Bob Dylan, The Band, Blind Blake, Bernard Herrmann, Django Reinhardt, Ry Cooder, Igor Stravinsky, Elizabeth Cotton, Tom Waits, Woody Guthrie, Jerry Goldsmith, small guitars, Albert Roussel, Geoff Muldaur, early jazz and ragtime, William Gay, Larry Brown, Wallace Stegner, Paul Auster
Sounds Like
If the Carter family, the Band and Alfred Hitchcock wrote songs together it might sound like this.
All the Boats Are Gonna Rise shows the keen storytelling skill of Ernest Troost.
Pointedly less impressionistic and lyrical than most blues, Troost’s songs are rooted
instead in character, situation, and narrative. Adeptly fingerpicked guitar backs his
clear, expressive singing. Troost’s style and subject matter recall Dylan, Dave Alvin,
and (especially for his concentration on life’s darker side) Richard Thompson--
enviable company indeed. Such comparisons are not lightly made: Every song here
is a keeper. Favorites include the murder ballad "Evangeline," with its haunted
protagonist; the simple, John Hurt-like "This Field"; "Train to Kokomo," a series of
sharply etched vignettes; and the appropriately named "Disturbing Blues," about
a mother who methodically dismembers her child as he learns to make
and respond to music.
—Tom Hyslop, Blues Revue Magazine
Hi E! Thanks for letting Simon and I have a spot last night. Your voice sounds amazing and my friends really enjoyed you. You've got some new groupies! And thanks again for the amazing song...It Don't Hurt!! Lisa xoxo
Ernest, Every time I've seen you perform I've been amazed at the sheer elegance of your writing. I'm also very impressed by this photo of yours! :^) All the best and MUCH success, James
I like Dark Days. Took me a minute or two to adjust because I dont think I have ever heard you strum a song. It has an island feel. A song that you might hear a street musician singing while busking on a corner...in say Jamaica, or Barbados. Good job.
Hi Ernest Really enjoying listening to your songs. Travelin' Shoes is excellent. I'll check out your website. I'm glad you like The Journeyman. Have you put any songs on Folk Alley? The Open Mic page is great. You can hear a lot more of my songs there and I'm certain your own songs would stand out as exceptional. All the best and keep in touch. I'll extend my usual invite, which is that if you ever fancy playing in the smallest venue in Edinburgh for no money then I'm your man. Check out Foakies. Cheers Tom
Thanks for a great time last night! I love Switchblade Heart and as usual your guitar playing, lyrics, and vocals were amazing. I am honored to be your friend.
Lisa
ERNEST! S'cool to see you here at last! I can't wait for you to hear Evangeline! See you in Santa Monica on April 26th at Rusty's Surf Ranch on the Pier!
Best,
Lauren
