Founding member John Miner is a rugged individualist in the classic American sense, a survival trait common to the progressive rock rank and file. He has already written, produced, directed and performed in a critically acclaimed musical theater production in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, "Heavens Cafe'", co founded the Vegas based Tributary Music Label and plays in his own prog band, Art Rock Circus. "I basically like having control of my own thing" says Miner who's real estate dabbling allow the freedom to have such independence.

Honing his chops and progressive orientation with California band Mantra Sunrise, Miner found a generous benefactor in Mike Lewis, who initially bankrolled Tributary and helped the innovative musician bring his ambitious dream to the theatrical stage. Six years after it's debut in Las Vegas and a longer run in Los Angeles the allegorical Heavens Cafe' still has legs. A leap to the silver screen could be next as a live album of songs from the Vegas stage production continues to sell quite well. With Las Vegas being fertile ground for the performing arts, Miner needn't go far to flesh out his various projects". I just find the best smoking players I can to come in and do the session work," he says.

And meanwhile, the Art Rock Circus band has found a niche in the region's bustling music community. "When we play we have a healthy following not far off the jam band crowd, although we are not "jam band" per se, but we are complex, interesting and different, and there are always people who like and appreciate that".