The Toughcats

Energetic. Catchy. Fun. Exciting. Danceable. Memorable. Loveable. Beautiful. Amazing. At times, unabashedly hirsute. This is not the Toughcats ad on Matchmaker.com; these are just some of the words die-hard Toughcats fans mutter in their sleep after a performance. Toughcat shows are as exhausting for the audience as they are for the beat-red drummer and the blister-fingered string players. The intensity can induce a stoic crowd to dance, and a wild crowd to stop and take a look. They pull out a little something for everyone, the young folks, the old folks, the hippies and the hipsters, the yuppies and the rural unemployed.
With their unusual sound, a blend of old timey bluegrass, thoughtful indie rock, and classic pop twitches a la early Beatles, they bring their audience a best of both worlds scenario: timeless music that is at once unquestionably danceable and haltingly listenable. The feverish beats from Greenlaw are engulfing, and his energy captivating…the whole band provides vocals and lyrics that are self reflexive and without pretence…the melodies and complex tonal structures from Joe Nelson on guitar and Colin Gulley on banjo are dulcet, frolicking, even headbanging, pieces of artistry, built from chops that prove hands down they’re worth their salt as musicians. Their music is the kind that builds a following because it is pan-generic, yet respectful of the greats, and mindful of the nuances of their influences. Their music is attentive not only to their musical ancestry, but also to their contemporary audience. This is not a band that forces itself on a listener—this is a band that is sought by a listener.

Cinder Conk:

Cinder Conk,  Matt Schreiber (accordion) and Xar (contrabass), plays music drawn from the Black Sea – the wellspring of Europe’s deepest and most diverse musical traditions.  It is the sound of celebration and lament of those who have lived on its coast over thousands of years – Roma, Jews, peasants, and nationalists.  Cinder Conk mixes frenzied accordion riffs, sometimes adding violin, and warm double bass counterpoint with a classic bardic lyricism that invites and transcends.