Sawyer Road

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Sawyer Road *

We are Sawyer Road

Sawyer Road is a five piece band hailing from Oconomowoc with members who’ve rocked crowds in bands like Plumb Loco, The Post Turtles, and Big Kenny & Friends, these guys know how to bring the heat. Their secret weapon? Jim “Doc Steel” on the pedal steel guitar, whose soulful strings will have you swaying one moment and stomping your feet the next. Add in harmonies that can rival your favorite bands, and you’ve got a night of music that hits all the right notes.

Don’t just hear about it—be there! Grab a drink, hit the dance floor, and let Sawyer Road remind you why live music is the best kind of music.

Kenn Anderson - Lead Vocals, Guitars

JimDocSteel - Vocals, Pedal Steel

Bob Runte - Vocals, Bass

Joe Peterson - Vocals, Drums

Jason Klagstad - Vocals, Guitars

January 2, 2026 The Annex at Foxtown 6375 W Mequon Rd, Mequon, WI 53092 7:30 - 1030pm

January 23, 2026 Foxx View Lanes 2440 Sunset Dr., Waukesha, WI 53189 8:00 - midnight

Songs

ALABAMA I'M IN A HURRY
ALAN JACKSON CRAZY BOUT A MERCURY
ALAN JACKSON CHATTAHOOCHEE
BOBBY FULLER FOUR I FOUGHT THE LAW
BR-549 EVEN IF IT’S WRONG
BROOKS & DUNN NEON MOON
BROOKS & DUNN ONLY IN AMERICA
BROOKS & DUNN NEXT BROKEN HEART
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN DANCING IN THE DARK
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN FIRE
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN PINK CADILLAC
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN/MAVERICKS ALL THAT HEAVEN WOULD ALLOW
BRYAN ADAMS HEAVEN
BUCK OWENS CLOSE UP THE HONKYTONKS
BUDDY HOLLY PEGGY SUE
CARL PERKINS HONEY DON'T
CHRIS IZAAK WICKED GAME
CHRIS STAPLETON TENNESSEE WHISKEY
CHUCK BERRY C’EST LA VIE
CROSBY STILLS NASH LONG MAY YOU RUN
DAVE ALVIN & THE BLASTERS MARIE MARIE
DAVE EDMUNDS/NICK LOWE I KNEW THE BRIDE
DEL SHANNON RUNAWAY DESERT ROSE BAND STORY OF LOVE
DIRE STRAITS WALK OF LIFE
DOBIE GRAY DRIFT AWAY
DWIGHT YOAKAM FAST AS YOU
EIEIO THIS TIME
ELVIS PRESLEY SUSPICIOUS MINDS
ERIC CLAPTON WONDERFUL TONIGHT
GARY ALLAN SMOKE RINGS IN THE DARK
GEORGE STRAIT ALL MY EXES
GEORGE STRAIT AMARILLO BY MORNING
GEORGE STRAIT CROSS MY HEART
GEORGE STRAIT I JUST WANT TO DANCE WITH YOU
GEORGE STRAIT RIGHT OR WRONG
GERRY RAFFERTY RIGHT DOWN THE LINE
