Press, reviews and quotes
George’s Back Pocket: The “Everyman” Finds His Stride
Clara Rose Thorton
“Everyman” music – roots, Americana, whatever you see fit to call it – is essentially a gathering of voices and expressions that, when allowed to unfurl in unison, tells an individual story that somehow strikes to the heart of all of humanity.
Folk, jam and roots rock are particularly tied to such a notion, as they often bring to bear a collaborative improvisational style and cull vocally from a rich legacy of poets and grassroots storytellers. Through the amassing of talented players is a performance lifted higher, and from all walks of life is its narrative delivered. This is the nature of true grassroots music, and this is the nature of George’s Back Pocket.
There is a joy, a sort of natural exuberance, that wafts from the stage when central Vermont’s wailing, long-bearded live music apostle has taken residence. Vocalist and guitarist George V. Nostrand -- writer of the acclaimed Rutland Herald music column, “Local Spin” -- has fronted what was until recently a loose, ecstatic gathering of New England musicians set to spin out their hearts and souls to Nostrand’s stouthearted compositions and beloved folk classics. With the influence of John Prine, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strangefolk, The Who and Jimi Hendrix circulating between the notes, there was plenty of room for experimentation.
Amongst the jazz crowd, there’s the idea of a “pocket” that holds musicians when they’re flying through that inner musical stratosphere. “Well,” said Nostrand, “I came up with my own definition, which was a place that I could often put as many musicians as I could find.” A saying began to circulate around these parts: “You never know who’s going to be in George’s Back Pocket.”
The story itself has the feel of a great folk song. In 2004, after years of building a dedicated live following, Nostrand figured it was time to put up or shut up, and gathered a crew of the finest musicians the region had to offer and headed into the studio. The core line-up was bolstered by a rotating cast of contributors to the material’s gritty, understated, classical messages of life as lived through perceptive eyes. “Radio Songs,” the acclaimed 2005 LP that resulted from the sessions, ironically has “The ‘Solo’ Album” and “George, by George!” strewn across its cover. Seeing as it featured more than 20 guest players, this “solo” debut became emblematic of the sprawling Nostrand aesthetic, and he found himself with both visiting and regional musicians wanting to be stuffed into that Back Pocket whenever they could.
Riding the strength of originals such as “Mexico” and the LP’s culturally scathing title track, they’ve played such festivals as Solarfest, Roots on the River and Harvest Moon, and at listening rooms, bars and clubs in every nook and cranny of the state. Yet by March of 2009, “we did one of those gigs that led to chaos, and I had to be reined in,” said Nostrand. The time had come for cohesion among collaboration, while maintaining the freshness and energy of passionate yet structured folk musicianship.
Thus was born the current and lasting incarnation of George’s Back Pocket: original collaborator Marcos Levy on keyboards, Burlington music-scene alumni Gary Miller-Wade on drums, Rutland bass virtuoso Jeff Poremski, and Britain’s own lead guitar tour-de-force Steve Audsley. With a new LP for release in 2010, a major expansion of live dates and a heightened level of intimacy onstage that, as Nostrand puts it, “affords a new level of confidence that has allowed us to get really tight,” the Back Pocket seems to have emptied of all but the best, and thereby opened itself up to the world.
Clara Rose Thornton
Film, Wine and Visual Art Critic ~ Music Journalist ~ Editor
--
InkBlot Complex
E: [email protected]
W: www.clararosethornton.com
--
Cultural criticism for local, national and international magazines
Regional reporting and arts coverage for daily newspapers
Concept development and editing for writers
Clara Rose Thorton
“Everyman” music – roots, Americana, whatever you see fit to call it – is essentially a gathering of voices and expressions that, when allowed to unfurl in unison, tells an individual story that somehow strikes to the heart of all of humanity.
Folk, jam and roots rock are particularly tied to such a notion, as they often bring to bear a collaborative improvisational style and cull vocally from a rich legacy of poets and grassroots storytellers. Through the amassing of talented players is a performance lifted higher, and from all walks of life is its narrative delivered. This is the nature of true grassroots music, and this is the nature of George’s Back Pocket.
