Dan Grissom - vocals, guitar, banjo Adam Rader - guitar, banjo, toys, backing vocals Stephen Orsak - electric guitar Stephen Smith - trombone, fender rhodes, piano Amanda Kitchens - accordian, backing vocals Lindsey Verrill - upright bass, tuba, backing vocals Cole Roulain - drums, percussion
friends on the recordings
Gabe Lit - clarinet, bass clarinet David Moss - cello Nick Litterski - piano
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, Leon Redbone, 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, and anything put out by Dust-to-Digital Records (seriously, check that shit out)
some say Leland is soon going to release an EP that includes several of the songs that are currently on the myspace page here. Very soon after that, they are planning to release a full-length album with lots of new stuff on it. So stay tuned
some say Leland is a band out of Austin, TX that is difficult to classify. They have been described as "beat-folk," "epic-folk," and even a "folk orchestra." They are currently finishing up an EP and a full-length album to be released within a few months of each other. They incorporates lead and harmony vocals with diverse instrumentation such as cello, violin, clarinet, bass clarinet, choir, banjo, classical guitar, guchong, dobro, electric guitar, piano, fender rhodes electric piano, toy piano, harmonica, chord organ, accordian, tuba, trombone, string bass, drums, and occasional junk percussion. Here are some nice things that have been said about them.
"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.
MAY 10TH PEASE PARK 6-8PM THEME: anything you would see at a picnic BRING: more booze, things to barbq, games, frisbee golf discs, kites, drums, watermelon, your mom
There will be PRIZES for:
BEST COSTUME & MOST CREATIVE
EVERYONE IS INVITED. TELL PEOPLE. LET'S RAISE HELL DURING THE DAY!!
The Hunchback is a great tune!! i have 3 new tunes up over at my site, with some freinds playing clarinet, saxophone, rhodes, cello and some backing vocals i hope youll enjoy them..good luck with the album, pls tell me when that is...best, tim
Ciao some say Leland - Una canzone è davvero bella quando le sue note giungono dritte al cuore! - A song is really beautiful when his notes come straight to the heart! - Una canción es realmente hermosa cuando sus notas vienen directamente al corazón! My new cd is in CDBABY.COM and ITUNE !!!
hey lovelies- Infinite Partials is playing the Parlor on north loop this friday @ nine, with special guest cellist *Steve Bernal*. Jesse Jones opens @ 8. we'd love to see you. -the partials
