Hot Buttered Rum - August 23, 2008
with Thick Soup

Hot Buttered Rum, one of the hardest-working and fastest-rising stars in the musical firmament, has become, over the last five years, a group that is infinitely greater than the sum of its parts. It began with a core of five uniquely talented musicians writing and singing songs on the mountaintops and city streets of Northern California; five musicians who, on the night they realized they loved playing together too much to ever stop, were sipping a warm buttery winter drink from which the group derived its name. Since that fateful night, the organization has steadily expanded to include a rich tapestry of fans, friends and family reaching from coast to coast.

In the Fall of 2006, itching to release their first live album featuring the whole band, Hot Buttered Rum announced that it would be recording a handful of shows for official release. Live in the Northeast (released May 2007) beautifully reveals the true core of live Butter: music that is forceful without being flashy, serious without being stuffy, intricate without being inaccessible, and diverse without being distracting. Often described as a rock band playing bluegrass instruments, no prior Butter recording has so perfectly displayed the band’s bolder and heavier side. That full sound permeates Live in the Northeast — from the reggae-tinged “Return Someday” and psychedelica of “Desert Rat” through definitive covers of the Grateful Dead’s “Cumberland Blues” and Leo Sayer’s “Feel Like Dancin’” — winding the listener through a robust and intense set of acoustic rock.

The widespread appeal of HBR’s music stems not only from the band’s musical versatility and prolific songwriting, but also from the magnetic chemistry the group creates onstage together. It was this chemistry that drew the group together, and that holds it together still through the rigors of their involved professional life together. It is this chemistry that audiences are consistently drawn to and caught up in, comment on effusively at shows and in online chat groups. It is this chemistry that is propelling the band to ever greater success.

HBR is committed to achieving its musical goals in an environmentally sensitive manner. Since 2003, the band has toured in vehicles that run on vegetable oil and biodiesel instead of fossil fuel products. Doing this has not been easy, especially in the early days. But, being in a business that requires driving thousands of miles each year, HBR knows that using alternative fuel is one of the most effective ways it can reduce its ecological footprint. The band enjoys performing for educational assemblies and benefit concerts, and many of their songs seek to raise awareness about the socially and environmentally volatile era in which we live. Above all, HBR’s goal is to satisfy their audience’s minds, hearts and dancing feet with a unique and uplifting blend of progressive American music.

Hot Buttered Rum will play at Mountain Sage Saturday, August 23rd.  This family event will be held outside in the gardens and begins at 5:00pm. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door; ages 6-12, $6. Hope to see you there!

Adam Burns Band

Thanks to all your pleads to have them come back, The Adam Burns Band is coming to play the Sierra Earthfest, Saturday, June 7th, Adam Burns made his first public appearance as a singer/songwriter at a Tsunami benefit concert in El Portal, California. Adam grew up in rural England and had been playing guitar and singing since he was in high school. However, it was the creative and passionate community of El Portal that inspired him to finally bring his songs out of the closet. A couple of months after his first performance, Adam produced his first Album, 'Sittin on the Step'. This collection of ramshackle, bluesy acoustic pop songs was recorded entirely in Adam's pint-sized house by the Merced river. The Adam Burns Band was born in April 2005, when drummer Greg Nespor and bassist Greg Archer joined Adams solo act for the Amstock music festival in El Portal. Soon afterwards, the addition of Kristin on vocals, violin, and guitar completed the current line up. The band's first gig as a four piece was a party on Greg Archers deck, where they played a short but impassioned set to a small group of smiling, dancing friends. Since then, their act has grown to include over 25 songs, almost all of which are Adams original compositions. They released their first CD, 'Laika' in April 2006. A fervent mixture of Motown pop, funk, reggae and boisterous rock, an Adam Burns Band gig may just be the best night out you've had in a very long time. View The Adam Burns Band at Mountain Sage - 2007 here!

The Adam Burns Band will be playing Saturday, June7th at the Sierra Earthfest at Mountain Sage in Groveland. Come bring the kids, a blanket, and your dancing feet and enjoy their contagious energy out in the garden. Organic food will be served all day until 7pm.  Admission is free!

Crooked Still

Meet Crooked Still, the hot young alternative bluegrass group on a mission to bend the boundaries of traditional music. The unlikely combination of banjo, cello, and double-bass drives this low lonesome band, whose captivating vocals and high-wire solos have enraptured audiences all over North America and Ireland since 2001.

Four very unique musical personalities merge to form Crooked Still. Aoife O'Donovan's refined, sultry vocals float over Rushad Eggleston's rumbling cello riffs, Dr. Gregory Liszt's futuristic four-finger banjo rolls and Corey DiMario's pulsing bass lines. The resulting acoustic fusion can warp a traditional American tune to the brink of unrecognizability without sacrificing the authenticity of the original sources. “It's almost like we're going back and making imaginary history,'' says Eggleston, whose versatile cello style has already sparked a revolution among young cellists. ``What if the 1920s Appalachian musicians could've heard the music we hear now?''

In the spring of 2001, singer O’Donovan and bassist DiMario were classmates at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Unbeknownst to them at the time, just across the river in the laboratories of MIT a young cellist named Rushad Eggleston from the Berklee College of Music met every night to jam with Greg Liszt, then a graduate student and aspiring banjo player. A serendipitous meeting at a late-night party brought all four of these musicians together for the first time, and Crooked Still was born in the summer of that year.