There is a joy, a sort of natural exuberance, that wafts from the stage when central Vermont’s wailing, long-bearded live music apostle has taken residence. Vocalist and guitarist George V. Nostrand -- writer of the acclaimed Rutland Herald music column, “Local Spin” -- has fronted what was until recently a loose, ecstatic gathering of New England musicians set to spin out their hearts and souls to Nostrand’s stouthearted compositions and beloved folk classics. With the influence of John Prine, Neil Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Strangefolk, The Who and Jimi Hendrix circulating between the notes, there was plenty of room for experimentation.
Amongst the jazz crowd, there’s the idea of a “pocket” that holds musicians when they’re flying through that inner musical stratosphere. “Well,” said Nostrand, “I came up with my own definition, which was a place that I could often put as many musicians as I could find.” A saying began to circulate around these parts: “You never know who’s going to be in George’s Back Pocket.”
The story itself has the feel of a great folk song. In 2004, after years of building a dedicated live following, Nostrand figured it was time to put up or shut up, and gathered a crew of the finest musicians the region had to offer and headed into the studio. The core line-up was bolstered by a rotating cast of contributors to the material’s gritty, understated, classical messages of life as lived through perceptive eyes. “Radio Songs,” the acclaimed 2005 LP that resulted from the sessions, ironically has “The ‘Solo’ Album” and “George, by George!” strewn across its cover. Seeing as it featured more than 20 guest players, this “solo” debut became emblematic of the sprawling Nostrand aesthetic, and he found himself with both visiting and regional musicians wanting to be stuffed into that Back Pocket whenever they could.
Riding the strength of originals such as “Mexico” and the LP’s culturally scathing title track, they’ve played such festivals as Solarfest, Roots on the River and Harvest Moon, and at listening rooms, bars and clubs in every nook and cranny of the state. Yet by March of 2009, “we did one of those gigs that led to chaos, and I had to be reined in,” said Nostrand. The time had come for cohesion among collaboration, while maintaining the freshness and energy of passionate yet structured folk musicianship.
Thus was born the current and lasting incarnation of George’s Back Pocket: original collaborator Marcos Levy on keyboards, Burlington music-scene alumni Gary Miller-Wade on drums, Rutland bass virtuoso Jeff Poremski, and Britain’s own lead guitar tour-de-force Steve Audsley. With a new LP for release in 2010, a major expansion of live dates and a heightened level of intimacy onstage that, as Nostrand puts it, “affords a new level of confidence that has allowed us to get really tight,” the Back Pocket seems to have emptied of all but the best, and thereby opened itself up to the world.
Clara Rose Thornton
Film, Wine and Visual Art Critic ~ Music Journalist ~ Editor
--
InkBlot Complex
E: [email protected]
W: www.clararosethornton.com
--
Cultural criticism for local, national and international magazines
Regional reporting and arts coverage for daily newspapers
Concept development and editing for writers
Rockin the Region with George’s Back Pocket and Phil Henry & The News Feed
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
Kick off February with a mid-winter concert featuring two local bands, George’s Back Pocket and Phil Henry & The News Feed. The West Rutland Town Hall on Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. is the place to be. Tickets are available in advance at Be Music and Rick & Kat’s Howlin’ Mouse Records in Rutland and online at brownpapertickets.com.
George’s Back Pocket (GBP) is the brainchild of George Nostrand. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Nostrand in the past so please see a back article to find out more about him. For this article, I had a nice chat with Phil Henry to learn more about him and his band, The News Feed.
GBP will open the show, featuring a line-up of local all-star musicians including Nostrand on guitar, Marcos Levy on keys, Jeff Poremski on lead guitar, Ross Edmunds on drums and Brian Hobbs on bass. Nostrand took a break from the Pocket to form and record with Miss Guided Angels. Now he returns with a powerful five-piece to play songs from the 2011 GBP album, as well as a few surprises.
“George’s shows are a high-wire act,” praised Henry. “You really don’t know what you’re in for, but you know it’s going to be fun.”
