Welcome to the Habitat

About The Band

Meet the Gators.

Currently located in Cape Coral, FL. the band started in Montrose, Colorado in 2013. The Blue Gators bring their own Blues, Rock and Americana songs to the stage. With two albums released and a third in recording they have a full lineup that you will love! They have been featured at The Aspen Wine Festival, The San Juan Film Festival, Joe Cocker's MadDog Ranch, Arrowhead Music Series and Music on the Green and the Montrose Music Festival. When not playing exclusively they have opened for National acts including Angela Perly, Ori Naftaly and Moreland & Arbuckle. The Blue Gators are sure to please a variety of musical tastes. The band defines themselves as blues fusion. Fans have compared their sound to Eric Clapton, Pink, Floyd, Atlanta Rhythm Section, Steely Dan and Orleans.

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  Joe Scherben

  Vocals & Guitar I spent my younger years with my family and friends in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I am addicted to Vinyl and listen to classic rock, blues and Funk. My notable influences include Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, James Taylor, Joe Perry, Neal Young, Keith Richards and Martin Barre to name a few. I enjoy the challenges of song writing in a band situation and my goal is learning and adding teeth to the Gator music as we progress together. After many years of searching for tone nirvana , I have settled in nicely with dynamic picking on the Strat, acoustic, finger, slide, tunings , and variety are for me. 40+ years of playing and still learning and having fun.

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  Kalena Scherben

  Vocals & Keyboard The thing I like most about writing and playing music is the freedom of expression. While playing in bands I've had an opportunity to play keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar and bass guitar. It is a good feeling to look out at a crowd when they are feeling the music with you and have that sense of unity with them. Joe and I have played together for many years and we have played in many cover bands but our time with the Blue Gators has been a perfect culmination of all our experience.

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  Jennifer Matteson

  Vocals & Drums Jennifer Matteson has been playing drums since 1982, beginning on snare drum before moving to the full kit. Her musical background includes concert band, jazz band, big band, and serving as Drum Major during her senior year of high school before continuing her percussion studies at Texas Tech University as a member of the renowned 400-member Goin’ Band. Over more than four decades of performing, Jennifer has played in original and cover bands, recording projects, and live performances spanning Southern rock, classic rock, blues, country, reggae, R&B, and funk. Her experiences—from recording with the Lubbock-based band Teysha to performing with bands in Texas and Florida—have shaped a versatile, groove-oriented style that fits naturally with the Blue Gator Group’s energetic blend of classic rock, Southern rock, blues, and country favorites. Jennifer believes the drummer’s role is simple: listen, lock in, and serve the song. Whether it’s a driving rock anthem, a blues shuffle, or a dance groove, her goal is to create the solid rhythmic foundation that keeps both the band and the audience moving.

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  Luke C Cooke

  Vocals & Guitar That love hit Luke early. At age six, he started playing drums. He took piano lessons like the rest of siblings, often playing one of the two pianos in the house while a sibling was practicing on another one. But at age 12, he was still captivated by the drums, getting his first stage experience at the age of 13 playing in the annual high school variety show. By the time he was 15, two of Luke's siblings were caught up in the music of the 1970s, playing guitar around the house. They showed him a few chords, and from there he became a guitar player. He'd go through his high school years jamming with his older brother and friends, building a foundation of classic rock, blues, country, and bluegrass. Over the next four decades, he traveled through 16 states in the commercial construction industry, giving him the opportunity to sample music from across America and play in bands of all genres. Luke has been a contract songwriter for the Paramount Group of Nashville, TN, for several years. Now retired in southwest Florida, he maintains a YouTube channel highlighting his music, and he continues writing and producing original music, representative of his Appalachian roots but also reflective of his broad exposure to music and culture across the country. He performs at the Commodore Inn in Nashville several times a year.