Erik Alan: vocals, guitar Levin Schwartz: guitars, mandolin, and vocals Lyon Graulty: clarinet, harmonica, tenor sax, slide guitar, vocals
Max Adam: double bass, electric bass Pete Van Dyck: drums
YOU CAN ORDER OUR CDS FROM CDBABY.COM
We're on
Check out our Interview and studio performance!
Influences
Ray Charles, The Band, Otis Redding, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, Doc Watson, Albert King, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, Chet Atkins, The Grateful Dead, Tony Rice, Wilco, Death Vessel, David Grisman, Clarance White, Little Feat, New Riders of The Purple Sage, Michigan Folk Live.
Sounds Like
PROMOTIONAL VIDEO
BORDER TOWNS RECORDING SESSION PHOTOS
THE AMITY FRONT
"The Amity Front is a band that has wrestled Americana/Roots music to the ground and bent it to its will."
-The Greenfield Recorder
Music should compel you - rock your mind and get your fingers snapping. The Amity Front has that power and exercises it every time it gets on stage. The band’s hip swaggering, finger picking, Americana inspired music is an aural journey from the roots to modern rock relevance. Moving forward, exploring genres and constantly pushing in new, innovative directions, The Amity Front demonstrates amazing growth - growth that few bands have so early in their careers. Armed with the understanding that music is its art form, TAF is on the move. A band meant for the road - the live shows define The Amity Front: energetic, exhilarating, bracing and heady.
Not only does The Amity Front's music bring you back to the origins of rock'n'roll, its story does too. It’s a story of chance connections from Detroit to rural Massachusetts: a group of musicians playing in a bar when a kid floated into the jam session in a whirlwind of cigarette smoke and silent excitement, blowing everyone away with a voice straight out of an old 12-inch. Erik Alan’s journey in search of his musical bliss culminated in his chance encounter with Levin Schwartz and Max Adam, birthing The Amity Front.
Out of the love and appreciation for musicians playing good music came The Amity Front. The band's first record, Highway Bound found incredible success in its hometown of Northampton, MA and throughout the Northeast. The band toured relentlessly behind the release, highwaying as far south as the Carolinas and as far west as Erik’s home town of Birmingham, MI. Energized by the response to Highway Bound, the band has propeled itself to the next level with the release of Border Towns. Musician, Levin Schwartz, talking about the upcoming release of Border Towns, said, "I hope that people can relate to the sentiments and stories found in the songs. I hope that they appreciate the musicianship on the album. I hope that they hear a song that helps them identify with themselves. Because we do."
Border Towns is a rare gem with a sound that is both forward-reaching and traditionally rooted. It was recorded in-studio with the band playing live in order to capture the excitement and frenetic energy of its live shows. Thanks in part to this method of recording, their faithful producer David "Goody" Goodrich and the band’s musical maturity over the past few years, the sound is compelling and convincing. The Amity Front has managed to maintain its Americana roots and integrate and infuse every song with a blast of rock -- the likes of which is staple in their live performances . Levin adds, "This record is a true collective effort of performance, composition, and pre and post production of the songs. We have really honed in on a group sound that is larger than the sum of the parts and very representative our our live show—that was really important to us on this record—to make it sound how we are when we play live. The first
album was great for its spontaneity and vibe, but we now work with a different palate of sounds. In many ways I consider this another debut album."
The Amity Front are:
Erik Alan -- from Birmingham, MI on lead & harmony vocals and guitar.
Levin Schwartz -- from Southwick, MA on guitars, mandolin, lead & harmony vocals.
Lyon Graulty -- from W. Stockbridge, MA on clarinet, harmonica, rhythm and slide guitar, lead & harmony vocals.
Max Adam -- from Brattleboro, VT on double and electric bass.
Pete Van Dyck -- from Greenfield, MA percussionist and drummer.
The Amity Front is THAT band - you know the one - the band that will appeal to
you, your hipster neighbor, your mom and dad, and that English teacher who
you are sure is a backyard lush. You might not experience a swing-along at
a live show anymore, but you'll most certainly be caught up in a rock-out sing along.
See The Amity Front live, listen to the records, don't be the last to know.
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just to let you know, the new Something Used clothing line is up now, and is on sale now!!!
I would very much appreciate it if you would head over to my page and take a look. let me know what you think of everything - even the causes we are giving to!
Jenna Nicholls from FairplayCollective will be singing some songs from her album "Curled Up Toes in Red MaryJanes" along with some new material that she hopes to put on a new recording.
Alene's Grocery Wednesday April 29th at 7pm.
We would love to see you at this event come and show your love for Good Music!
Hey there! NYFE has finally put a new track up on our space! Stop by and check out "You Aint the One" if you get a sec. It's one of my favorites!<br /><br />Keep it live and funky...<br /><br />The New York Funk Exchange
Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2008 8:00 PM Mandy Burry w/ Beau Sasser, David Picchi and Sturgis Cunningham The Black Moon Music Lounge 37 State Street, 2nd Floor Belchertown, MA 01007
MANDY BURRY - vocals http://www.myspace.com/mandyburry BEAU SASSER - piano http://www.myspace.com/thebeausasserorgantrio DAVID PICCHI - bass http://www.myspace.com/punkjazz180 STURGIS CUNNINGHAM - drums http://www.myspace.com/sturgiscunningham
Opening set by ALI McGUIRK at 8PM http://www.myspace.com/alisonmcguirk
The Black Moon Music Lounge http://www.myspace.com/blackmoonjazz
I have a show on the 14 of Feb @ the 11s... its allso a made up Holiday involing, showering in Plastic love...but if any Memeber of the AMity Front shows up i gots shots for them all night and a love song for thier sisters. It will be a plastic one Ill tell you now.
FairplayCollective is honored to play at this years Craicfest. March 14th at 8pm at The Mercury Lounge NYC. On the bill with us that night is Foy Vance, Duke Special and Colin Devlin. We ask all to arrive early for our show.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or at The Mercury Box office (Mon-Sat 12-7pm)
hey guys, sounds great. Ol' Spencer has spoken well of you here in Boston. We will be venturing out your way tomorrow to play at the elevens. why not come by if you get the chance-
The Craic Festival 2009 has invited FairplayCollective to play at this years Festival. All members will be playing in the round. The show is at The Mercury Lounge, March 14th at 8pm. This is the last night of the festival and Foy Vance is also on the bill.
What more can I say, a great night for music and film, with the odd star thrown in. Come show your support.
Hey Amity Front, much obliged. We're honored by yer request for Friendship. Thanks for the ADD and jumpin' on the Starline Band Wagon. Keep on a-rockin' an' a-rollin'! Big Al, Billy B., and Danny C.
HIGHWAY BOUND by track or album
