About

Kris Rodgers started playing piano at a young age after hearing a family friend play at a neighborhood block party. He grew up taking piano lessons in Standish, ME and eventually went to college for music. During those years, he performed with his band Highway Jackson throughout New England. Highway Jackson received local radio attention, and the band’s song “Hold it Down” received heavy rotation airplay on Portland, ME’s alternative rock station 94.3 WCYY. The band also had a song on the soundtrack for the film Exit Strategy, executive produced by radio host Big Boy (KPWR Power 106, L.A.) in 2010. Kris moved back home to Maine from Boston in 2009 and has been a mainstay in the local music community ever since. 

In 2014 he started his piano-based rock band The Dirty Gems. In 2017 The Dirty Gem’s were signed to Steven Van Zandt’s Wicked Cool Records, releasing “Every LIttle Crack” and “She Likes to Party” as singles, as well as their full-length album “Still DIrty” in 2021. Kris Rodgers & The Dirty Gems can be heard on Sirius/XM Channels 21 The Underground Garage, as well as Channel 721 Little Steven’s Coolest Songs in the World. 

In 2010 Kris joined the Kurt Baker Band, touring throughout Europe, Japan and the United States, as well as releasing numerous studio albums. In 2023 Kris teamed up with Michael Des Barres of Silverhead and The Power Station. Together with The Dirty Gems they released “Bounce Back Baby” and “Soul Shake”. In 2016 Kris joined Scott Sorry’s band, recording with Scott and performing throughout the U.K. In 2016 Scott Sorry closed out his UK tour with a sold out show at The 100 Club in London. 

Kris is also an established side-man in the New England music scene and has performed and/or recorded with Peter Buck, Sami Yaffa, Jonathan Edwards, Vinyl Tap, Sneaky Link, Jeff Beam, Spose, Thanks to Gravity, The Mallett Brothers, Gina & The Red Eyed Flight Crew, The Don Campbell Band, The Connection, Sam Luke Chase, The Portland Yacht Rock Festival house band “Ship to Shore”, Geoff Palmer, Brad Marino, Kill the Karaoke Live Band Karaoke, Drew Eckmann, Soraia, The Midnight Callers, Zach Jones, Kilcollins, New Cornerstone, Nothing Ventured, Stucco, The Socials, Just Dance,