Session Americana sit tightly around a small round cafe table, ambient mics tuned to catch the
complete sound of the voices and instruments. A suitcase drum kit, an old electric bass, a field organ and a collection of acoustic instruments. The unique format feels fantastically theatrical and although the musicians face each other, the audience feels drawn into the circle by the warmth, joy and camaraderie that emanate outwards by the all-star cast of characters seated around the table. What keeps fans coming back show after show is the same thing that any audience member longs for; great songs performed by a great band. The six core members of the band have brought enviable careers worth of experience to the “table”, featuring (current and former) members of Treat Her Right, Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna, The The, Dennis Brennan, Kris Delmhorst to name just a few. The group has grown from a rag tag jam at a local pub to a regional institution,
playing gigs from coffee houses to urban nightclubs, regional festival tents to theatres and in front of audiences in New York City and beyond.
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"Diving for Gold" (to be released in May 2009), marks a series of changes for Session Americana. The most notable transition is from founding bass player, Kimon Kirk, to Jon Bistline, whose original song "I Can't Get Out" is the first track on the new album. Both Kirk and Bistline perform on the record, however Kimon has since moved to the West Coast where he continues to play music. The focus of the album is towards original material - a departure for a band that has focused on songs from its immediate community of friends and public domain material. Paul Q. Kolderie and Co. (Pixies, Radiohead, Hole, Dinosaur Jr., Throwing Muses, Morphine, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones) brought a touch of old-fashioned producing as well as a thick soup of sonic fidelity to the sessions, whereas the band's previous recordings relied on a communal spontaneity for their inspiration. Finally, while not directly affecting the recording, the band has been invigorated by a long series of Tuesday nights performing sold-out shows at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. With developed material, and a now ‘broken in’ Bistline on bass, Session Americana has won over a whole new audience with their intimate but highly entertaining performing style.
Well, a dear friend from Max Creek told me to check you guys out and I finally made it out to the Lizard for a set the other night ... tastefully done ... keep up the great work! best, gd
Thanks for the add. I am asking myself, why I did not discover this incredible music earlier. Now I am spending hours listening to the various players and checking out all the awesome stuff at You Tube...;-).
It was great to see most of you last night. Thanks for introducing me to Madi. It was great. Good luck getting off that temporary tattoo Jim, it's nothing a little elbow grease can't handle.
Hahaha, Erin and I are on the same page... not surprising:-) just felt like sending the love via myspace too.
You need new band photos! Maybe we could take over/rent a trolley in the spring before you go on hiatus and bring your instruments. It would look so great with you men surrounded by BOSTON!
I'd be happy to take your photos. Just say when;-)
Wow! Your show last night at the Lizard was the most completely amazing, outstanding, incredible, memorable, fantastic, exciting, mind-blowingly great performance I've seen by you guys yet. When describing Session to the uninitiated, I used to call you "the best band in America". I'm going to have to revise that now to "best band in the history of the entire Universe." Your shows are truly one of life's special treats and you know that if I lived in Boston, I'd be at every single one. Happy New Year to all of you and I look forward to catching as many of your gigs as I can in 2009!
