Dan Grissom - vocals, guitar, banjo Adam Rader - guitar, banjo, toys, backing vocals Stephen Orsak - electric guitar Stephen Smith - trombone, fender rhodes, piano Lindsey Verrill - upright bass, tuba, backing vocals Cole Roulain - drums, percussion
friends on some of our recordings
Gabe Lit - clarinet, bass clarinet David Moss - cello Nick Litterski - piano Amanda Kitchens - accordian, backing vocals Katie Rogers - violin
Influences
Field Recordings of any kind, Moondog, Mississippi John Hurt, The Carter Family, Woody Guthrie, Skip James, Scott Joplin, "Big" Tiny Little, Pete Fountain, Josephine Baker, Hank Williams, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, The Dillards, Django Reinhardt, The Beatles, Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Nick Drake, Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Don Mclean, Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave, Ani Difranco, Devendra Banhart, Joanna Newsom, Neutral Milk Hotel, Bonnie Prince Billy (or any Will Oldham project), Radiohead, Gillian Welch, Iron & Wine, M. Ward, Wilco, Phosphorescent, Squirrel Nut Zippers, Sufjan Stevens, Andrew Bird, Jollie Holland, Yann Tiersen, Paul Cantelon, Jenny Lewis, The Decemberists, Mugison, Old Crow Medicine Show, Kings of Convenience, Rufus Wainwright, Fleet Foxes, Dirty Projectors, Califone, and anything put out by Dust-to-Digital Records (seriously, check that shit out)
NEW ALBUM OUT NOW! BUY IT AT SHOWS, AT WATERLOO RECORDS, OR AT END OF AN EAR RECORDS. Here are some things that have been said about them.
"Some Say Leland has a gem with their latest full-length, Fifty Miles Into the Main. They’ve assembled a collection of simple, lovely melodies housing tales that strike up a sort of melancholy, a sense of longing that pulls the heart strings mighty hard. But there’s no sentimentality here. These are solid, gorgeous songs, American roots music at its best." - Laurie Gallardo - Austin Music Minute - KUT
"Sad and Sublime Folk" - The Austin Chronicle
"I think myspace is broken, it sounds like two songs are playing at once." - Dan's Mom
"Some Say Leland is one of the most appealing and satisfying live acoustic ensemble performances happening in Austin. In terms of song craft and musicianship, Some Say Leland offer truly top-notch artistry...what we have is simply a beautiful example of original contemporary American music. Many talented artists try sincerely, but fall honorably short of that mark." - Church of the Friendly Ghost
"The hand-numbered sophomore album from local neo-traditionalists Some Say Leland captures a rare combination of devils and dust...Leader Dan Grissom is an impressive vocalist and songwriter that recalls Bowl of Fire-era Andrew Bird." - Austin Powell - The Austin Chronicle
"Reminiscent of dusty field recordings and the kind of primordial folk heard on The Anthology Of American Folk Music, Some Say Leland is earnestly committed to its version of American roots music, singing lyrical tales of wandering troubadours and weepy odes to hunchbacks over a dry creek bed of banjos, accordion, and brass. While it's tempting to relate them to early 20th-century revivalists like Squirrel Nut Zippers, Some Say Leland's antediluvian bent is far from a gimmick: Its palpable affection for the cleansing power of folk should delight fans of fellow modern-day traditionalists like Will Oldham or Andrew Bird." - The Onion
"Some Say Leland began with a mournful, almost sinister blues about flooding in New Orleans. Singer-guitarist Dan Grissom's plain, conversational baritone has a modern quality that contrasted strikingly with stand-up bassist Lindsey Verrill's piquant, old-timey soprano and folk-jazz instrumentation that also included accordion, trombone, drums and violin or cello. All their songs have an otherworldly bent, but a new waltz about a nightmare starring the devil was particularly eerie." - Parry Gettelman - The Austin-American Statesman
They also recorded another album a few years ago with a much simpler setup of guitar, dobro, mandolin and harmony vocals. Here are some nice things that have been written about their first album.
"their wry, almost reserved approach to storytelling lends an captivatingly personal touch to their music." - Kendal Rogers - The Buzz
"Taking vocal and lyrical cues from artists as diverse as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Will Oldham, Grissom and his bandmates have created a fine neo-folk recording that resonates well with simple, tuneful songwriting and instrumental interplay..." - Chris Edwards - The Pine Log
If you like what you hear on the website, you can buy the first album at: www.cdbaby.com/somesayleland Or you can download the album through iTunes.
Also, feel free to leave comments and let us know what you think. Thanks.
nice. let me know what dates you are once again available to play?
also, Erik mastered those songs you have. they sound so much more bad ass. we're going to pull together the art work in the coming weeks and will finally have merch to sell.
SPAMED! Can you ever forgive me? If so, please vote for me!
I am in Round Two of The TRCoA Unsigned Artist Competition. Help me get to Round Three by voting here: http://www.trcoa.com/uac/uac2009_vote.html
If I’m in the top 4 I get to play a showcase for record executives and could win 100 free hours in the studio.
If I were selected, it would really help me rock some faces off, please take a second and vote.
Thanks!
-Ted Hadji
Hel-loooooo, some say leland! Happy Awesome Weekend!
Hope you can make it out to...
The Muppet and Cartoon Hoot Nite!
Thursday, April 16th, 8 pm
We're going to have some MARVELOUS and TALENTED folks playing their favorite songs from Sesame Street, Schoolhouse Rock, and more! Artists include:
Albanie Falletta, Corrina Rachel, Johann Wagner, Luna Tart, Charlie King & co, Jon Doyle (of the White Ghost Shivers), members of The Lost Pines, Betty Soo, Datri Bean, Etan Sekons, Jiminy Crisket, Grace Pettis, Amanda Kitchens, and Sofia Echegaray.
Tickets: $7 adults / $5 kids / up to $2 off with donations of canned food items.
I need a CD!! (this is Garnet:) How Much? how? When? why? wHEre? NEED IT NEED IT NEED IT!!! The one thing i wanted to get while I was there..... let me Know:)
So I debuted the new album on an afternoon drive through the Rockies. It was not the bluegrass I remember, but it is quite unlike anything else I have ever heard. We listened to the whole thing three times in a row. I drempt that night that I closed my eyes and saw the devil on a paper raft, playing a porcelin trombone, while toting a cake big enough for a 100 children. It made me want to wake up and hug Dan.
No but seriously, it was an eerie sound driving in the shadows on majestic mountains. Wonderful. I am passing it around California. My bar owner wants you all to come play....immediately.
PS--I have no idea what about a third of the instruments are listed in the back of the lyrics book. Dust?
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