Phil Henry & The News Feed is Henry’s newest ensemble, featuring Brendan Coyle on drums, Mitch Barron on upright and fretless bass, and Jeff Kimball on a kitchen-sink level variety of instruments such as piano, accordion, acoustic and electric mandolins, keyboard, and glockenspiel. Rutland fiddler Jimmy Kalb will sit in on this set as well. Henry plays acoustic and electric guitar. The band offers audiences layered textures of sound.
Seven Days called the sound “vivid lyrical imagery that captures the imagination.”
Nostrand said, “Phil is one of the most talented singer-songwriters I know, and so it’s an honor to do this show with him and his band.”
Henry described the band and said, “My band is really rooted in singer-songwriter music. Even though it’s amped up and a little louder than most, it’s really rooted in folk music both traditional and contemporary. I do a lot of songs that are based on characters with a lot of story telling as part of the ways the songs unfold.”
Both artists have released several albums of original material and are excited for the opportunity to showcase their songs. “I enjoy playing cover songs at bars and restaurants, but that’s a totally different experience than performing your own songs,” said Nostrand.
Henry does not spend a lot of time playing in local bars. He said, “Even though this has a rock sound that could fit well in those situations, it really depends on being able to hear the lyrics to make the music work.”
Henry and Nostrand collaborated on many things in the past but this will be the first time these two will have a co-bill together. Henry said, “This is a neat opportunity to put a couple of bands together on stage and share a night.”
After the two bands perform, they hope to put all 10 guys on stage for a big jam.
The town hall is familiar to Henry, who has brought his school students there to perform. For the past 16 years, Henry has been the West Rutland pre K-12 music teacher and teaches chorus, a bunch of general music classes and a rock band. He said the hall is an extension of the school in terms of being able to use it for school events. Henry said it’s an underused hall and added, “It’s a beautiful hall and it’s great to get in there.” He has a coffee houseseries there on March 18 at 6 p.m. with the middle school and high school student performers. He said they make a really special evening out of it. He shares the music job with another former interviewee, Zach Hampton.
Henry said, “The ensembles all play, the jazz band plays with Zach. My chorus sings. The rock lab plays. Tons of kids do individual performances, kind of like open mic style. It’s small performances all evening and it’s a huge night.”
Henry has been recording albums since 2000. He’s developed his own studio, which he uses to help other musicians and to self-produce his albums. Nostrand’s last album with MGA was produced there. Henry has five full-length albums out that you can find on CD Baby, Spotify, Amazon and iTunes. If you buy them there, Henry laughingly said, he can make fractions of pennies for everyone.
Henry loves being in a room full of people who are listening and hanging on each word and note. He said, “That’s the thing that makes me excited and the thing that makes me want to write. I can picture what that’s going to be like in a room and hear the impact of some of these thoughts and the combination of the lyrics, chords, melody and instrumentation and seeing what the result of that is. I finish a gig and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Teaching music gives him these same feelings. He said, “I’m so passionate about it. I love it when I see that in my students as well. When they can be just as excited about the way that a song is sounding. I love being able to share that same passion with kids. It’s like coaching. I love being able to show them how to do it.”
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
Kick off February with a mid-winter concert featuring two local bands, George’s Back Pocket and Phil Henry & The News Feed. The West Rutland Town Hall on Feb. 1 at 7:30 p.m. is the place to be. Tickets are available in advance at Be Music and Rick & Kat’s Howlin’ Mouse Records in Rutland and online at brownpapertickets.com.
George’s Back Pocket (GBP) is the brainchild of George Nostrand. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Nostrand in the past so please see a back article to find out more about him. For this article, I had a nice chat with Phil Henry to learn more about him and his band, The News Feed.
GBP will open the show, featuring a line-up of local all-star musicians including Nostrand on guitar, Marcos Levy on keys, Jeff Poremski on lead guitar, Ross Edmunds on drums and Brian Hobbs on bass. Nostrand took a break from the Pocket to form and record with Miss Guided Angels. Now he returns with a powerful five-piece to play songs from the 2011 GBP album, as well as a few surprises.
“George’s shows are a high-wire act,” praised Henry. “You really don’t know what you’re in for, but you know it’s going to be fun.”
