Mighty Ghosts of Heaven approach Old-time music with knowledge and reverence, while recognizing the modern filter through which they experience it. Inspired by the experimental, original, and inventive musicians of the early recording era, the Ghosts add their own unique sound to the songster tradition.
The material chosen, and occasionally written, by the Ghosts is broad and rich. The songs easily move from jug band blues to Child ballads, from stomping dance tunes to delicate dirges. Stark and close vocal harmonies are the driving force of the Ghosts music. A diverse combination of instruments, including ukuleles, mountain dulcimer, fiddle, tenor banjo and guitar are used in arrangements that emphasize texture and tone.
Back in the year Two-thousand, in the damp bayside town of Bellingham, Washington, Kati Claborn and Gus Smith started singing together. They began performing with dulcimer and baritone uke, and were soon joined by Aaron Shear, establishing the ukulele as the backbone of what became Mighty Ghosts of Heaven. Shortly before relocating to Portland, Oregon in Two-thousand and five, Linnea Spitzer added her uncommon and adventurous fiddling to the Ghosts’ sound. Most recently, they have been joined by Andy Sheie on washboard and Lucas Jones on bass.
Kati- I saw you guys at the Yakima Folk Festival and LOVED you all! Funny thing is, I had absolutely no idea it was your band. I'm so sad our paths crossed and I didn't even get to say hello (I'm living in Yakima now, a few blocks from Franklin Park!) You guys are wonderful, I'm so glad I was able to finally enjoy the music you create, even if I didn't realize it at the time. xo Terra
GUS! Holy smokes -- you're COOLER than ever! I'm putting together a grass-roots book tour for the Fall. Perhaps we can put together something in Portland: Tell some ghost stories, play some ghost music....
Hi MGH - we want to invite you to our PDX CD Release for "Marveling the While" this Sat, 4/12 at Miss Studios, the early show at 7pm. Would love it if you could come! Cheers, Joy and Starlings
A perk of finally joining MySpace is that I'm less likely to miss your shows because I'll hear about them more regularly now. Apparently, living in the same house with one of you for over two years hasn't been enough!
HEY!! I see you all play at bars, I can't get into bars because I am just a Rubber Monkey and the bartender thinks I am a rat. Hows about you take me out, we drink something brown, and beat up some Sock Monkeys? Don't Judge Me!! Love, the Rubber Monkey
GUS SMITH
AARON SHEAR
LINNEA SPITZER
LUCAS JONES
ANDY SHEIE
