This is Strangefolk

Strangefolk- "You can dance, dance--move your feet and lose your mind... you can dance, dance--leave your troubled mind."

Strange (stranj), adj. 1. Strikingly unusual or peculiar 

Folk (fok), -adj. 4. Originating among the common people: folk music. 

What's in a name? Well, not much, usually. And this case is not really the exception to the rule since the name of this particular band just sort of spring out without any real deep thought. Strangefolk's music is strikingly unusual, however, both within the much heralded Burlington scene and amongst the greater East Coast musical community. And it does have very wide appeal, hence the common people reference makes a certain amount of sense.

Before going any further, however, let's define our terms and introduce the folk. Strange folk is the four piece acoustic based rock band taking significant parts of the Northeast by storm (in fact, rumor has it they're going to name the next 'S' hurricane after it.) It is comprised of Reid Genauer (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), John Trafton (lead guitar), Eric Glocker (bass) and Luke Smith (drums). Four fine folks, fersure. 

Now let us end here the very strange etymological discussion and get to what a musical review must ultimately consider–the music. In a word, Strangefolk's music is folkin' amazin' (awright, two words). And don't let the acoustic moniker fool you–on any given night these guys will blow you away like any fully charged electric ensemble that you are into would, but even more so since they'll do it solely through the sheer force of their music and not by the added virtue of excessively turned up amps and speakers. 

The reasons Strangefolk will blow you away vary, depending on why you go out to live shows in the first place. What appeals to a significant segment, myself included, is the fact that not only do they play extremely well crafted, catchy songs that will send chills up and down your spine, but they also know–really know–how to jam. No three-minute-song radio-play regurgitated setlist for these guys. Following in the fine footsteps of the creme de la creme of such so-called hippie jam bands like Blues Traveler, the Spin Doctors, and their ilk, Strangefolk is not afraid to push the outer edge of the carton in order to deliver fresh milk that doesn't sound like it's past the expiration date. 

The only thing spoiled about a Strangefolk gig is… that is how their music will make you feel after you've been dancing like a demon all night long. If you go with your right brain and don't want to be overly challenged and disturbed by live music and you don't crave great heaps of intellectual content, then you are well positioned for lift-off to uncharted realms of enjoyment on the winds of the Strangefolk form. Left-brained alternative music lovers beware: as the lyrics quoted in the heading illustrate, Strangefolk might be a cup of tempest in the teapot. Simply put, if you count yourself among the devotees of the aforementioned hippie genre (i.e. if you measure your live show experiences in terms of transcendence, sweat, great vibes, more sweat, and ecstatic peak moments), then an evening with Strangefolk is sure to float your boat way out to sea.

For those who are a bit more technically minded, Strangefolk pays attention to the aspects that make songs works of art, such as interesting and moving (if not complex lyrics), varying the dynamics, phrasing and balance of both voices and instruments, etc, etc, etc. What makes their songs very, very good works of art, however, are the following factors:

1) Their VOCALS: it is a sad fact of life in the upper strata of the musical Realm that it is simply not enough to have good written material and excellent musicianship, for there are many, many bands that fit that bill. It is vocals that separates the menfolk from the boyfolk, and boy-oh-boy, man-oh MAN, can Strangefolk sing! Reid- who puts the 'folk' in Strangefolk- has a voice that could only be described as angelic at times and who simultaneously sings with a sweetness, weight and authority that proves he was born to write and sing catchy folk rock songs that somehow already have the feel of classics. Experiencing either Reid solo or together with the other guys who blend well with Reid's smooth creamy voice, Strangefolk's vocals are a delight to the ears and the spirit.

2) Their TENSION. If Reid is the angel in the group, then John could arguably be described as the opposite, for it is John whose devilish psychedelic-flavored guitar work puts the 'strange' in Strangefolk. The two protagonists actually began playing together a number of years and their collaboration pre-dates the current four-piece configuration of Strangefolk. This history is evident as John continually pushes the jam further and further into uncharted realms of exploratory weirdness, sprinkling all sorts of campy song fragments into the heart of their songs in the most unlikely spots, while Reid pulls the song back up from the Satanic depths which is angelic vocals. For example, at their most recent metronome gig comma careful listeners could pick out fragments from hey Jude and when the Saints go marching in, amongst other titillating tidbits. 

All this is accomplished, of course, with the help of Eric's pulsating bass and Luke's solid percussive musicianship. Both of these members of Srangefolk's rhythmic backbone provide the complement necessary to round out the group sound with a maturity and Instinct that enables them to enhance rather than dampen the inherent tension between the group's 'founding duo.'

At present, Strangefolk is following the time-tested method of working and touring hard all over the Northeastern corridor in hopes that the concentric circles will widen and their fan base will grow organically as more and more club-goers experience their live shows. And rumor has it that they're going into the studio any day now to produce the requisite CD that will function as their intro into realms yet unreached.

It's certainly just a matter of time before greater glory arrives. These guys have the talent and are making the commitment. In the meantime, I challenge anyone to listen to their one release to date--a self-titled tape available at many of the usual Burlington spots--without being compelled to hum and shake to most of the tunes for the rest of your day and night! The recording is a highly credible effort that nevertheless serves as an incredible sampler of the distinctive Strangefolk sound.

In conclusion? If you fall somewhere along the hippie - preppy spectrum and you're into acoustic-flavored rock'n roll spiced by some sweet singing and some hard jammin', then definitely get yourself to the next Strangefolk show. Listen to me and you'll be glad you did, but better yet, listen to Strangefolk (preferably live) and get a copy of their tape or imminently arriving CD. If it ain't the cure for whatever ails ya I'll personally pay for your aspirin.

Strangefolk is a band that is making a name for itself the old - fashioned way. If these guys keep writing and performing so well and working and touring so hard, they might soon have to change their name because another definition of strange (2. previously unknown or unfamiliar) will surely not apply- not so long as word continues to get around and a threshold level of folk experience their strikingly unusual, yet purely accessible, transportational and super-sensational music. 

Strangefolk has a new CD due out any day now, but in the meantime you can check them out on the Good Citizen Soundtrack to the Zine Volume One.

Russ Weis is one of those Birkenstock- wearing, tie-dyed, peace-loving, long-haired hippies your mama warned you about. He cut his teeth in the nightclub business down at Wetlands Preserve in NYC for three years and then left for the crunchy green mtn state where he now fills the post of General Manager at Burlington's own Club Metronome.