Will West performs solo w/ acoustic guitar, vocals & harmonica
"The Friendly Strangers" are variations of a band:
recent players include:
Noah Peterson (soprano sax)
Drew Norman (banjo/slide guitar)
Bob Soper (fiddle/djembe')
Sean Hudson (upright bass)
Ji Tanzer (drums) and other special guests...
"Will, Skip, Jump" is an experimental guitar/cello duo with Skip vonKuske...
Hey there friends... now it's OurSpace.... my name is Will West. I grew up in the Carolinas.... Summerville, SC then Nash County, NC... and finally Chapel Hill, NC for college before moving to Portland in the summer of 2002....
I've released a couple of albums.... and I'm working on a new one. I also perform around Portland solo acoustic & with variations of a band called the Friendly Strangers. We tend to improvise & experiment quite abit... So the shows continue to evolve and change. Simply put... we like to have fun and play music !!
Thank You for supporting independent music!!! If you can dig abit deeper... We are working to raise support to produce the next album.
CD sales help alot... and CDBaby is wonderful !!! here's the link:
The album SHINE was released in April of 2007. Recorded at 8-Ball Studio with Rob Stroup in Portland, Oregon
Featuring: Bob Soper (fiddle & djembe') Noah Peterson (Soprano Sax) Rob Stroup (Bass, Drums, Guitar) and Jess Kreider on guest vocals.
Big Thanks if you're still reading this.... Pass the word !! Cheers !! -ww
here are some nice people's words....
"Comfort & Soul" Angela Cruz - Encore Magazine (Wilmington, NC)
"He incorporates rootsy, acoustic folk with a bluesy, almost hip-hop-like sense of rhythm. West is a funky, acoustic pop songsmith with a flare for lyricism and rich melodies." Matthew Godbey - Post & Courier (Charleston, SC)
"West's clean guitar and polished voice feel like warm sunshine through a car window." Andrew Ritchey - Independent Weekly (Raleigh, NC)
"A Rhythmic adventure... a light rail through beat town... you just may get distracted and miss your stop.". Henry Hallet of 'SIMPLE FOLK' on KXCI 91.3 (Tucson, AZ)
" He brings smoothness to the singer/songwriter genre that creates something a bit more transitory than simple emotive storytelling." Thomas D. Szewc - Indie-Music.com
" The introspective, folk singer uses a vodka voice to infuse his music with an intimate familiarity." Jade Walker - Siren Song Magazine (Seattle, WA)
" the Northwest or Southeast? ...the beauty that merges between the regions comes in the form of music. " Shea Carver - Encore Magazine (Wilmington, NC)
"Will West has been a local favorite to those Delta blues-style folk-lovin' types. Never performing a song the same way twice, this crooner is a storyteller with a soft touch. While his preference to "feel out" his audience might make you feel violated, there's no need to worry since there's a guitar and a spool of yarns between the two of you.... check him out." headout -- Willamette Week (Portland, Oregon)
"crisp & calming... meditative Ani Difranco/Dave Matthews-lovechild" Music Liberation Project (Portland, Oregon)
"his music is energizing and very pure." Bridge Guitar Review
Will, I so enjoy listening to your music. There must be something in the water there in Portland =) Looking forward to coming up for the first time in Aug. Cheers to you, Manda
Thank you for the awesome show - You packed the house and gave one of your best shows ever, there was 18 of us and I was told everyone had a F-ing Sweet time, Thank you!
Hey i want to let you, and all my friends with whom i visit, that i always enjoy stopping by, even tho it's my bad i don't always get around to leaving a comment. But this time, i was thinkin bout how my mom taught me better. When u enter a room, u supposed to speak first to the people there, they not supposed to have to speak first lol. Even though, I know I am usually really busy recording my next album and everything, no excuses. So yea i wanted to say wassup, i like visiting your and others page when i wanna read, listen to music n stuff. U got a cool spot, and i hope your year is shaping up better than last year. Our life is supposed to get greater and greater right? Well let me know how everything is going with your goals for this year! ttyl
Hey Will! Hope you come check out a great lineup I am apart of on Wed. Night @ the Someday Lounge. Peculiar Pretzelmen and Midnight Serenaders round out the bill! Show starts at 9!!!~~~MPAN
The Buffalo are coming… Come join Mad Buffalo along with Kate Mann and the Calamities at Mississippi Studios in Portland on May 6th. Hope to see you there… Thanks for your support.
Parkrose Farmers Market opens May 2nd!! With Broken Glory, Daily, Sound Semantics and Gentle Rain Jazz Band don't miss it!! Also KUPL country will be there on sight as well.
please add us to your top eight for the week to get the word out!!
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