The Middle Class

Bio:

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The Middle Class is proud to present their second album, "BEST WE CAN," Produced by Sebastian Sheehan (V A V V Records). The album will be released in Jan, 2010. We are grateful and humbled by the cast of "world class" musicians that helped us bring this album to fruition. ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 2007. The Middle Class signed a recording contract with Los Angeles based record label, V A V V Records, and they released their debut album, "Deep in Debt in '08." Ten years of giggin’ around Los Angeles allowed the boys to tighten their old fashioned Folksy/Bluesy/Americana sound, and more importantly, find a studio where they knew their sound would be embraced and able to grow. The second the band walked into V A V V , the boys knew they were “home.” Focused on original material, The Middle Class explores all forms of “Traditional Music.” Tight vocal sounds are often complemented by a washboard, a mandolin, a trumpet, a double bass, a slide guitar or harmonica. The boys want to create that “back porch” kinda feel, where an intimate, sugar-sweet ballad can easily give way to a floorboard stompin’ sing-a-long.

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ALBUM REVIEW:

Some call it Old-Timey, New-Grass, Jam-Grass, Rootsy, Pre-WWII, Folk or hell, some label junkies may even dream up a title like Appalachian Dumpsta-Funk (not bad actually, can’t it be as useful as “Alt-Country”?) The fact is, in the last few years we have witnessed an Ellis Island-style rush of young, unique, and quality hard-to-define acts added to the rosters of summer festivals around the globe. From The Avett Brothers to Old Crow to Uncle Earl to the Hackensaw Boys to Cadillac Sky and to the various Nickel Creek “hiatus” projects, these bands shine a light on the fast pounding pulse of American music and represent a vanguard the likes of which we may never see again in one such glorious grouping.

Add to the aforementioned group of emerging talents, THE MIDDLE CLASS. Their record, "Deep in Debt" (VAVV Records) announces in a groovy, eclectic, west coast-style manner that we should expect to see them soon on future Telluride and Merlefest stages. Coming from LA, the laid back vibes of certain tracks such as “Thinkin’ of You” and “Rock-a-Bye” are not only appropriate but refreshing in their change of pace from many of their counterparts fast, finger-pickin’ fetishes. Many latter-day acoustic based bands feel compelled to pummel the listener into submission with their fingers-of-fury style pickin’, but no worries, there isn’t any pressure here to knee-slap your hands any quicker than you so desire. Of course, I wouldn’t want the entire disc to be as laid back as a stoned surfer after a basket of fish tacos. Thankfully, the opening track, “All I Want is You” bounces in and boasts the rough-hewn vocals of Matt Doherty and Clem Jeffreys’ harmonica licks that only sound right when done from a front-porch.

Adding to the disc’s cornucopia is the 70’s style funk track “Guantanamo Bay”. The horns and disco guitar make it sound as if it would be a great cut to roll during the closing credits to a CHIP’s episode (’ya know, the ones where they freeze-frame Panch & John laughing at how easy the crime was solved while riding motorbikes…). In this day and age of debate over what is “Roots”, “Americana” and even “Bluegrass”, I see The Middle Class’ use of percussion, horns and electric instruments as a welcome addition to the collection of sounds that make up American Music.

posted by Kelly Dearmore in Twangville.com and Gobblersknob.com

Member Since:

July 10, 2006

Members:

***"BEST WE CAN"***

MATT DOHERTY - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

CLEM JEFFREYS - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Harmonica, Washboard, Vocals

Also:

CHRIS WAGNER - Double Bass

SEAN MCNABB - Bass

KEN O'MALLEY - Mandolin

ROB ZUCCA - Lead Guitar

JAMES FEARNLEY - Accordion

DERMOT MULRONEY - Mandolin

GALEN SHOSTAC - Piano, Organ

SEBASTIAN SHEEHAN - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

TREVOR THORNTON - Drums

***"DEEP IN DEBT"***

MATT DOHERTY - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

CLEM JEFFREYS - Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Harmonica, Washboard, Vocals

BEN MOREY - Guitars

Also:

ROBIN WILEY - Vocals

MARK DREWS - Bass

SEAN MCNABB - Bass

SEBASTIAN SHEEHAN - Drums and Percussion

VIDEO by: StrangeScience -- strangescienceinfo@gmail.com

PHOTOS BY - David Carlson and Polly Cole

Influences:

All things Americana- from Blues, Country and Gospel to Alan Lomax -- all the way down Highway 61 to a basement in a big pink house in Woodstock, where Dylan and The Band brought the fringe Folk stuff into the mainstream.

Sounds Like:

A Civil War campfire, barn-burnin' Bluegrass, sonic heart-felt nostalgia, good times and hard times on the back-porch with good friends.

Record Label:

V A V V RECORDS