Phil Henry & The News Feed is Henry’s newest ensemble, featuring Brendan Coyle on drums, Mitch Barron on upright and fretless bass, and Jeff Kimball on a kitchen-sink level variety of instruments such as piano, accordion, acoustic and electric mandolins, keyboard, and glockenspiel. Rutland fiddler Jimmy Kalb will sit in on this set as well. Henry plays acoustic and electric guitar. The band offers audiences layered textures of sound.
Seven Days called the sound “vivid lyrical imagery that captures the imagination.”
Nostrand said, “Phil is one of the most talented singer-songwriters I know, and so it’s an honor to do this show with him and his band.”
Henry described the band and said, “My band is really rooted in singer-songwriter music. Even though it’s amped up and a little louder than most, it’s really rooted in folk music both traditional and contemporary. I do a lot of songs that are based on characters with a lot of story telling as part of the ways the songs unfold.”
Both artists have released several albums of original material and are excited for the opportunity to showcase their songs. “I enjoy playing cover songs at bars and restaurants, but that’s a totally different experience than performing your own songs,” said Nostrand.
Henry does not spend a lot of time playing in local bars. He said, “Even though this has a rock sound that could fit well in those situations, it really depends on being able to hear the lyrics to make the music work.”
Henry and Nostrand collaborated on many things in the past but this will be the first time these two will have a co-bill together. Henry said, “This is a neat opportunity to put a couple of bands together on stage and share a night.”
After the two bands perform, they hope to put all 10 guys on stage for a big jam.
The town hall is familiar to Henry, who has brought his school students there to perform. For the past 16 years, Henry has been the West Rutland pre K-12 music teacher and teaches chorus, a bunch of general music classes and a rock band. He said the hall is an extension of the school in terms of being able to use it for school events. Henry said it’s an underused hall and added, “It’s a beautiful hall and it’s great to get in there.” He has a coffee houseseries there on March 18 at 6 p.m. with the middle school and high school student performers. He said they make a really special evening out of it. He shares the music job with another former interviewee, Zach Hampton.
Henry said, “The ensembles all play, the jazz band plays with Zach. My chorus sings. The rock lab plays. Tons of kids do individual performances, kind of like open mic style. It’s small performances all evening and it’s a huge night.”
Henry has been recording albums since 2000. He’s developed his own studio, which he uses to help other musicians and to self-produce his albums. Nostrand’s last album with MGA was produced there. Henry has five full-length albums out that you can find on CD Baby, Spotify, Amazon and iTunes. If you buy them there, Henry laughingly said, he can make fractions of pennies for everyone.
Henry loves being in a room full of people who are listening and hanging on each word and note. He said, “That’s the thing that makes me excited and the thing that makes me want to write. I can picture what that’s going to be like in a room and hear the impact of some of these thoughts and the combination of the lyrics, chords, melody and instrumentation and seeing what the result of that is. I finish a gig and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Teaching music gives him these same feelings. He said, “I’m so passionate about it. I love it when I see that in my students as well. When they can be just as excited about the way that a song is sounding. I love being able to share that same passion with kids. It’s like coaching. I love being able to show them how to do it.”
Folk tunes and pizza pies to soothe the soul
By Brooke Geery, Correspondent
CHESTER — George Nostrand is returning to Chester for an acoustic performance with Krishna Guthrie at the Pizza Stone, 91 Pleasant St., Friday at 6 p.m.
Nostrand, who grew up in Bellows Falls, now lives in Rutland where he runs a rehearsal and recording studio called a Sound Space. He has played the venue many times solo and with his band George’s Back Pocket. But it will be a first for 30-year-old Guthrie.
“The Pizza Stone is certainly a venue that goes out of its way to bring in, and take care of quality artists locally, regionally and beyond. People come there for the amazing food and beers, but also expect to hear first class talent,” Nostrand said. “I’m excited that I get the chance to introduce Krishna to [owner] Darlene [Duane] and the local audience.”
Like all dedicated musicians, Nostrand said he’s happy to be getting back in his groove as Vermont returns to normalcy this summer.
“It feels amazing to be out in front of live audiences again,” he said. “I was lucky enough to continue to play sporadically through the pandemic at a couple places, but being back on a regular schedule where I can travel to different places and see new faces is fantastic.”