GERRY RAFFERTY/STEALERS WHEEL STUCK IN THE MIDDLE
GLEN CAMPBELL WICHITA LINEMAN
HAL KETCHUM SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT
HIGHWAY 101 WALKIN TALKIN CRYIN BARELY BEATING BROKEN HEART
JACKSON BROWNE REDNECK FRIEND
JACKSON BROWNE RUNNING ON EMPTY
JOHN FOGERTY/DAVE EDMUNDS ALMOST SATURDAY NIGHT
JOHNNY CASH, OUTLAWS, OTHERS GHOST RIDERS IN THE SKY
JOHNNY RIVERS MEMPHIS
JOHNNY RIVERS MOUNTAIN OF LOVE
JOHNNY RIVERS POOR SIDE OF TOWN
KEITH URBAN LOVE SOMEBODY LIKE YOU
MARTY STUART HILLBILLY ROCK
MARTY STUART & HIS FABULOUS SUPERLATIVES I’M TEMPTED
NEIL YOUNG HARVEST MOON
NICK LOWE/DAVE EDMUNDS 7 NIGHTS OF ROCK
OLD CROW MEDICINE SHOW/DYLAN WAGON WHEEL
RODNEY CROWELL AIN’T LIVIN’ LONG LIKE THIS
RODNEY CROWELL I COULDN'T LEAVE YOU IF I TRIED
RODNEY CROWELL LOVIN’ ALL NIGHT
RODNEY CROWELL SHE’S CRAZY FOR LEAVIN’
ROY ORBISON ONLY THE LONELY
THE BEATLES ANYTIME AT ALL
THE BEATLES I SAW HER STANDING THERE
THE BEATLES TWIST AND SHOUT
THE BEATLES NOWHERE MAN
THE BEATLES MEDLEY I FEEL FINE / SHE’S A WOMAN
THE BEATLES/ THE SEARCHERS IF I NEEDED SOMEONE / NEEDLES & PINS
THE BYRDS FEEL A WHOLE LOT BETTER
THE DESERT ROSE BAND ASHES OF LOVE
THE DESERT ROSE BAND LOVE REUNITED
THE DRIFTERS/EMMY LOU HARRIS SAVE THE LAST DANCE
THE EAGLES PEACEFUL EASY FEELING
THE EAGLES TAKE IT EASY
THE EAGLES TEQUILA SUNRISE
THE EAGLES LOVE WILL KEEP US ALIVE
THE EVERLY BROTHERS CLAUDETTE
THE HIGHWAYMEN HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT
THE HOLLIES LONG COOL WOMAN IN A BLACK DRESS
THE HOLLIES MEDLEY LOOK THROUGH ANY WINDOW/BUS STOP
THE KENTUCKY HEADHUNTERS/DON GIBSON OH LONESOME ME
THE MAVERICKS ALL YOU EVER DO IS BRING ME DOWN
THE MAVERICKS AS LONG AS THERE IS LOVIN’ TONIGHT
THE MAVERICKS BACK IN MY ARMS
THE MAVERICKS THERE GOES MY HEART AGAIN
THE MAVERICKS WHAT A CRYING SHAME
THE MAVERICKS/TREMELOES HERE COMES MY BABY
THE MONKEES LAST TRAIN TO CLARKSVILLE
THE NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND FISHIN' IN THE DARK
THE SEARCHERS / CRYAN SHAMES SUGAR AND SPICE AND ALL THINGS NICE
THE TRAVELING WILLBURYS END OF THE LINE
THE VOGUES YOU'RE THE ONE
TOBY KEITH AMERICAN SOLDIER
TOM PETTY YOU WRECK ME
VAN MORRISON BROWN EYED GIRL
VAN MORRISON DOMINO
VAN MORRISON TUPELO HONEY
VAN MORRISON WILD NIGHT
VINCE GILL LITTLE LIZA JANE
VINCE GILL TAKE YOUR MEMORY
ZZTOP SHARP DRESSED MAN

