Dave Ritter, Jon Hembrey, Simon "the stumbling assassin" Ward, Darryl "heavy" James, Izzy Ritchie.
Influences
The Ultimate Warrior, Ghandhi's second cousin, anyone named Pip, that friendly man at Yonge and Dundas who scares people by yelling "BELIEVE IN THE LORD!"
Since forming in late 2008, The Strumbellas have been blowing the doors off of clubs and festival stages across Southern Ontario. Their singular mix of alt-country harmonies, bluegrass instrumentation, and big pop hooks makes them natural heirs of the Toronto indie folk scene built by Royal City, The Sadies, Hayden, and Cuff the Duke. Though their influences stretch from Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys to The Flying Burrito Brothers and Uncle Tupelo, The Strumbellas--with the thunderous force of their live show--are anything but a simple retread.
Much of the credit for updating the time-honoured country sound goes to lead singer Simon Ward, whose words range far beyond fallow fields and lost sweethearts. Overtop of his wrecking-ball acoustic guitar, Ward ruminates on death and God, on the sacrifices we make to know ourselves. In the take-no-prisoners barnburner "The Racer", Ward seeks absolution for the sins of his father, while in "I'd Sell My Children" he admits to all the things he'd do for "that little yellow light", and the things he won't ("I don't lie"). Ward laces his confessions with images playful and absurd, never content with the clichéd platitudes of the typical love song.
The band matches this expansive lyrical vision with all the power and range promised by a nine member ensemble. The Strumbellas push beyond the standard country sounds of bass, guitar, and banjo by adding violin, autoharp, mandolin, and clarinet. "Let My People Ride" and "Lucky Heart" oppose gentle strings to crackling mandolin, and "Indiana's" burst of rolling clarinet in the bridge brings cheers from audiences at storied stages like The Horseshoe Tavern and The Silver Dollar. With their explosive live show already getting notice on CBC Radio and in the pages of Now Magazine, The Strumbellas are hard at work on their deput EP, set for release in Fall 2009.
"Real characters, each and every one, their lyrics and musical talent 'hit' a note in me that is still playing on in my soul. Their songs are funny and poignant, down to earth and soulful, all with that southern twang that does a body good." - SNAP
Today I like to inform you, that you can read and watch interviews with your favorit country stars in Enlgish, German and French at http://www.CountryHome.de/Interviews .
Warm regards
Christian
Editor & Journalist for Country Music Christian Lamitschka An der Pfingstweide 28 61118 Bad Vilbel Germany Phone: ++49 6101 544613 Mobil: ++49 171 6903352 Ch.Lamitschka@t-online.de Info@CountryMusic-Magazin.de www.MySpace.com/ChristianLamitschka
Guys! AWESOME performance at Isabella's! I really wasn't expecting a lot, I was just kind of there for something to do, but you guys really blew everyone away. I hope you guys see all the success you deserve!
Hey hey duder, good times playing some tunes last week at the station. Are you doing the same show this week? Let me know man, I would love to come in an play some tunes and jam it up with ya.
Just brilliant as always. That's just allot of good music and production. You know when you find a really good artist that no body knows about and you kinda hope no body else finds out about your secret? To bad this music is to good not to share. Get it out there.
Online Now!
