Steve Lester (guitar/vocals); Darlene Lester (vocals); Billy Rhea Bell, Bobby Furgo (fiddles); Damian Lester (acoustic bass/vocals). Gar Robertson (mando, dobro, guitar, vocals), Mark Ross (mando), and Johnny Ray Martin (autoharp/vocals).
Influences
Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, The Dillards, Patty Griffin, Richard Thompson, Kingston Trio, Idyllwild Bluegrass Invitational, Kurt Vonnegut, Blind Blake, Captain Haddock (the band sounds like all of the above, but different)
The Shadow Mountain Band specializes in mountain-style harmonies with lively acoustic backup. They feature traditional mountain music, hillbilly gospels (think- ‘oh Brother, Where art Thou’) and bluegrass, along with eclectic originals.
The band began several years ago as a hillbilly music jam session in the garden behind Pappy and Harriet’s Place, an historic roadhouse in Pioneertown, CA. Crowds began to gather around to hear the mountain-style harmonies and old-time tunes. The management of Pappy and Harriet’s began coming out to listen and soon asked the jammers to come in and play inside for the restaurant crowd. Within a few months, they were joined by Banning, CA fiddler Billy Rhea Bell, and Pioneertown resident Johnny Ray Martin on the mountain-style autoharp (an instrument you seldom hear outside of Appalachia), and premier fiddler Bobby Furgo from Yucca Valley. The group was rounded out when Steve and Darlene’s son, Damian Lester, known around the farm as 'Dooley', joined the band on acoustic bass, and brilliant, soft-spoken Gar Robertson added his talents on mandolin, dobro, and vocals. Shadow Mountain also often features guests, including smokin' mandolinist Mark Ross from 29 Palms, and other friends and musical family members comin' through town.
The band has just released their first recording, titled 'Risin' Up'. it features original music in the bluegrass and old-timey style. The record was released on April 21, and soon will be up on the New Moon website and www.shadowmountainband.com. This summer, the band will record and release a live project of traditional mountain music, recorded by long-time friend and world renowned engineer Mike Farrow. It will feature traditional and old time songs with a-capella harmonies on several tunes. The band is signed to New Moon Records in Joshua Tree (www.new-moon-records.com). The recordings will be jointly released by New Moon Records (www.new-moon-records.com) and Planesong (www.planesong.com) records.
The 'Risin' Up' CD and mp3 can be purchased at CD Baby also:
cdbaby.com/cd/shadowmountainband
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Hi Steve and folks! We'll be playing a cut off your new CD on this Wed nites show (7:30pm til 8:30pm Eastern time) You can tune in by going to www. ckwr. com and clicking on "listen live" during those times. THanks again for the CD! Linda Axman/Blueridge Express
Hey there! Thanks so much for the add. It's such a pleasure to be your friend! Be sure to check us out at www. grasslife. com - We'd love to see you there!
Hi SMB, just passing with my best wishes for the week. My respects to you and your accomplished music. Have a fabulous day, come what may, irrespective and regardless. Cheers, Duncan.
Hi SMB, very good to meet you. I love the sound of a good fiddle, and I particularly enjoyed "Life Is A Compromise", it has a very nice feel. Good luck with everything you're doing musically (and otherwise). Best wishes, have a fabulous weekend. Regards, Duncan.
Hello Shadow Mountain Band - you folks are awesome! Please let us know when/where we can purchase the new CD and thanks for adding the Tug Creek Ramblers as your friend.
All the best, Gary Harden & The Tug Creek Ramblers
Hi..thnx for the connection ! LIstened to your music and it sounds GREAT !!!!!!!!!!!!! Greetz from D E E Z E L (Belgium) Checkout my music if you like ?
I'd love to - hope to arrange a tour in 2009 and I'll be sure to let you know - thank you for that. Feel free to drop by anytime. I'll keep in touch. If you ever find yourselves over here - I can get you a couple of venues to play.
