MEET THE BAND

Mike Davidson is one of the original members of Ten Mile Bay and brings decades of playing experience to the band's foundation. As the bass player, Mike is the one holding down the groove — giving the songs their weight, drive, and backbone.

Mike loves a thumpin' bass line, and that comes through in the way he plays. His influences include Duff McKagan, Flea, and Victor Wooten — players known for power, groove, movement, and personality. That range of inspiration gives Mike's playing both strength and feel, whether the song needs a deep pocket, a little funk, or a hard-driving rhythm that keeps the crowd moving.

Mike describes himself as someone who often "plays in the shadows," but his role in the band is anything but small. The bass is what locks the music together, connects the drums to the melody, and gives the whole room something to feel. Mike brings that steady, grounded presence to Ten Mile Bay's live sound.

As an original member, Mike is part of the foundation of the band's story. His experience, calm presence, and love for playing help shape the sound and chemistry that make Ten Mile Bay work on stage. For Mike, music is about family, fun, and the connection that happens when a band and a crowd are locked into the same energy.

Jesse "Jess" Mathis brings energy, personality, and a fearless love for guitar to Ten Mile Bay. Originally from Valdosta, Georgia, and now based in Tifton, Jesse picked up the guitar in March of 2020 after being inspired by Guitar Hero 3. What started as a spark quickly turned into a true passion, and he has been building his sound and style ever since.

Jesse's influences cover a wide range of rock, grunge, funk, and classic edge. His musical inspiration includes Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Bon Jovi, David Bowie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Jimi Hendrix. That mix shows up in the way he plays — energetic, expressive, and always focused on bringing something real to the music.

As a guitarist, Jesse brings a live-wire presence to the stage. His style is driven by feel, energy, and individuality. He is not interested in copying someone else's version of what music should be. One of the beliefs that guides him is: "Don't let others dictate how you present your art — be true to yourself." That mindset comes through in the way he performs with Ten Mile Bay.

With Ten Mile Bay, Jesse helps bring power and personality to the band's live sound. Whether the song calls for grit, groove, attitude, or a big crowd-moving moment, Jesse adds the kind of guitar energy that helps turn a live show into an experience.

Danny Erskine — known to friends and bandmates as Skinny J, Skinny Jesus, or Earl — is the backbone of Ten Mile Bay behind the drum kit. A lifelong Omega, Georgia native, Danny has been playing drums since he was seven years old, when his Uncle Steve bought him his very first kit — a kit with Animal from The Muppets on it. The wild, unrelenting energy of the world's most famous drummer set the tone for a lifetime of playing, though Danny really started learning to play later when MTV came out.

His biggest early influence was Rick Allen of Def Leppard — a drummer whose determination Danny still admires to this day. Today, bands like Sevendust, Godsmack, and Shinedown continue to fuel his sound. Danny describes his style as maybe a little aggressive and a little too loud at times — but he's working on it. What he loves most is a song with some punch, anything that gets the crowd moving. Lately, "Sex on Fire" has become one of his favorites to play live.

Danny's first real live performance was playing drums on the back of a flatbed in Omega — a video, he jokes, that will never see the light of day. Since joining Ten Mile Bay, he's grateful for the patience the band has shown as he learns forty-plus songs, most of which he'd never played before. What he loves most about this group is the range and skill that comes together when the whole band locks in.

Off stage, Danny is a family man who spends his time with the people he loves. One of his favorite live memories is from a show at Harley-Davidson while playing with Headline — his granddaughter came up on stage and played drums with him, a moment he'll never forget. And here's something that might surprise you: for a guy who hits that hard behind the kit, Danny says he gets massive stage fright.

If he could share the stage with any artist, living or gone, he'd pick Ozzy. The song he wishes he had written? "See You On The Other Side." And when people come out to a Ten Mile Bay show, Danny hopes they walk away feeling happy and having some fun — because in his words: "Let's have some fun."