Post by Gerrald Bostock on May 28, 2014 14:38:14 GMT
THE SLAMBOVIAN CIRCUS OF DREAMS
With influences including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Frank Zappa, Todd Rundgren, and the marching bands in Philadelphia’s Mummer Parade, the Slambovian Circus of Dreams deliver a sound both strikingly familiar and excitingly new. As it’s title indicates, their debut for Red River, A Box of Everything samples each step along the Sleepy Hollow, New York-based band’s decade-and-a-half-long path. With songs from their independently released studio albums, A Good Thief Tips His Hat (1999), Flapjacks from the Sky (2004), The Great Unravel (2008) and The Grand Slambovians (2011), as well as previously unreleased tracks, they step forward as one of Americana’s most original ensembles. Despite several name changes since 1998 – Gandalf Murphy & the Slambovian Circus of Dreams, The Grand Slambovians – their infectious delivery has remained consistent. While Joziah Longo commands center-stage with his baritone singing, rhythm guitar and harmonica playing, and quirky songwriting, the sound is very much a group effort.
Longo’s wife, Tink Lloyd, a classically trained keyboardist, provides inspiration for several songs, while summoning a tonal smorgasbord on accordion, cello, ukulele, melodica, Theremin and flute. Sharkey McEwen’s sonic-driven guitar and mandolin string bending propels each tune. Founding drummer Tony Zuzulu adds hard-edged syncopation to all but the title track and the bonus track, “Alligators,” played by Eric Puente. Each of Longo and Lloyd’s twin sons, Chen (bass, background vocals), and Orien Longo (piano, bass, background vocals), appear on three tracks. Paul Silverman (piano and calliope), Michael Polito (standup bass), and Rocky and Nikki Shiga (trombone and clarinet), add to the hook-laden, break-up, pop tune, “Very Happy Now.” Seth Gallagher plays uillean pipes on “Tink (I Know it’s you).”
Although they knew where they were heading, when they returned to music and formed Gandalf Murphy and the Slambovian Circus of Dreams (a name that Longo once told me they chose to keep major labels away), they have taken their time to get there. Weaving a good-spirited mix of musical influences, they spurned the world of commercial music and found a welcoming home among the contemporary folk, alt-rock, and Americana communities. With their first widely distributed release, their acclaim should spread even more.
OUT ON THE ROAD
May 30th, 2014 7:30 PM
Center for Arts in Natick
14 Summer St.
Natick, MA 01760
www.natickarts.org
June 5th, 2014 8:00 PM
The Ark
316 South Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
www.theark.org
June 6th, 2014 7:00 PM
Old Town School of Folk Music
4544 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago, IL
www.oldtownschool.org
June 7th, 2014 7:30 PM
Thrasher Opera House
506 Mill St.
Green Lake, WI 54941
www.thrasheroperahouse.com
June 26th, 2014 8:00 PM
A Benefit for FTC & WPKN 89.5 FM
Fairfield Theatre Co. - Stage One
70 Sanford St.
Fairfield, CT 06824
www.fairfieldtheatre.org
Our very good friends at WPKN have asked for our assistance in a benefit for the station, with FTC on board as well. As a warm-up act we are pleased to announce another "good friend of WPKN" HAMELL ON TRIAL aka Ed Hamell. Here is is website: hamellontrial.com/ Here is a link to an interview on WPKN: archives.wpkn.org/bookmarks/listen/69361
June 27th, 2014
NY Faerie Festival
2195 State Route 79
Harpursville, NY 13787
www.nyfaeriefest.com
June 28th, 2014
NY Faerie Festival
2195 State Route 79
Harpursville, NY 13787
www.nyfaeriefest.com
July 11th, 2014 8:30 PM
The Towne Crier Cafe
379 Main Street
Beacon, NY 12508
845-855-1300
www.townecrier.com
August 1st,2nd, 3rd 2014
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival
Dodds Farm/44 County Route 7D
Hillsdale, NY 06069
860-364-0366
www.falconridgefolk.com
August 15th, 2014 6:30 PM
WNTI/Centenary College present:
Knowlton Township Outdoor Concert
15 Valley Street
Columbia, NJ 07832
www.wnti.org
August 22nd, 2014
The Potter's Shed
260 Industrial Blvd.
Shell Lake, WI 54871
www.thepottersshed.com
August 23rd and 24 2014
Porcupine Mountains Music Festival
Winter Sports Complex
36606 Carp Lake Tower Road
Ontonagon, MI 49953
800-344-5355
www.porkiesfestival.org/
October 4th, 2014 7:30 PM
Six on the Square
6 Lafayette Park
Oxford, NY 13830
607-243-6876
www.6onthesquare.org
