The Points North's "I Saw Across The Sound" is the product of the eighteen months Chris North Alspach, Regina Peterson and Dylan Clark have spent playing together- contemplating their location in the Eastern Seaboard's northernmost major city, connecting with local literary traditions, and interpreting their rural central Massachusetts childhoods. On "I Saw Across The Sound," vocal harmonies, flute melodies, and bass drum thumps carry the listener through twelve New England ghost-country folk songs, and was released Oct 1st on vinyl, cassette and digital download from Grinding Tapes Recordings.
Currently based out Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood, The Points North met in rural Pennsylvania in summer 2007, when Clark, Peterson and Alspach played a show there together as members of Tiger Saw and St Joe Hazelwood, in the midst of respective summer tours. The members connected when it was revealed that all were raised in central Massachusetts and months later back home in New England, a new group was formed.
Since their first show in Cambridge in winter 2008, The Points North have played hundreds of shows throughout the northeast including house venues, art spaces, rock clubs, and recently at Harvard Square's legendary Club Passim. To support the release of their first full length, The Points North are currently planning a string of dates around the US, Canada and Australia.
Ryan's Smashing Life-“ There's a bare beauty to the band's music. You can thank members Chris Alspach, Regina Peterson, and Dylan Clark for that. These songs provide the soundtrack for the long, cold winters we all experience here in New England... And much like looking at the trees during those barren months, stripped clean of their leaves, the songs from The Points North let us see that time honestly.
RockNRollBoston.com-“ The musicians create a nostalgic sound without swaying into sentimentalville; quiet honesty prevails in I Saw Across the Sound...featuring the band’s signature amalgamation of Regina’s haunting voice resting perfectly into place with intimate vocals delivered by Chris. The simply yet beautifully played acoustic guitar and percussion undulates under the singers while a wistful flute line glides in and out of the music."
Melophobe- “A wintery folk trio that capitalized on diverse instrumentation and intricate harmonies. Combining male and female vocals with muted percussion, they resembled an earthier Peter Paul and Mary, regaling the audience with organic folk tunes.” link
UMASS Media-“In this era of over-sweet, under-flavored concoctions, The Points North offer a long overdue glass of fine whiskey. Their music goes straight to the heart with minimalist, folky tunes that are infused with New England sentiments.” link
I Haven't Had My Coffee Yet-“ ...haunting and beautiful; evoking a quiet passion that you have to listen to hear...Chris’ lyrics make you search your soul for that quiet place where your real truths live, if only you’d look there."
Cheap Thrills Boston- “Listening to The Points North gives you the impression that these are age-old songs that were only recently dug out of the ground. Maybe it's the acoustic guitars, accordions, flutes, etc; but it's beautiful stuff that would sound great electric as well.”
Middle East Club Blog- “As a trio The Points North compose their hushed minimalist New England-inspired folk songs with nylon-string guitar, octave mandolin, Irish flute, reed organ, percussion and the male-female harmonies of Alspach and Peterson to deliver their twenty-first century take on traditionalist country folk songs.”
Boston Globe-“ As if their limited-edition hand-pressed show flier wasn’t sumptuous enough, Boston minimalist indie-folk outfit the Points North have a gorgeous new LP, “I Saw Across the Sound,’’ out next week and an Oct. 1 show to celebrate the occasion."
Hey there Points North, Hope you had a great Halloween. Hope the gigs are going well. If you get the chance point yourselves South to NB this Friday and catch a showcase. 4 great bands and a great time for sure, WCS
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