As its members finished school, Crooked Still frequently performed around Boston, collecting rave reviews from the local press, notably the Boston Globe, Northeast Performer, and the Boston Herald. The band’s fan base grew until it became almost impossible to get into the Cantab Lounge in Cambridge when Crooked Still took the stage. A trip to the North American Folk Alliance in 2004 resulted in invitations to perform at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival and historic Newport Folk Festival.  Hop High, the debut album from Crooked Still, was released at the prestigious Falcon Ridge Folk Festival in July, 2004 and was the top-selling CD at the festival that year.

Following the success of this first festival appearance, Crooked Still has appeared at concert halls, nightclubs, coffeehouses, and festivals in twenty-three states and several different countries. This grassroots endeavor frequently lands Hop High among the top ten best-selling CD’s at the online independent megastore CD Baby.

Although being an unsigned band has afforded Crooked Still the maximum creative freedom, when the president of Signature Sounds Recordings came knocking, Crooked Still listened. With a roster that includes such diverse acts as indie-rocker Josh Ritter, contemporary songwriter Lori McKenna, and old-timey folk jammers The Mammals, Signature Sounds was a perfect fit, simultaneously progressive and down-to-earth. Crooked Still's first nationwide release on Signature Sounds, Shaken by a Low Sound, hit stores on August 22.

Crooked Still will open the Summer Concert Series at Mountain Sage in Groveland on Saturday, June 14th at 5:00pm. The event is for all ages. Tickets are $12 in advance, $15 at the door; ages 6-12, $6.

Blue Turtle Seduction

Come see a repeat performance from one of last year’s favorite bands - playing Live at the Sage Music Series coming June 28th at 5pm.  Blue Turtle Seduction came together in- and seems to be defined by- the mountain waters of Lake Tahoe. Their strengths lie within meaningful melodies and lyrics and their ability to regularly lift audiences to their feet, making their shows fun and energetic. Mountain reggae, bluegrass, world music, organic hip-hop, funk and classical are probably the best genres to describe what most fans simply call “original.” “Just come to a show…” seems to be the fans’ cry, who have been growing in number since Blue Turtle Seduction began touring from the Sierra in 2003.

Much of this sound comes from a unique instrumentation: acoustic and electric mandolin, pan flute, violin, harmonica, guitar, bass and drums- accompanied by three lyricists singing unique vocal harmonies. Describing their music may be the difficult part, but the easy part is the universal fever that sweeps the audience at a live Blue Turtle show. Looking out at the audience, one may see people of all ages, races, and backgrounds dancing around and even the most unlikely dancers can’t help but move their feet. The band has an infectious charisma that draws the listener in. Humble as they are, they would attribute the energy that they generate solely to the crowd, but the result is an interchange that states the band is clearly on the road to success. Having such a diverse and dedicated following of fans promises to keep them touring for quite a long time, expanding their enthused audiences all over the world.

The Turtles have appeared in festivals alongside Michael Franti and Spearhead, The String Cheese Incident, Yonder Mountain String Band, Steve Kimock, Garaj Mahal, and many more. This includes three years playing at the High Sierra Music Festival with late-night shows for the past two years, the Mulberry Mountain Festival, Nedfest, Santa Barbara’s Earth Day and Chilla Vista celebrations, 4 Peaks Music Festival, the Desert Rocks Festival, and this year they are adding Wakarusa to the list.

Blue Turtle Seduction will play at Mountain Sage Saturday, June 28th.  This family event will be held outside in the gardens and begins at 5:00pm. Tickets are $12 (advance) $15 (at door) for adults and $6 for children 6-12. Hope to see you there!

The StereoFidelics

Since releasing their first EP in early 2007, The Stereofidelics (formerly known as Quick Six) have firmly established themselves in the musical hotbed of Asheville, NC. Their infectious and energetic sound has earned them performances in such prestigious venues as the Grey Eagle Music Hall and has garnered them regular airplay from stations including AAA station WNCW. The Stereofidelics are promoting their EP release outside of Asheville as well, touring throughout the southeast, midwest, and into the northeast during the summer of 2007. They are currently working on their debut album which is due out in summer 2008.

By showcasing their multi-instrumental capability, The Stereofidelics are able to operate completely as a duet and deliver a full sound. Relying on their passionate vocals, organic harmonies, and spontaneous instrumental creativity, they perform with the unmistakable emotional attachment of co-creators. "They...do the proverbial in creating something greater than the sum of its parts" (Dave Carter, WETS-FM). The Stereofidelics have the energy of Bluegrass, the seduction of Latin, the freedom of Jazz and the raw passion of Hard Rock driven by instinctive virtuosity and musicianship. Press for The Stereofidelics: "...They've got the energy of a full band... be on the lookout for this emerging talent." - John Hansen - Entertainment Editor Brainard Dispatch "Our studio audience was rapt by the precision and versatility of these two musicians: the power and emotion of a Stereofidelics' performance, the range and generosity of material, Melissa's dynamic vocals, and the players' high octane instrumental exchanges . . ." - Brad Becker - Host of R.B.B. Lexington "Stunning players!!! Together they do the proverbial in creating something greater than the sum of its parts." - Dave Carter Studio 1 - WETS FM.

The StereoFidelics will play at Mountain Sage Saturday, July 12th.  This family event will be held outside in the gardens and begins at 5:00pm. Hope to see you there!