laura: guitar, ukulele, vocals
james: lead banjo, guitar, vocals
john: upright & electric bass
on select shows:
leslie: violin
steve: drums
Photos by Siren Santina
Influences
Rock-afire Explosion, John Prine, John Hurt, Rusted Root, Jem and the Holograms, Electric Mayhem, John Hartford, John Denver, Hank Sr, John Hiatt, Paul Westerberg, more people named John, The Everly Brothers, The Be Sharps, Ella, The Arcade Fire, Blossom Dearie, 16 Horsepower, those darn Avett Bros, Billy Bob Brockali, Sufjan Stevens, Josie and the Pussycats, Victoria Williams, & Glen Danzig. Oh yeah, especially Glen Danzig.
Sounds Like
Centralia Massacre's original music, despite our scary name, has been poignantly described as "snuggly folk music" by our local press. We're known most for our beautiful harmonies, the result of pairing Laura's trained songbird voice with James' whisky-drenched baritone. Using jangly guitar and electrified ukulele as the basis of our rhythm and groove, we round out the corners with lots of Johnny Walker on the syncopated bass and a unique Gatlinburg electric banjoist that incorporates jazz and Django into his technique. With a large collection of originals and covers, our sound has elements of jazz and blues, with traces of honky tonk and Appalachian country where appropriate. Most importantly, it sounds as good on the dance floor as it does at the bar.
If so inclined, how would I make a "Centralia Massacre" in my own kitchen?:
Start out with Laura's songbird voice and James' Gatlinburg banjo style, and get to mixing it up Knoxville style. Add bourbon. Ultimately, you are looking for something with the soothing heart and tenderness of Ella, Pasty, and Willie, but with the syrupy consistency of blues and jazz captured from some old 45's.
Next, add some honky tonk sensibility and charm, a stack of degrees in Music and Sociology, and lots of Johnny Walker on the bass to bring out that low-end desirable jazz flavor. If you have it handy, a dose of Appalachian humility also helps to keep things real.
Blend carefully, making sure to keep the jazz elements intact alongside the down-home charm of jangly guitar and ukulele. Serve hot and steamy. Depending on your end desires, serving Centralia Massacre with a nice shot of Leslie's Famed Fiddle will really get your taste buds dancing.
Some kind prose from our friends:
"Great thoughtful, unpretentious folk. Lilting, with all the craggy corners sticking out. James and Laura sing together like whiskey and ice." T-AK, Jan 2008
"The instrumentation is subdued and intricate, weaving a blanket of warmth and familiarity beneath the harmonies that turns the band into a more rough-and-tumble version of The Everybodyfields, or Over the Rhine if that band had grown up in an Appalachian holler instead of Ohio." Steve Wildsmith, Maryville Daily Times, Jan 2008
"Centralia Massacre makes pleasant, temperate music belying its name." Lisa Slade, Knoxville Voice, August 2008
"...a tremendous blend of folk/americana." Pops Resale, May 2009
"They are really talented. Not really punk kids though according to my friend Lusy. He was at (the band) house and said that the usually gross part of the toilet at the back near the tank wasn't dirty and hairy. I guess they clean or something."
Sidejarrecords.com, April 2009
Links to some recent articles about Centralia Massacre:
Come one, come all, roll out the barrel! DECK THE HALLS III FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 - 6pm - 2am
Featuring DJ Scotch Bonnet spinning the funky riddim and rebel sounds all night long +++ Musical acts MBIRD & Ohrella +++ free GAUNTLET LEGENDS +++ awesome beer specials like $3 Newcastles +++ The final First Friday of the year is always the best - come and see some amazing skateboard deck art!!!
Come one, come all, roll out the barrel! DECK THE HALLS III FRIDAY DECEMBER 4 - 6pm - 2am
Featuring DJ Scotch Bonnet spinning the funky riddim and rebel sounds all night long +++ Musical acts MBIRD & Ohrella +++ free GAUNTLET LEGENDS +++ awesome beer specials like $3 Newcastles +++ The final First Friday of the year is always the best - come and see some amazing skateboard deck art!!!
sadly, tennessee is waay off our route. Furthest south we're going before Texas is Louisville. But if Vic's Midnight Café works out, let us know about that place, we're trying to book Columbus right now with little to no leads!
You're coming? Terrific! I'm going to practice extra hard on guitar these next seven days so I can try my hardest to make a good first impression on you with this band! :)
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