Session Americana sit tightly around a small round cafe table, ambient mics tuned to catch the
complete sound of the voices and instruments. A suitcase drum kit, an old electric bass, a field organ and a collection of acoustic instruments. The unique format feels fantastically theatrical and although the musicians face each other, the audience feels drawn into the circle by the warmth, joy and camaraderie that emanate outwards by the all-star cast of characters seated around the table. What keeps fans coming back show after show is the same thing that any audience member longs for; great songs performed by a great band. The six core members of the band have brought enviable careers worth of experience to the “table”, featuring (current and former) members of Treat Her Right, Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna, The The, Dennis Brennan, Kris Delmhorst to name just a few. The group has grown from a rag tag jam at a local pub to a regional institution,
playing gigs from coffee houses to urban nightclubs, regional festival tents to theatres and in front of audiences in New York City and beyond.
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"Diving for Gold" (to be released in May 2009), marks a series of changes for Session Americana. The most notable transition is from founding bass player, Kimon Kirk, to Jon Bistline, whose original song "I Can't Get Out" is the first track on the new album. Both Kirk and Bistline perform on the record, however Kimon has since moved to the West Coast where he continues to play music. The focus of the album is towards original material - a departure for a band that has focused on songs from its immediate community of friends and public domain material. Paul Q. Kolderie and Co. (Pixies, Radiohead, Hole, Dinosaur Jr., Throwing Muses, Morphine, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones) brought a touch of old-fashioned producing as well as a thick soup of sonic fidelity to the sessions, whereas the band's previous recordings relied on a communal spontaneity for their inspiration. Finally, while not directly affecting the recording, the band has been invigorated by a long series of Tuesday nights performing sold-out shows at the Lizard Lounge in Cambridge. With developed material, and a now ‘broken in’ Bistline on bass, Session Americana has won over a whole new audience with their intimate but highly entertaining performing style.
Hey Session Americana, I've got a radio show for a few weeks - so, please tune into the Paul Hughes Show (filling in for Gordon Hotchkiss) on Celtic Music Radio this Wednesday between 7pm – 9pm UK time. As well a Scottish, Irish and American folk/roots music I’ll be chatting with Paddy Callaghan about being selected for the finals of the BBC Young Trad Musician of the Year and hear him playing the harp and box. Celtic Music Radio is available in and around Glasgow on 1530 AM (MW) and you can listen anywhere else in the world on the internet at www.celticmusicradio.net and click on “Listen Live” in the top right of the screen. Thanks for reading down this far.
Hey there, We just finished our EP and we have posted a few songs on our myspace page. If you have a moment, we would love for you to have a listen. Thank you very much
Well, a dear friend from Max Creek told me to check you guys out and I finally made it out to the Lizard for a set the other night ... tastefully done ... keep up the great work! best, gd
Thanks for the add. I am asking myself, why I did not discover this incredible music earlier. Now I am spending hours listening to the various players and checking out all the awesome stuff at You Tube...;-).
It was great to see most of you last night. Thanks for introducing me to Madi. It was great. Good luck getting off that temporary tattoo Jim, it's nothing a little elbow grease can't handle.
