

An accomplished drummer, Grier has played in many regional bands. His last gig was with The Jerry Kershaw Band before joining I4NI.

Born and raised in New York City, Grier learned to play the drums early. At 16, he moved to Southern California and played with various bands in the area. In 1976, he relocated to Eugene to work with Night Wing and Blue Moon.

Other jobs in the Northwest had him keeping the beat for Curtis Salgado and Robert Cray. Grier also worked for Bruce Chan Management which had him working as a tech for other professional bands such as The Grateful Dead, America and The Doobie Brothers.

Grier had also played with Joe Butterfield, a rhythm and blues act on various cruise lines.

When Grier isn't playing with I4NI, he is a studio musician for Gateway Entertainment. He has played on various recordings for Anna-O, an up-and-coming artist out of Nashville who he is also managing.

If you miss I4NI at the fireworks show, you can catch them at Elkhorn Steakhouse and Lounge the last two weekends in July.

"It's a really cool chemistry we have going," Carman said. "It's so laid back and comfortable . ... And the skills each member brings to the table — it raises the bar on the standard of performance."