Speaking of new faces, the younger of the two musicians is relatively fresh to the Vermont music scene, but has performing in his blood — his grandfather Arlo and great-grandfather Woody Guthrie both found great success in the folk music scene.
Krishna Guthrie joined the family band at age 15 and has been playing and recording regularly at Nostrand’s studio since his arrival in the Green Mountains.
The two have joined forces live a few times before, and fill their acoustic sets with a combination of original music and covers. They often play each other’s tunes and viewers can expect just that at the Pizza Stone show.
“This is the third or fourth time Krishna and I have played together as a duo and it’s always fun. Even though we’re a generation apart, music spans that and many other gaps,” he said.
Nostrand added Guthrie is light-years beyond his age musically, with almost as much performing experience as Nostrand.
“Getting to play a duo with Krishna is a treat. While I’m the elder statesman, Krishna really has the chops both on the guitar and vocally. I’m doing my best to pass the torch to him and get him out performing as much as possible.”
By Brooke Geery, Correspondent
CHESTER — George Nostrand is returning to Chester for an acoustic performance with Krishna Guthrie at the Pizza Stone, 91 Pleasant St., Friday at 6 p.m.
Nostrand, who grew up in Bellows Falls, now lives in Rutland where he runs a rehearsal and recording studio called a Sound Space. He has played the venue many times solo and with his band George’s Back Pocket. But it will be a first for 30-year-old Guthrie.
“The Pizza Stone is certainly a venue that goes out of its way to bring in, and take care of quality artists locally, regionally and beyond. People come there for the amazing food and beers, but also expect to hear first class talent,” Nostrand said. “I’m excited that I get the chance to introduce Krishna to [owner] Darlene [Duane] and the local audience.”
Like all dedicated musicians, Nostrand said he’s happy to be getting back in his groove as Vermont returns to normalcy this summer.
“It feels amazing to be out in front of live audiences again,” he said. “I was lucky enough to continue to play sporadically through the pandemic at a couple places, but being back on a regular schedule where I can travel to different places and see new faces is fantastic.”
Speaking of new faces, the younger of the two musicians is relatively fresh to the Vermont music scene, but has performing in his blood — his grandfather Arlo and great-grandfather Woody Guthrie both found great success in the folk music scene.
Krishna Guthrie joined the family band at age 15 and has been playing and recording regularly at Nostrand’s studio since his arrival in the Green Mountains.
The two have joined forces live a few times before, and fill their acoustic sets with a combination of original music and covers. They often play each other’s tunes and viewers can expect just that at the Pizza Stone show.
“This is the third or fourth time Krishna and I have played together as a duo and it’s always fun. Even though we’re a generation apart, music spans that and many other gaps,” he said.
Nostrand added Guthrie is light-years beyond his age musically, with almost as much performing experience as Nostrand.
“Getting to play a duo with Krishna is a treat. While I’m the elder statesman, Krishna really has the chops both on the guitar and vocally. I’m doing my best to pass the torch to him and get him out performing as much as possible.”
Rockin the Region with George’s Back Pocket and Phil Henry & The News Feed
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
I love music. I especially love getting to preview a friend’s band’s debut album. It’s a real treat for the ears. Miss Guided Angels just completed their debut album, “The One That Got Away,” and they’re having a CD release party Oct. 25 at the Brick Box at Paramount Theatre in Rutland at 7 p.m. It’s $10 to get in, and you get a copy of the CD and/or a download card.
MGA are: Lisa Gardner (vocal, guitar, percussion), Bob Campbell (cajon, percussion, vocal), Jimmy Kalb (fiddle) and George Nostrand (vocal, guitar, piano). The album has many special guests including Joey Leone on lead guitar, Kevin Maul on pedal steel, Catherine Miles on harmony vocals, Jesse Hongisto on upright bass, Marcos Levy on piano, Mary Barron on fiddle, Trip Wecott on harmonica, Allison Henry singing choir and Phil Henry on so many things. Phil Henry plays electric bass, tenor guitar, tambourine, shaker, cabasa, mandolin, electric piano, melodica and vocals on various tunes. It’s safe to say that Henry is a “Jack of all Trades.”
