Mike: Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, Patty Griffin, Tony Rice, Jerry Douglas, Union Station, Doc Watson, Ricky Skaggs, The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Tom Waits, John Lee Hooker, Clapton Guitar, Grateful Dawg & Shady Grove, Mark Knopfler, John Hiatt, Lyle Lovett, I wish I could play like Tommy Emmanuel, Jeffrey Foucault, Danny Schmidt, Nick Cosimano, Matt Durfee, Sgt. Dunbar and the Hobo Banned, The Kamikaze Hearts, the everybodyfields, William Kennedy, Stuart Dybek
Matt: Leo Kottke, Wilco/Jeff Tweedy, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Band, Ben Harper, Beck, The Shins, Sly & The Family Stone, Leon Russell, The Rolling Stones, Pearl Jam, The Mars Volta, Taj Mahal, Blind Melon, Steve Tilston, Elvis Costello, Ray Charles, G. Love & Special Sauce, Guster, Rick Zar, Sean Rowe, Alta Mira, Nick Cosimano (Turtlewriting)
About: Based out of Albany, N.Y., Palatypus draws from the best of the Country, Bluegrass and Folk music genres to create a distinct melodic and harmonic sound. Their songs evoke a spectrum of emotional states, ranging from the lament of loves gone wrong to the simple joys found in sharing a few drinks with friends. The duo focuses on well constructed vocal harmonies layered over the rhythm of Mike's and the melody of Matt's guitar. The songs are story driven, simultaneously metaphysical and visual, and captivate their audiences with deft acuity in their sensibility. Always entertaining and engaging, Palatypus continues to gain musical recognition and win fans across the Capital Region and in the greater North East.
Equipment: Both Matt and Mike use Martin Guitars with Martin SP medium/light strings, Fishman, Rare Earth, Humbucker pickups, and Fishman Loudbox Performer Acoustic Amplifiers.
Press:
While many like acts overcompensate for the lack of a backing band by playing loud and aggressive, Palatypus chose to explore the softer dynamic possibilities of two acoustic guitars. Matt Durfee's melodic finger-picking is the perfect counterpart to Mike Poulopoulos' Spartan folk strumming, and their two voices blend like gin and tonic on a summer day. Bring a blanket when you catch one of their performances.
- Metroland, Best of 2007
It's almost a choral arrangement with four-part harmony; between the voices and guitars, all four parts are covered phenomenally. A freshly unique, yet achingly familiar sound.
- Erin Harkes, UPSTATE magazine
Their Americana, singer/songwriter style evokes the open spaces of Durfee's upbringing in rural Schoharie County, while Poulopoulos' lyrics draw on, in part, literary characters such as Francis Phelan from William Kennedy's novel "Ironweed."
Durfee's finger-picking style adds a completely innovative melody to Poulopoulos' Americana chord structure.
Hope you can make it out to the Muddy Cup in Albany tonight for a sweet show! The most amazing A Capella group in the Capital Region performs along with special guests (including me!).
Muddy Cup Albany 7:30pm - Billy Lewand and Josh Okun - Jesse Calhoun - Jazz Hands - and more...
It'll be a great show, don't miss out! Hope to see ya there!
Great to see you guys on Sunday! You sounded fantastic as always. I'm glad I got to see so many shows, and have been honored to share the stage with you. Let me know the next time the duo shall ride again!
I am drunk so ofcourse I thought of you two since most of the things you sing about involve either a) drinking or b) things I do while drinking c) drinking while doing things I think about while drinking or d) you guys are great! much love.. when do we get to chill again?
Good, got a puppy so she takes up most of my time. I'm trying to train her to not consume entire piles of sawdust at the shop...so far, no luck. This at ye old capital are pretty quiet, except of course the hubub concerning my committee chair. ehem.
Palatypus on WAMC Performance Place, hosted by Mike Eck
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