Kat Darling - singer/songwriter - guitar, djembe, drums
Aaron Short - singer/songwriter - guitar, electric, Dobro, harmonica
Grant Baetz - keys, producer
Influences
ANY AND EVERY PERSON, THING, ENERGY, PARTICLES, MOMENTS AND THOUGHTS THAT HAVE INTERMINGLED OUR LIVES
Here are a few of our most inspiring musical influences...
Our parents, families and friends
John Short, Jack Blythe, Paul Stover, Jim Casey, Bob Everheart, Grant Baetz, The Creek Dwellers, Midwestern Remedy, Soapbox Prophets, Brother Trucker, Thankful Dirt, Ben Eaton and the Dirt Cheap Band, Metal Rob and Seaburg, Kelly Pardekooper, Iris Dement, Greg Brown, Brian Joens, Bejae Flemming, Mr. Babers Neighbors, Mike and Amy Finders Band, Eric Nelson, John Prine, Willie Nelson, Lucinda Williams, Arlo Guthrie, Todd Snider, Neko Case, Bob Dylan, Gerry Garcia, Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, Johnny Cash, Kris Kristopherson, Janis Joplin & Big Brother and The Holding Company, Bob Marley & The Wailers, Allman Brothers, Marshal Tucker Band, The Band, Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, The Kinks, Dr. John, Wilco, Grace Potter and the Nocturnals, Sublime, Widespread Panic, Old Crow Medicine Show, Uncle Cuckleburs Champion Possum Carvers
And the list goes on forever listing the countless musicians all being a part of the BIG SONG, connecting and believing in something amazing.
Sounds Like
FREE FLOWING MUSIC REFLECTING OUR INDIVIDUAL SOULS.
The music sounds of simple reality, tackling the emotional truth of everyday moments, both big & small, good & bad.
Music runs in our bodies. It is a definitive part of who we are. A passion so infused with ENERGY that we will never stop playing. So no matter how we may change (because we all do), The core of this group is presented NOW. Which is, in all respect, the most important moment. -Kat
The High Crest originated from two songwriters that gravitated toward each other in music and life. Intertwined into an original duo, Aaron Earl Short and Kat Darling began to play music together five years ago. They started their two man band in Anita, Iowa where they were operating a café called The Weather-Vane. They would hold after hours jams for the musicians that would frequent an old timey opry across the street. Inspired by the variety of musicians, acoustic roots and hard work, they began exploring the heart of their own music. Moving to Des Moines they expanded their abilities hosting eclectic jams and performing in the band Aaron had already established for several years called The Creek Dwellers, adding also the addition of Grant Baetz on keys.
Writing from all of their combined life experiences, getting married, their daughter, the 2008 flood and the constant flux of relationships, they continue to push themselves forward in a dream that deems itself difficult and sometimes unattainable. Overcoming the negative, they work together to create music that is rich in harmonies and passionate performances. Using a wide range of musicianship, Kat adds to their performances with her percussion and vocal abilities and Aaron is able to reach the needs of the songs through his mature slide playing and harmonica wailing. Both use their acoustic guitars as the gravity for songwriting and performing.
They have one CD released called Fire. Created for the purpose of a gift for their wedding, Kat and Aaron recorded six songs capturing their feelings during this important time in their lives. The recording documents their beginning.
Becoming active in the Iowa music scene, they began performing in a variety of ways. This includes hosting Songwriters In The Round at the Ritual Café where they have the ability to perform their passion with inspiring local songwriters, helping to inspire and promote the craft.
Creating the need for a record label, they collaborated with Grant Baetz and formed Surf Shack Records to produce and promote their music. Recording in Des Moines and also in Minneapolis at JD Music Productions, they are both working diligently to create musical products that properly reflect the integrity of their songs. Aaron is working on his solo album that will be stripped down and focus heavily on his songwriting. Both Kat and Aaron are developing a family album called, Simple Songs Simple Feelings. This album includes tunes entertaining both the serious and playful side of life. Attainable for all audiences, organically growing and beautifully performed, this album will be dedicated to their biggest inspiration, their daughter, Abileen Darling Short. Music is the breath of this family and will continue to be created and expressed. It is only appropriate to reflect this in an album.
