"..when the black-suited orange-shirted Carver stepped stagefront at the Victory Grill, he did so with an undeniable shine in his eyes, embarking on a set that showed a good deal more jump .. Playful, even jaunty at times, Carver and his band .. a bit of nonchalance and antiquated flair; .. displaying considerable fluidity and touch of his own. .. impeccable as always .. not a bad bit of late-night blues." Jay Hardwig Austin Chronicle
The Modern Agriculture
6 Song EP
Available Now
George Carver
Vocals, Guitar, Steel Guitar Lindsay Green
Bass Mark Rubsintein
Piano, Organ Jim Starboard
Drums Mike Stinnett
Saxaphone
CD Reviews
"George Carver writes astonishingly well. Smart, sophisticated and soulful. Expect the unexpected." Gurf Morlix
Producer
"Carver's tunes inhabit the space where grit, the city, and the dream world connect. Pithy, tough and melancholy lyrics meld with greasy yet urbane arrangements from a stellar cast of musos to take you on a trip to the nether regions of the blues." Brian Ritchie
Violent Femmes
"Austin’s little known but highly talented George Carver has similar gifts to Steely Dan — a handy feel for classic jazz and pop, boho intellectual Beat poet lyricism, top-of-the-game playing, and a clever musical mix’n’match sensibility — but sounds like no one else on this six-song EP, especially on the country & klezmer instrumental “Hershel’s Caddy." Rob Patterson Texas Music Magazine
"Austinite Geoge Carver, a veteran of the music business in a multitude of capacities, including as a member of Mark Rubin's Ridgetop Syncopators and a collaborator with Papa Mali, is one of those crafty singer-songwriters who is hard to pigeonhole into one particular style because he draws on so many. But like other greats, such as John Prine and Randy Newman, this 6-song EP shows he's a keen observer of human behavior and feeling. ... he deserves a much wider audience." See Blog for full Review Paul Borelli
KOOP Radio
"Carver, a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, produces music that's an idiosyncratic blend of jazz, blues, folk & country. This new six-song EP features his long-time band recorded live in the studio, playing the same kind of music that has won him critical praise & a devoted following." Good Life Magazine
"A keen observer of the human condition, George Carver crafts insightful, sometimes humorous songs. From the opening jazz-infused rocker to the closing ballad, the EP, recorded live in the studio, touches on a variety of musical styles - and pulls them all off well. If you've never seen or heard Carver, this album gives a glimpse into his great talent. Whether you enjoy the timeless style of "People Fall In love Like That" or rejoice at the hybrid of swing and Yiddish rhythms on "Hershel's Caddy", the EP offers something for almost every taste." Austin Monthly
The Music Issue 2008
Influences
Discography
George Carver
The Modern Agriculture
EP
George Carver
Blues Von Der Erde
CD
George Carver
God The Mother
CD
George Carver
Down at the Zoo
CD
Sounds Like
Irving Berlin meets Leonard Cohen at Muddy Waters’ house.
THE MODERN AGRICULTURE
LIVE BAND
George Carver plays guitar, eight string steel, and harmonica.
The lineup varies depending on the venue but regulars in the band include -
Mark Rubsintein
accordion, keys
Mike Stinnette
tenor sax
Mark Rubin Lindsay Green
bass
Jim Starboard Steve Schwelling
drums
CMJ New Music Report
"Carver does what the best of Austin songwriters do, tell tales with sadness, humor and mood galore."
".. music is suited to a small club where people sit down for a good drink, a good cry and good music."
The Austin Chronicle
"It’s spare, inventive songwriting enhanced by good musianship .. create a richly textured aural landscape.. Comparisons to Tom Waits, Raymond Carver, and Lyle Lovett on Quaaludes all seem reasonable .."
George Carver
The Modern Agriculture
New 6 Song EP Now Available
George Carver's music is an idiosyncratic, low-key blend of jazz, blues, folk and country. The singer, songwriter and multi instrumentalist who currently resides in Austin, Texas, can boast of as much experience in other areas of the music business as he's had on the stage.
Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, inspired equally by futurist R. Buckminster Fuller and bluesman Muddy Waters, Carver was schooled in music by local Western New York masters Stan Szelest and Sandy Konikoff. After a few rootless years of singing and playing, he helped found the bluesy punk-rock band Tot Rocket & the Twins, taking up residence in New York City in the early Eighties.
His decade-plus in New York found him filling other roles. He sold guitars to the stars on the famous block of shops along 48th street. As a live sound engineer at Top Cat Studios, he worked with a long list of artists including Whitney Houston, Joe Cocker, Duran Duran, Aerosmith, PIL, and Bob Dylan, as they rehearsed, cut demos or played label showcases. Later, he composed and produced all kinds of music for film and TV out of KMA Studios on Times Square, as well producing and recording diverse artists like modern jazz improviser Cooper-Moore, shakuhachi master James Nyoraku, and the great Nigerian drummer Babatunde Olatunji.
Moving to Austin in 1991 to provide a more hospitable environment for his family, Carver's musical horizons expanded considerably when he became immersed in Western Swing, the freewheeling hillbilly jazz that was born in Texas in the Thirties.
That's when he took up the eight string lap (non-pedal) steel, learning from such Lone Star masters as Jimmy Day, Cindy Cashdollar, John Ely and Junior Brown, and using the energetic, feel-good sound as a counterpoint to the world-weary, more darkly humorous music he writes and performs with his band The Modern Agriculture.
In addition to fronting his own group, Carver plays with Mark Rubin and the Ridgetop Syncopators , Shorty Long and Lubbock bluesman R.C. Banks He also works regularly as a producer and musician around town.
Among the highlights of his Austin phase, he's been a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest ; won a Parent's Choice Award for his CD Down at the Zoo; performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. with the Ridgetop Syncopators; guitar for Gwyneth Paltrow in the movie Infamous ; and been the featured artist at festivals like the 2005 Breda Jazz Festival in Holland, and the Winnipeg and Calgary folk festivals in Canada in the Summer of 2006.
Following the release of his 1998 album God the Mother , Carver signed with the Dutch label Pink Records and began touring Belgium and the Netherlands where he returns regularly.
Hello my friend, I spent 20 minutes trying to explain to my 12 year old daughter Lily, the joy of walking 4 miles in a blizzard to Ziegler's Donuts at 2 AM to get a dozen day old glazed donuts with you. Good times are where you find them eh? Best, David
Americana Songwriter Showcase with Aimee Bobruk, Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, Kim Deschamps, Jodi Adair, AJ Downing, Kent Mayhew, George Carver @ The Amsterdam 121 West 8th St. & Colorado St. Austin, TX 78701
Live Music at The Amsterdam! A new Songwriter Listening Room in downtown Austin.
Americana Songwriter Showcase features a parade of Austin based songwriters throughout the evening with a number of small group songwriter rounds and mini-sets.
Hi George, Thanks for the add. It's an honor. I really dig your music. Sounds great! I'm moving to Austin in the near future, I'll try to come and hear ya. God Bless, Mark "Guitar" Miller
