CD "Deeper Roots" is now available. The record was recorded and mixed by Steve Connelly and mastered by Cave McCoy at Zen Recording Studios in Pinellas Park, Florida. Deeper Roots features Alex Spoto on fiddle, George Pappas on blues harp, Harry Hayward on drums, Rob Pastore on bass, Stephanie Carpenter, Judy Tampa, and The Eleventh Hour Choir (Belinda Womak, Gale Trippsmith, Jenny Flory, Leigh Humes, Judy Tampa, John McEwen and Rob Pastore) backup vocals. CD photos by Stehlik Photography and Amy Pezzicara Photography.
Influences
Roy Book Binder, Robert Johnson, Son House, Charley Patton, Blind Willie McTell, Blind Blake, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blind Willie Johnson, Reverend Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Skip James, Mississippi Fred McDowell, Big Bill Broonzy, Tommy Johnson, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Leadbelly, Paul Geremia, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Mahalia Jackson, Hank Williams
Sounds Like
Staff Pick
BEST ACOUSTIC GUITAR PICKER: Toby Bonar
Last winter, Toby Bonar issued the full-length Deeper Roots, a fine accomplishment that displays his songwriting/singing talents and striking acoustic guitar and National Steel work. Bonar’s fluid picking harks back to the likes of country blues greats like Mississippi John Hurt, but with a freshness that speaks to a contemporary young man’s myriad interests.
"Despite a startlingly brief apprenticeship, Bonar exhibits a remarkable musical gift." Click here for full St. Petersburg Times article by Louis Hau
"He sings with all of his soul, and his guitar work is some of the best we've seen." Click here for full article from Tre Amici Music, April 19th Show Recap
"A singer/songwriter and astounding acoustic guitar picker, Bonar has recorded a superb debut album of country-blues originals that speak to matters of the heart and the anxiety of coping with modernity, phrased in contemporary language that still suits the genre." Click here for full CD review in Creative Loafing, January 16, 2008
Toby Bonar! Thanks for being a friend. Please take the time to check out the Studio's bands on our playlist. Use the links to check out the band's pages. Do what you you can for your local scene. You are the people that make the music scene happen! Tell me what you think!
HI there! We hope you get some amusement out of our music! [Its not all going to be as random as this. It'll kind of be anything and everything, if that makes sense. ] Hope you're doing well,
Toby,
Thanks for coming out last weekend. I'm really liking your CD. It's like some long lost Vangaurd '60s album. Just the stuff I like and very refreshing. Who's that fiddle player? He's pretty good. I can hear your Blind Blake and Robert Johnson influences. Glad somebody actually takes home some musical influences from Blues Week.I got the other CD to Diane who said she'd get it to Mel. Hope you like it down in Pembroke this summer and to see you again sometime soon.
Hi Toby! I hope this message finds you well. We're coming to NC this month!!
Sneak Preview for Last Call
Claire and I have returned from our 3 months EU& UK tour. So, I just posted a note about what's going on with The Bowmans on facebook... and then I started writing a mass email... and then I decided against it... so I'm doing this instead. (begging) Will you visit my profile page to help me spread the word, pretty please??? We have a sneak preview of the new album (Produced by Malcolm Burn, Mastered by Greg Calbi) up for 5 days only… and it can be bought within the next 5 days only!
Hey Toby Thanks man.....your sounds are way cool...really enjoying listening to them...good luck..and maybe one day a NZ Bonar will meet a US Bonar.....J
Good to be hooked up on myspace. We met a couple years ago in Safety Harbor at WhistleStop Open Mike. I remember the Untitled Train Song .... excellent writing and performance. You still got your mojo workin'.
Hi Toby Bonar We wanna thank you for your very important support in those sad days.
This thanx are in our name, in the name of Enrico's wife Paola and in the name of his sons.
Enrico Micheletti's ashes are flyin' throughout the universe and we hope his soul is finally arrived at a beautiful destination.
What about his music and the music we had recorded toghether?
We finally decide to get it out. We wanna remeber Enrico in this way. In the first quarter of 2009 we will publish all our and Enrico Micheletti' s materials on Itunes and many other stores on the web.
We'll send you a message when it's all ready.
God bless you!!! Have a wonderful 2009!!!
KEEP THE BLUES ALIVEEEE!!!!!!!
Ciao Toby Bonar ti volevamo ringraziare per le tue parole e per il tuo sostegno in periodo così difficile per noi.
Questi ringraziamenti non sono formali, sono veramente sinceri a nome nostro, della moglie di Enrico Paola e a nome dei suoi figli.
Le ceneri di Enrico Micheletti sono disperse nel mar Tirreno e stanno viaggiando nell' universo. Noi speriamo che anche la sua anima abbia raggiunto finalmente il miglior approdo possibile.
Cosa fare del suo materiale in nostro possesso e del materiale che abbiamo registrato insieme?
Dopo aver pensato a lungo sul da farsi abbiamo deciso di pubblicarlo. Lo pubblicheremo su Itunes ed altri siti così tutti potranno trovarlo se lo cercano. Glielo dobbiamo. Glielo deve chi lo ha conosciuto.
Cercheremo di pubblicare tutto ciò che è in nostro possesso nei primi mesi del 2009.
Appena sarà tutto pronto ti faremo sapere.
Felice Anno Nuovo. Dio ti benedica ancora, grazie. Suonate il blues più che pot
