Oaktown Indie Mayhem Presents:
Tumbleweed Wanderers, Steep Ravine + Papa Bear
April 8, 2016
Well look who's getting together for some Oakland style fun.
If you don't already know Tumbleweed Wanderers, this is your chance to crawl out from under that rock of which you suffer it's cruel fate (1. no sunlight 2. nill music 3. zero dancing) and come enjoy your life with your framily. We're thrilled to also have Steep Ravine and Papa Bear and the Easy Love (Solo Set) performing.
Iit's going to be a damn fine time.
So, ya know, mark your calendars.
Doors 8pm, Show 9pm
$15 adv / $17 dos (tix link coming soon!)
Tumbleweed Wanderers:
Busking outside of countless Bay Area venues, Tumbleweed Wanderers took stage on the streets of San Francisco in 2011 with the hopes of simply sharing their music. In just two short years, through pure stubborn persistence the band went on to headline the venues they once busked outside of, and, in the process, released three EPs and their debut album, So Long, produced by John Vanderslice at his all analog studio Tiny Telephone. Along the way, their sound evolved from the early stomp-clap acoustic sets to electric rock explosions full of three part harmonies, ripping organ, and screaming guitar solos.
The story and sound of Tumbleweed Wanderers, an Americana inspired mix of soul and rock, spread throughout the Bay, the West Coast and across the country independently. Through constant touring, supporting some of the best road warriors in the game (Moon Taxi, Greensky Bluegrass, Angus Stone, Jackie Green, The Revivalists) and wowing audiences at major festivals (Outside Lands, Hangout, Shaky Knees, and Hardly Strictly Bluegrass) the band solidified themselves as a not-to-be-missed live experience.
After two years of near constant touring, the band hunkered down in a San Francisco mansion-turned-home-studio to begin work on a follow up album. After demoing over twenty new songs, TW whittled the record down to the tightest eleven songs and went into Panoramic Studios in Stinson Beach to cut the basic tracks. They took these back to their home studio, where they incessantly overdubbed, rearranged and tweaked for months on end, layering harmonies, guitars, keyboards, a string quartet, and pedal steel to add a lush landscape to their vision. Seeking fresh ears and a creative spark, the band recruited Brian Deck (Iron & Wine, Modest Mouse) to mix the record. The final product represents Tumbleweed Wanderers in their most honest state – a deep, and colorful blending of the band’s collective influences stemming from a kaleidoscope of American traditions: soul, americana, psychedelia-- all grounded in a fearless backbone of pure rock-n-roll.
Released in the summer of 2015, Realize, showcases the evolution of this talented rock band. Tumbleweed Wanderers celebrated the release of their second LP, Realize, with a two month national headline tour, playing over 35 dates across the country. The band are currently home writing new material.
Steep Ravine:
Steep Ravine's soulful songs and fiery instrumentals take roots music in compelling new stylistic directions. Fusing elements of folk, bluegrass, jazz, rock and pop, the band continues to enthrall audiences with their uniquely Californian sound. Simon Linsteadt (guitar, lead vocals) and Jan Purat (violin, vocals) began playing music together in high school in Northern California, later moving on to study music at UC Santa Cruz and the California Jazz Conservatory. They fortuitously met bassist Alex Bice (bass, vocals) through jam sessions in Santa Cruz. Percussionist Jeff Wilson, a close musical compadre, is the band’s most recent addition. Steep Ravine has toured extensively throughout the country and has released two full-length records of all original material.
Following their humble beginnings playing at a Hawaiian barbecue spot in Santa Cruz and busking in the BART Metro Stations of San Francisco, Steep Ravine quickly gained a following in the Bay Area and throughout the west. After the release of their debut record TRAMPIN’ ON, the band went on several national tours, including notable performances at High Sierra Music Festival, Four Corners Folk Festival, Outside Lands, and Strawberry Music Festival. In 2015, Steep Ravine released their second record THE PEDESTRIAN. With this project they dove deeper into their collective musical influences. The album meanders through folk, jazz, bluegrass, funk, and popular music, and ultimately centralizes around song-craft and collaborative composition. It harnesses Simon's prowess in songwriting and jazz composition, Jan’s deep relationship to classical, bluegrass, and jazz violin, and Alex’s tremendous strength as a rock solid bassist, percussionist, and drummer.
Papa Bear: *Note that this will be a solo set*
Papa Bear and the Easy Love is the brainchild of Bay Area native Aaron Glass aka Papa Bear. Launched as Aaron Glass and Friends in 2009, it has since morphed into Papa Bear and the Easy Love and is now one of the premier bands performing in the Bay Area and beyond. The band is made up of an all star cast of Bay Area musicians, performing the original compositions Papa Bear has composed over the years.
Constantly striving to explore the boundaries and edges of human emotion, Papa Bear captures a deep perspective into the human experience. Lyrical content covers the gamet of mystery, beauty, and the comedy and tragedy of life. The musical lineage stems from the folk heritage, but ranges broadly.. from Americana and bluegrass, to blues, jazz, and good old rock’n’roll. PB and the Easy Love’s shows typically end in a massive singalong, blurring the boundaries between performer and audience, and inviting all to express themselves.
tumbleweedwanderers.com
http://www.steepravineband.com/
http://theeasylove.com/
oaktownindiemayhem.com