The High Crest continues to perform locally with plans to hit the road next year. Exploring the depths of creativity, their musical performances yield attentive audiences and enthusiastic music lovers. They encourage everyone to get out and enjoy live music in their community.
"There is no one that I know, that does not only have talent for music and marketing (throw a party together and turn it into an event!), but has the
"unasked for" enthusiasm that comes from trust, believing in peoples' talents as well as their ability to relay positive vibes whether they are musical or other forms of art..."
Grant Baetz
About Aaron Short
"I've been meaning to write to you ever since the Ritual songwriter show. I think you're one of the best guitar players around. I haven't run into many people who listen like you do, who listen and play from what you hear in such a sensitive way. That's everything to me. I could learn so much from you."
Bejae Flemming
Songwriters In The Round @ The Ritual
09 Aug - Kate Kennedy (Pennyhawk) and Nate Logsdon (Mumford)
09 June - Thankful Dirt (Molly & Darren Mathews)
09 May. - The Honeybees
09 Mar. - Dorothy Hecht (Dorothy Hecht & The Rubber Tramps)
09 Feb. - Jamie Grimm (Johnny Reeferseed & The High Rollers) & Aaron Winters (Midwestern Remedy)
08 - Thankful Dirt
08 Nov. - Brian Joens
08 Sept. - The High Crest
08 May - Bejae Flemming and Andy Flemming
Once a month The High Crest hosts Songwriters In The Round @ The Ritual in downtown Des Moines. The Ritual Cafe is one of Iowa's best coffee shops and live music venues - a rich open environment with great friends and great energy. We accompany the featured songwriters and do a few tunes of our own. It is an unrehearsed show that is different every time with fresh new ways of playing our songs. If you are a songwriter and are interested in performing at a Songwriters In The Round please send us a message.
Hey there – Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that your holiday season is off to a great start. New Year's is right around the corner, and FGC is excited to be back at the Redstone Room in Davenport, IA for our third year in a row!
This year's celebration will feature three sets of FGC including the band's first ever acoustic set to kick off the evening, as well as a few other surprises. Visit familygrooveco.com/tour for more details, and click here for advance tickets! Hope to see you there!
Long time no see! EJ is having their 6th year anniversay show tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11th at the Vaudeville Mews. We will be playing from 8-10:30, no opener, just us. Come check it out! We'll be playing a retrospective show, with songs from the early days. Should be a hoot!
Brother can you spare a buck? Marijuana Music Award Winning Songs, "Light 'Em Up" feat. Afroman and "Brother Can You Spare A Dime" now available on itunes & CD Baby.
FGC is back in Des Moines on Friday October 23 for another fun night at the Vaudeville Mews, and we hope to see you there!
In the meantime, click here to check out a recent edition of FGC’s Video Blog on youtube, highlighting the band’s shows in Davenport and Ames last month.
Hi The High Crest! Just stopping by your page to see whats good! Keep me in mind if you need any high quality/low cost mastering. All the details and samples are on my page. Feel free to get in touch with any questions. Take care!
FGC’s got three great shows coming up in Iowa this month! This Thursday is an Iowa City show with bass phenomenon Victor Wooten, and next weekend we hit the Redstone Room in Davenport and DG’s in Ames.
And speaking of Iowa fun, click here to check out a video from last New Year’s Eve at the Redstone Room!
hey! what's up? just letting you know,you can now buy our brand new Ep off of iTunes for only $4.95! so hit it up and help us out and we will always love you!
FGC is back in Des Moines this Friday July 31 for another fun show at the Vaudeville Mews. Hope you can join us!
In the meantime, check out all three of our Summer Camp Festival sets on the Live Music Archive for free stream/download! Visit our MySpace blog for the links, and click here to check out some photos from the weekend.
We also want to invite our Myspace friends to connect with us on Facebook. Click the links for the FGC Group and FGC Page, both great ways to stay in touch with the band and link up with other fans.
Online Now!
