Citizen Bare on the TAz Michaels Show

Words by Marissa Bucci. Photo by Lily Chau.

Formed in 2007 in Underhill, Vermont, Citizen Bare is an Americana group whose wide range of influences helps to contribute to their unique sound. Citizen Bare started as a duo between Andy James and John Gratton, and slowly expanded to include Jesse Cowen on bass, Elizabeth Patterson on keys, and Dwayne Doner on drums. The members of the band have known each other for over a decade, which contributes to their fantastic connection that manifests in the cohesion of their diverse individual influences. Elizabeth is majorly influenced by piano based singer-songwriters like Alicia Keys, Norah Jones, and Billy Joel, while the band in its entirety bears a resemblance to the love child of The Eagles, Tom Petty, and The Band.

Andy and John write most of the song lyrics, and then the rest of the band comes in to contribute their own elements.  “We have a lot of messages about social justice, politics, and humanity in our music that you won’t pick up in the first listen,” says Elizabeth.  The combination of the complexity of the individual instruments with the expressive lyrics makes listening to Citizen Bare a wholly enjoyable experience.

Between the five of them, Citizen Bare are the proud parents to 9 children, ranging from 3 to 13. Their kids make them closer as a band says Elizabeth, and inspires them to take their endeavor seriously because they sacrifice family time to work on their music. On the upshot, however, their kids are all close as a result of their collaboration, which further brings them together.

Citizen Bare have played throughout Burlington and the greater Chittenden County area, including The Monkey House, Radio Bean, and the University of Vermont. They are currently working on a 3-song LP that they expect to release this June.