Friday, January 20, 2006

It's a Monsoon, drink Hot Buttered Rum

National acts tour on co-bill


By DANA DUGAN
Express Staff Writer

Hot Buttered Rum String Band. Photo by Dan Sagarin

It may be happening on a Monday night, but the tunes will blast like it's Fat Tuesday. Two bands gaining national attention are splitting the bill at Whiskey Jacques' in Ketchum. New Monsoon and Hot Buttered Rum bring an enticing blend of rock bravado, world music, folk and bluegrass to the stage for a full set each.

San Francisco-based New Monsoon has jammed across the country to louder and more persuasive acclaim. Their unique sound is made possible by the use of Latin, Brazilian and Indian percussion, drums, didgeridoo, electric and acoustic guitars, banjo, mandolin, bass and keyboards. New Monsoon's original compositions are an experience of musical textures, rhythms, ideas and moods.

New Monsoon is comprised of guitarists Bo Carper and Jeff Miller, percussion master Marty Ylitalo, tabla virtuoso Rajiv Parikh, conguero Brian Carey, Phil "The Pianimal" Ferlino on keyboard and bassist Ben Bernstein.

They were named Jambase.com's 2003 Emerging Artist of the Year, and have performed at major music festivals and venues, including Bonnaroo, Oregon Country Fair, Austin City Limits Festival, Magnolia Festival, High Sierra Music Festival, Red Rocks Amphitheater, The Fillmore and Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

Hot Buttered Rum, known for their instrumental and vocal virtuosity, creates a hip and fresh melding of folk and bluegrass with the modern influences of rock-n-roll, reggae and acoustic singer/songwriters. The band is made up of Bryan Horne on double bass, Aaron Redner on fiddle and mandolin, Erik Yates on banjo, flutes, accordian and clarinet, Nat Keefe on guitar and Zac Matthews on mandolin and fiddle.

The San Francisco Chronicle said "Their original songs are instantly familiar and inviting, and their easygoing versions of timeless classics (the Beatles, Hank Williams) belie the intricacy of the arrangements."

Since 2003, the band has toured in a flagship tour bus that runs on vegetable oil, featuring an interior made of environmentally low-impact components.

In 2005, they performed at premier music festivals such as Telluride Bluegrass, Newport Folk and South By Southwest. As well, they've shared the stage with artists Phil Lesh, Ben Harper, Michael Franti and Spearhead, Chris Thile, Bela Fleck, Peter Rowan, Billy Nershi and Mike Marshall.




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