Meet the Guys

  • Kenn Anderson

    Sawyer Road Bandleader, Lead vocals and many guitars

    1975 - 1980 Founder - Austin Carter band

    1978 - present - Founder: Plumb Loco

    2018 - Present - Founder: Post Turtles

    Present - St John’s Lutheran Church Brookfield, WI Contemporary Music Director

  • Joe Peterson

    Drummer, vocals and Founder

    Hails from Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    1974 – Moved to Town of Lisbon

    1976 –1988 Founder of “Rainbow of Sound” (Variety Band) performing for many weddings in the Milwaukee area.

    1977 – Graduated Sussex Hamilton High school in choir and band.

    1979 – Graduated from WCTI in Electronics Technology

    2000-2014 – Generations Band (Polka band) Performing on Drums and Guitar. Recorded “Downtown Traffic Polka”. Feature band on WTKM.

    2000s – Original Drummer of “Sawyer Road” working with Jim Leaman.

  • Bob Runte

    Bass & vocals

    1968 - 1971 Got my first bass for Christmas and first gigs with my brother Skip. Townsmen Quartet(top 40 and Jazz) Bill Hasse ( wedding band), and my first HS rock band Bourre'.

    1971 - 1973 Milwaukee R&B band Brass Alloy

    1974 - 1975. Geri Pitchell show featuring Jim Robak

    1976 - 1978 Mississippi River Bottom Boogie Band in St Louis Missouri

    1978 - 1982 Brian Balestreri Band / Tosa

    1983 - 1985 Gigged in and around Milwaukee in clubs and for social events while studying IT at Milwaukee Area Technical College.

    1985 - Began my 35 year career in IT.

    1985 - 1987 Those Good Intentions

    1987 - 1991 Larry Lange Orchestra /Quintessence

    1991 - 1993 No Big Deal

    1993 - present Plumb Loco

    Currently a member of Plumb Loco, Sawyer Road, Post Turtles, Silverthread and Main Street Big Band.

  • Jim "Doc Steel" Leaman

    Pedal Steel, vocals, harmonica, tamborine

    Grew up in Grafton, WI

    1971 Graduated from Grafton High School

    1971-74 attended college at UW Madison

    1974-78 Marquette University School of Dentistry graduating cum laude

    Continued teaching at Dental School part time attaining rank of Associate Clinical Professor

    1978-present in private practice Oconomowoc, WI

    1978 attended Waylon Jennings concert at WI State Fair, saw legendary steel guitarist Ralph Mooney that set him on his musical path for life

    1978 Started taking steel guitar lessons at Ralph Hanzel Music in West Allis, WI and the rest is history

    2000s Sawyer Road band was formed rehearsing at Jim’s home on Sawyer Road. The band name came from that.

    Kenn Anderson, band lead singer/guitarist nicknamed Jim “Doc Steel”.

  • Jason Klagstad

    Guitars, backing vocals

    2022-2024 WAMI Milwaukee - Board President

    2018 - present - Partner Independent Studios Milwaukee - Post Production house

    2018 - 2020 - Milwaukee Guitar Collective Partner/Owner, Milwaukee, WI

    2017-2018 - Cream City Music, Dir Marketing, Brookfield, WI

    I 2016-2018 - Harvest Strat Intention Data Company, Founder

    2012-2015 - K-Nation Entertainment Group, Sr VP, Grafton, W

    2011-2012 - Cineviz Interactive Technologies, VP, Green Bay, WI

    1995-2012 GMR Event Marketing, Sr VP Production, New Berlin, WI

    1982-1995, - Cascio Music, Hanzel Music, Big Music, Store Owner/Manager

    2007 - 2010 88Nine Radio Milwaukee  Board member; building donor

    2005-2015 - Guitars for Vets, Board Member

    2015 - 2017 - Make-a-Wish WI | Yacht Blast for Kids, Board Member

    2011 - Rock the Green Board Member

    Recipient 4 WAMI Awards 

    Recording credits, 100 albums, films and commercials

    20 year music touring career w/national acts

    Currently a member in 4 bands

Sawyer Road says

Make it LIVE

Book this band

Call or email: Kenn or Missi Anderson | 262-366-7645 | bigkenny320@gmail.com

SAWYER ROAD: Topnotch Rock and Country 5 piece band formed 2012
    •    Kenn Anderson: vocals, guitar, songwriting
    •    Jim Leaman: Steel guitar/vocals
    •    Bob Runte: Bass/vocals
    •    Joe Peterson: Drums/vocals
    •    Jason Klagstad: Guitars/vocals
Sawyer Road plays 25-30 dates/yr or about 2-3 each month
Material: 150 Song songlist of most popular bands/hits last 3 decades 60% is 90’s - 2000’s (ask for our songlist)
Venues are bars, car shows, VFW posts, private parties with crowds from 150+
Reference:  Chris Gerritsen - club manager, Okauchee Legion Post #399: 262-269-5068

Sawyer Road

Social Media/Digital Presence

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SawyerRoad
    •    460 Followers
Website: https://www.sawyerroad.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKTNRKfZoLpSuFoVvP6lbnA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sawyerroadband/
    •    206 followers
Promotion: We create a custom graphic poster for each gig and pre-promote each one with Facebook Events, paid boosts, Instagram posts, website calendar, etc. (see below)