I got a chance to speak with Nostrand. He has no problem finding people to play with him. “My first album, ‘Radio Songs,’ started out as a solo album and I had 20 guest musicians. I’m really fortunate between my job at the Rutland Herald and having played in the area for so long that I’ve made great connections with many musicians. They’re all very generous and very quick to jump onto the project,” Nostrand said.
Every song is awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the album and will be again. It’s well-produced and that credit goes to Phil Henry. His decisions of what to have where and when to feature it, is perfect. The band is tight, the vocals are great and it’s a good mix of instruments. They have every cool instrument covered. I like the choice of having a cajon and not drums. Nostrand added, “Having Bob play cajon is a perfect match for an acoustic band. It really drives the songs along.” Nostrand wrote seven songs, Gardner wrote two and there’s one by Josh Brooks. I like the way Nostrand writes with his story telling; it’s easy to follow along. “I don’t know where the songs come from. They just come into my head, I write it down and all of a sudden they’re there,” Nostrand explained.
The album kicks off with “Rollin’ Home,” which is a great beginning song. It’s a feel-good song, a sit-back-on-your-porch-and-crack-a-cold-one type of song. There’s a great mix of vocals and Kalb’s fiddle solo is sweet. Song two is “Lost-N-Found.” It has a bluesy, country feel, but by country I mean country and western, not the pop country of today. I could hear this in a “Roadhouse” type of bar. I really like Levy’s piano playing and Leone’s guitar solo. Song three is “Baby, Let’s Drop It.” This is an easy listening, chill song. There are really good harmonies with Nostrand and Gardner. Song four, “The One That Got Away,”is the title track, and my favorite. There are sweet vocals by Gardner and nice harmony with Miles. Kalb’s fiddle is a perfect blend. I didn’t want the song to end. Song five, “Stitched With Love,” is one of those songs that I still have the lyrics playing in my head. It’s an upbeat jammin’ song. This one switched to Barron on fiddle and added Henry on mandolin. I really like the band sound here.
Number six, “Token Blues,” is another big favorite of mine. We go back to the blues and it’s so good. I really like the lyrics and Nostrand’s and Gardner’s back and forth. This one has Wecott’s harmonica, which is solid and prominent throughout. Song seven is “Leaves” and once again we hear Gardner’s sweet voice. Her vocals are easy on the ears. Nostrand is on piano and organ, which is rare for him, but it sounds good. Number eight is live with “Griswold Drive.” This song pumped me up. It’s a feel good song like “Rollin’ Home.” Kalb’s fiddle is awesome and so is Nostrand and Gardner’s singing. What I like best is the simple instrumentation with just fiddle and cajon. Number nine, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” is another chill song with that good story telling. Gardner and Nostrand have good harmonies on it.
The last song on the album is “Bottom of the Bottle.” This is a good, fun song. I love the fiddle, love the vocal outbursts and love the Angels Bar Choir. You can’t not clap and sing along. I felt this song in my body, it’s so good. The song came about because Nostrand and fellow musician, Mike O’Brien were having a beer and Nostrand said, “Mike, you know the bottom of the bottle comes too soon.” O’Brien told him he had to write a song about that. The song is unique. Hongisto’s vocal outbursts were not planned and Henry wanted to add anyone who was there, to the song. His wife Allison wandered in and he put her on the mic, too. Nostrand wanted a party song; mission accomplished.
Nostrand has played around Rutland for years with different projects, but this one’s different. “This band really highlights the songs. I’ve been in bands where the songs are secondary to the music. This is a singer-songwriter album.” I highly recommend buying this album, you will not be disappointed. There’s something for everyone.
By DJ Dave Hoffenberg
I love music. I especially love getting to preview a friend’s band’s debut album. It’s a real treat for the ears. Miss Guided Angels just completed their debut album, “The One That Got Away,” and they’re having a CD release party Oct. 25 at the Brick Box at Paramount Theatre in Rutland at 7 p.m. It’s $10 to get in, and you get a copy of the CD and/or a download card.
