Ryan Walker - vocals, guitar, piano Brian Kent - guitar, vocals
The Beanstalk Library has included but is not limited to:
Matt Bradshaw, Kate Rears Burgman, Keli Burke, Campbell Charshee, Phil Chow, Mike Fellenbaum, Gabriel Fry, Carlos Gonzalez, J. Tom Hnatow, Emily Hsu, Susan Hsu, Dallas Hudgens, Dave Jennings, Gabriel Morales-Bermudez, Kevin Moquin, Will Morales, Brett Niederman, John Rapoza, Natalie Tedder & John Thayer
Influences
Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Who, Elvis Costello, Wilco, etc.
Sounds Like
The Beatles and The Band had a bratty baby in the polluted Atlantic Ocean that washed up on the Carolina coast and hitchhiked to Washington, DC.
Ryan Walker and Brian Kent are the constant songwriters and musicians behind the Washington, DC based project The Beanstalk Library. Their newest studio recordings feature the band's 2006-2008 live lineup, including John Rapoza on bass and Mike Fellenbaum on drums, as well as a rotating group of collaborators. As with the band's acclaimed local debut AMERICA AT NIGHT, the songs explore classic pop and roots influences and feature contributions from other notable DC musicians: Brett Niederman and Susan Hsu of Exit Clov (organ and fiddle, respectively), Kate Rears Burgman (cello) and Tom Hnatow of These United States (pedal steel, banjo).
AMERICA AT NIGHT was released in 2007 and received unanimous accolades from local press, praising the record for its eclecticism and strong songcraft & production, and comparing the band's sound to The Band, Big Star, and Wilco.
The Beanstalk Library has built a loyal following, playing regular shows at DC venues such as Black Cat, Iota, Jammin' Java, and Rock and Roll Hotel, and sharing bills with, among others, Tapes n' Tapes, Retribution Gospel Choir, Cloud Cult, Cotton Jones, The Teeth, Illinois, Jenny Owen Youngs, The Eames Era, Jukebox The Ghost, Brothers and Sisters, Meredith Bragg, Olivia Mancini & The Mates, Exit Clov, Warm in the Wake, The Winter Sounds, The Subjects, The Hall Monitors and Vandaveer.
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Don't take our word for it:
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"For fans of Big Star and Teenage Fanclub...songs like 'Fake It' and 'Elephantitis' burst out of the speakers, bright and jangly guitars at the forefront, supported by piano, horns and cascading backing vocals. 'America At Night' is rooted more in classic rock than nineties alt-rock and that helps give the songs a timeless feel--well-written, well-performed...extremely tuneful and immaculately produced."
-David Malitz (Washington Post)
"A package of tightly crafted songs...draws upon Dylan and The Band with the modern sensibility of Wilco...not the meandering experimentation of many freshman efforts."
-DC Magazine
"The one-two punch of 'Elephantitis', a rushing, gushing power-popper and 'Fake It', with its requisite jangle and harmonies, was the perfect antidote to mid-summer malaise. Worth the wait...a refreshingly straight forward band."
-DCist
"Wonderfully done record...Catchy, driving music, well-written lyrics and beautiful harmonies. Tracks can go from piano heavy to guitar thunder, from sleepy chill to jarring, all seamlessly...these tracks sound big time. The wait for this effort has been worth it. 3 1/2 (out of 4) Beer Mugs."
-On Tap Magazine
"...one of the strongest local records of the year" and "a great live band"
-Instrumental Analysis (instrumentalanalysis.blogspot.com)
Below, enjoy a video of The Beanstalk Library, at Iota, performing the new song "It's Made All The Difference", featuring Beanstalk Library Orchestra members Brett Niederman on guitar and H. Kate Rears ..o.
Live at Iota (6-11-07)
To request Fake It or Elephantitis on XMU, click here
Hey Beanstalk, register at www.createaconcert.com for FREE to get some college concerts. We're here to help bands like you get way more grassroots exposure.
Let me know if you have any questions, I will personally respond to all myspace messages/wallposts.
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