The Syncopaths are: Ryan McKasson, fiddle and viola; Jeffrey Spero, piano and keyboards; Bill Flores, guitars, mandolin and concertina; and Christa Burch, vocals and bodhrán. Fiddler Kathleen Keane is an honorary member - she still joins in if she's in town!
Influences
Alasdair Fraser, Buddy McMaster, Bruce Molsky, Nightingale, Dervish, June Tabor, Kate Rusby, Susan McKeown, Niamh Parsons
This California Celtic band features Ryan McKasson on fiddle, Jeff Spero on keyboard, Christa Burch on bodhrán and vocals, and Bill Flores on mandolin, banjo and guitar.
Reknowned bluegrass fiddler Richard Greene was looking to put together an "American Celtic" band in early 2003, and Ryan, Christa and Jeff came highly recommended from the Los Angeles Celtic communities. They assembled at Richard's house for one rehearsal, and so enjoyed jamming together that six months later - the original project having been abandoned - they reassembled for a contra dance, this time with Bill along for the ride.
Without benefit of rehearsal, but with memories of that earlier jam, they sat down to play... and magic happened. Dancers at that memorable night still talk about the energy, joy and groove-driven music that poured off the stage.
Ryan moved away to Washington state shortly thereafter, and the band took on Kathleen Keane as it's fiddler. it was more than a year later that the band reassembled with Ryan for the CTMS Summer Solstice festival in Calabasas, CA. As they'd done before, they sat down to play without any plans in mind, and let the music and the groove find them as it would. And again, they made magic. This time, plans were laid to capture the unique sound of their jams.
Six months later they made a tour of contra dances in California, recording the dances as they played. These recordings can be heard on their 2005 CD release "Rough Around the Edges - the Syncopaths Live!" While Kathleen played on one track on the CD, she has since left Southern California and only occasionally sits in when she's in town.
The band has now left the comforts of their California roots and has begun touring across the country.
And come visit us at our website www.syncopaths.com or our CDBaby site at http://cdbaby.com/cd/syncopaths
I want a CD! How? Christa's voice is sublime and lovely musicians. I met Christa at Sebastopol in he Holiday Inn session afterhours and she knocked me out with a song sung with only bodhran. Let me know when you are all in Northern California again. - Nic
Jeff! What a blast playing with you in Brentwood. Can't wait for San Diego! I put up a picture from the gig on my website...unfortunately a mic stand is covering your daughter, but I put it up anyway. Seeya soon! ash and jam
Hey guys!
Thanks for the add and the very nice comment, and YES, you are a big influence, your music is awesome.
We're waiting for the next CD :).
Margie, Amy & Tina
l'été arrive a grand pas et nous serons en Bretagne pour une série de concerts , mais aussi en Normandie, Picardie, Pays de Galles et Belgique...à bientôt - C.C.
toutes les dates disponibles sur le site web
The summer is coming with many concerts in Brittany, but also in Normandy, Picardy , Wales and Belgium..
See you soon there ! Yours - C.C
all gigs available on the website
Love your sound. Hope we can get together someday to jam. Thanks for 'friending' us! I think some of your friends would enjoy demos we have on our MySpace page. They're hot and innovative, combining Applachian, Celtic, and Swing on fiddle, mando, and even trumpet. I know the'yll want to request an add so we can let 'em know when our CD comes out....soon! Drop by, y'all!
Hi Guys, just wanted to pop in and say hi, it's been a while. I have officially worn your CD out, I play it constantly. Thanks for your happy music! Keep it coming.
Margie
Thanks for adding me. I hope to see you at one of Woodkerne's gigs coming up. If you're in New Hampshire this Friday night, come by the Salt Hill Pub in Newport. Jim
In the Congress Reel set, what tune follows Brenda Stubbert's? btw, I can barely keep up with your wicked fast tempo in Brenda's!! Can't wait for that WS dance! Feet will be flying!
Thanks for adding me as a friend. I found your group in looking for Buddy McMaster references. My wife is from Cape Breton and grew up on 'Scotch concerts', in other words Celtic fiddle music and step dancing. Check out Celtic Colours, http://www.celtic-colours.com/core.php ,to see a fabulous selection of Celtic music.
great tunes! Thanks for makin' me a friend. I'd like to invite your friends over to hear a new song of mine (and also check out the fiddle tune: Wild Ponies). It is one year this month that 12 miners died in a coal mine at Sago, WV. I wrote a song last week and uploaded it to myspace for free streaming or download. If you like it, pass it on.
aww, you guys are coming to the baltimore/dc contras, but i'll be at oberlin...come play contra/concert/session here at oberlin sometime, you guys are good!
