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This site was maintained by Frank during the "lifespan" of this incarnation of Irongrass. That band was a true blast to play in and each of the guys is still cruising around somewhere making music (and/or noise in Frank's case).

Michael can be found mandolining it at www.irongrass.com and www.michaelorlando.com and selling property all over NC and the world as the realtor extraordinaire...

Mason has been in and around Charlotte playing with various bands, and I have no clue which one of them he is with right now - but its a safe bet if you see a happy little red-headed bassist destroying a stage in the area, it's probably him.

Frank moved to Asheville - lives on a mountain, works for a record label/PR firm and has a new project - Thunderdrums - www.myspace.com/thunderdrums77 (scarey thought - bluegrass americana switched over into electronica/tribal solo artist) - but its fun - some people get it, others get to look at it... ALSO - Frank's lovely wife Kathy is currently "building a people" - 3 1/2 mos. preg.

Zeb (the fiddle player who popped in on a few shows in there) is currently with Big and Rich out on a tourbus somewhere in the country (no this isnt a misprint - crazy ol' ZigZag is fiddlin' on some country now...)

SO THERE WE ARE NOW...

Have fun enjoying the tunes on this site... and also michaelorlando.com and castironfilter.com **

Forged from the fires of many artistic influences and compressed into a storm of intensity, Irongrass holds nothing back when performing. Crossing up musical stylings seems to be the thing to do nowadays, but the boys in Irongrass take that notion to the extreme with deft combinations of rock, jazz, world-beat, Americana, Celtic, bluegrass, afro-Cuban, and anything else that comes to mind. The collaboration of three of NCs roots rock/ jamband scene veterans Mike Orlando (Cast Iron Filter), Mason Bissett (Cast Iron Filter, Bessie Maes Dream, Full Grown), and Frank Bloom (Satellite Union, Danielle Howle) is what makes up the chemistry of this truly hybrid ideological musical concept. Part electric, part acoustic, and one hundred percent pure energy is one definition for this trio based out of the Charlotte NC region.

Michael Orlando is known throughout the country for his mandolin prowess. In a seven year span, he has recorded five albums with the band he helped found, Cast Iron Filter, recorded a solo album with friends in Nashville, and made countless appearances on other artists' recordings and live shows. Michael has shared the stage with such regional and national acts as Acoustic Syndicate, The Blue Dogs, Edwin McCain, Sam Bush, David Allen Coe, Robby Krieger, Pat Green, and many more as well as conducted a mandolin clinic at the 2005 IBMA Convention in Nashville TN.

Mike returned to Nashville in January 2006 to team up with 4 time nominated and 1 time Grammy winning producer/engineer Tim Carter (Carter Brothers Band) at Treehouse Studios to rekindle the same recording magic they captured on Mikes 2005 solo release Before The Storm. Different from the rock-oriented and drum heavy Cast Iron Filter, "Before the Storm" was a traditional bluegrass line-up, including upright bass, mandolin, banjo, acoustic guitar, fiddle, and dobro. That cd included artists Casey Dreissen (Bela Fleck Trio, Tim OBrien, Steve Earle) and Tim Carter (the Carter Brothers). The upcoming 2006 release tentatively titled Wreckless is a more band oriented recording with Mike teaming up with friends old and new to form Irongrass.

Frank Bloom comes into Irongrass with his bluegrass/country chops having been honed by years of southern gospel drumming in hundreds of western Georgia singins and revivals as a teenager. A current job description depends on which day of the week it is for Frank. Educator, percussionist, drummer, composer, arranger, producer, NBA entertainment performer/coordinator, drum tech, and sound engineer are his duties which vary from day to day. Whether as a guest artist or clinician, Frank enjoys a healthy schedule on stage performing throughout the southeast. He has shared the stage performing with some of the most recognizable faces in the area such as Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz (Widespread Panic) and Dr. Arvin Scott, Danielle Howle, Acoustic Syndicate, Barefoot Manner, Doug Jones (formerly of Cravin' Melon), as well as supported such great acts as Rusted Root, Col. Bruce Hampton and the Code Talkers, Deep Fried, Edwin McCain, and Lake Trout among other recognizable bands from all types of genres. Franks most recent foray into the jam band scene was with the short lived, but critically acclaimed electronica trio Satellite Union which was named one of the ten 2004 Relix Magazine inaugural Jam-off winners (one of the top ten unsigned acts in North America out of 300 bands), as well as the 2004 Critics Choice for Charlotte area jamband of the year by the Creative Loafin Magazine.

Bassist Mason Bissett has been off in search of the muse of all things low-end and thumping for some years now. His travels have brought him through the dense forests of bluegrass/rock (Cast Iron Filter), over the craggy mountains of improvisational jamband charts (Bessie Maes Dream) and through the misty fog of an autumn mountainside with a blues influenced singer/songwriter duo (Full Grown). There was period of artistic reflection in painting for Mason as well. Mason has come full circle in his journeys to join back up with Michael in Irongrass.

Together Michael, Mason and Frank make a formidable combo of improvisation, showmanship and musical crafting that is not to be missed. For many happy Cast Iron Filter fans throughout, Irongrass is back in name and in spirit.