The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Pink Floyd, Uncle Tupelo, Ryan Adams, Son Volt, Wilco, The Urban Hillbilly Quartet, Gov't Mule, Kid Dakota, Black Crowes, Hank Williams Sr., Nate Houge
When it comes to multi-instrumentalst folk/rock duos out of the Twin Cities, Fifteen Keys could very well be in the top 50. Take away the Grain Belt, though, and they're only average.
Over the course of almost three years the members of the band - Erik Ritland and Drew Pederson - have played intermittingly under the Fifteen Keys moniker. Their music follows many a muse, fusing rock, pop, folk, hillbilly, country & western, and blues. They both sing, write songs, and play lots of instruments, including guitar, piano, harmonica, mandolin, accordian, and pedal steel guitar. Unlike most musicians (and critics), both Erik and Drew are abnormally enamored with music, and passion for color and craft is apparent in every performance.
The songs up now are taken from an impromptu session at Erik's house, the band's first with Drew on his amazing Sho Bud pedal steel. "Stay Inside" is a new song, with a darker, more mature edge than the band has had in the past. "Help Me Tonight" is a couple years old but still sounds fresh and vital. "Ashes of American Flags" is a Wilco song (don't tell Tom).
Look for a long delayed "official" E.P. this summer and new tour dates even sooner than that.
Hey Guys. We need to get back up to Minneapolis sometime soon. Thanks for being our friend on this crazy MySpace thing. We really do appreciate/need all the support we can get. If you get a chance, check out our brand new cd on LTMR Records called, "Three Rings and a Dagger" at the link below. Take it easy.
