ELEPHANTE is Matt Smit, Josh Thomas, & Ryan McEuen of Salt Lake City, Utah. Blues based Jam band but also includes elements of Latin Rock, Funk, Jazz, Bluegrass, and Reggae.
Mathew Smit (Guitar, Vocals) fifteen years ago traded a skateboard for a guitar and never looked back. Starting out playing in a punk rock band exposed Matt to what it was like playing in a real band. One day one of Matt’s good friends Daniel B.B. gave him what would become one of his favorite albums of all time, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and from that day on Matt’s musical approach was forever changed. Matt then joined the Ringling Brothers Circus traveling and playing his guitar across the country. Living on a train for two years with the circus he fell in love with and gained a new respect for elephants, and named his would-be band Elephante in their essence. After the circus Matt decided to go to college at Dixie in Saint George for music where he met Josh Thomas.
Joshua Thomas (Bass, Vocals) was raised in a diverse musical family with family members whose instruments range from drummers to, sax, trumpet, trombone, and piano players. Although raised in a very musical family Josh didn't pick up a bass until he was 17. Starting in a punk rock band, and over time evolving into a more versatile player, he began incorporating Blues, Funk, Jazz, Reggae, and Latin Rock into his styles. Josh would attribute a great deal of his inspiration from all other bass players, but mainly Jaco Pastorious and Victor Wooten. Josh has been playing with Matthew and Elephante since 1999.
After struggling to find a drummer that was adequate for Elephantes needs, in comes Ryan McEuen, who has been holding it down ever since.
Teaming up with Matt and Josh, Ryan McEuen, (Drums, Vocals) was able to find the space in a band to chase after his influences. Ranging from the traditional Levon Helm approach, to hanging out in the Latin influences of El Negro… The musical background he comes from has brought him to incorporate traditional Americana feel to his playing as well. After being raised in a musical family Ryan also got to apply the music created by his siblings. Jonathan McEuen, a Nashville recording artists and independent musician has made a huge impact on his music, as well as his brother Nathan McEuen. The McEuen family grew up on tour with their father, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This experience led Ryan to not only pursue playing music, but to produce concerts with National touring artists and the best of local Utah musicians.
Elephante brings an enthusiastic, expressive, and interactive presence with our performance. The diversity among the people that attend Elephante shows reflects the diversity of their music and the unique surprises that come with every set.
In this weeks episode we travel to the red rock deserts of southern Utah. As we check out a selection of songs from several of the bands performances at the 2008 desert rocks music festival in Moab, Utah. This weeks performances include Hot Buttered Rum String Band, James Shook, Smooth Money Gesture, TLO, Lab Coat, Wise Bird, Puddle Mountain Ramblers and The Cavalry Baptist Choir. to subscribe to this podcast click the link: http://saltlakecitysounds.mypodcast.com/rss.xml
Hey Ryan cant wait till Fri it will be a blast remember blues dart will be using your drum kit so lets get it set up by 8:45 please thanks John Kunz Utah fiddler
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