MGA are: Lisa Gardner (vocal, guitar, percussion), Bob Campbell (cajon, percussion, vocal), Jimmy Kalb (fiddle) and George Nostrand (vocal, guitar, piano). The album has many special guests including Joey Leone on lead guitar, Kevin Maul on pedal steel, Catherine Miles on harmony vocals, Jesse Hongisto on upright bass, Marcos Levy on piano, Mary Barron on fiddle, Trip Wecott on harmonica, Allison Henry singing choir and Phil Henry on so many things. Phil Henry plays electric bass, tenor guitar, tambourine, shaker, cabasa, mandolin, electric piano, melodica and vocals on various tunes. It’s safe to say that Henry is a “Jack of all Trades.”
I got a chance to speak with Nostrand. He has no problem finding people to play with him. “My first album, ‘Radio Songs,’ started out as a solo album and I had 20 guest musicians. I’m really fortunate between my job at the Rutland Herald and having played in the area for so long that I’ve made great connections with many musicians. They’re all very generous and very quick to jump onto the project,” Nostrand said.
Every song is awesome. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the album and will be again. It’s well-produced and that credit goes to Phil Henry. His decisions of what to have where and when to feature it, is perfect. The band is tight, the vocals are great and it’s a good mix of instruments. They have every cool instrument covered. I like the choice of having a cajon and not drums. Nostrand added, “Having Bob play cajon is a perfect match for an acoustic band. It really drives the songs along.” Nostrand wrote seven songs, Gardner wrote two and there’s one by Josh Brooks. I like the way Nostrand writes with his story telling; it’s easy to follow along. “I don’t know where the songs come from. They just come into my head, I write it down and all of a sudden they’re there,” Nostrand explained.
The album kicks off with “Rollin’ Home,” which is a great beginning song. It’s a feel-good song, a sit-back-on-your-porch-and-crack-a-cold-one type of song. There’s a great mix of vocals and Kalb’s fiddle solo is sweet. Song two is “Lost-N-Found.” It has a bluesy, country feel, but by country I mean country and western, not the pop country of today. I could hear this in a “Roadhouse” type of bar. I really like Levy’s piano playing and Leone’s guitar solo. Song three is “Baby, Let’s Drop It.” This is an easy listening, chill song. There are really good harmonies with Nostrand and Gardner. Song four, “The One That Got Away,”is the title track, and my favorite. There are sweet vocals by Gardner and nice harmony with Miles. Kalb’s fiddle is a perfect blend. I didn’t want the song to end. Song five, “Stitched With Love,” is one of those songs that I still have the lyrics playing in my head. It’s an upbeat jammin’ song. This one switched to Barron on fiddle and added Henry on mandolin. I really like the band sound here.
Number six, “Token Blues,” is another big favorite of mine. We go back to the blues and it’s so good. I really like the lyrics and Nostrand’s and Gardner’s back and forth. This one has Wecott’s harmonica, which is solid and prominent throughout. Song seven is “Leaves” and once again we hear Gardner’s sweet voice. Her vocals are easy on the ears. Nostrand is on piano and organ, which is rare for him, but it sounds good. Number eight is live with “Griswold Drive.” This song pumped me up. It’s a feel good song like “Rollin’ Home.” Kalb’s fiddle is awesome and so is Nostrand and Gardner’s singing. What I like best is the simple instrumentation with just fiddle and cajon. Number nine, “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow,” is another chill song with that good story telling. Gardner and Nostrand have good harmonies on it.
The last song on the album is “Bottom of the Bottle.” This is a good, fun song. I love the fiddle, love the vocal outbursts and love the Angels Bar Choir. You can’t not clap and sing along. I felt this song in my body, it’s so good. The song came about because Nostrand and fellow musician, Mike O’Brien were having a beer and Nostrand said, “Mike, you know the bottom of the bottle comes too soon.” O’Brien told him he had to write a song about that. The song is unique. Hongisto’s vocal outbursts were not planned and Henry wanted to add anyone who was there, to the song. His wife Allison wandered in and he put her on the mic, too. Nostrand wanted a party song; mission accomplished.
Nostrand has played around Rutland for years with different projects, but this one’s different. “This band really highlights the songs. I’ve been in bands where the songs are secondary to the music. This is a singer-songwriter album.” I highly recommend buying this album, you will not be disappointed. There’s something for everyone.