For the past 16 years, Roger Bryan and the Orphans have been foraging a path merging classic american songwriting with both grace and recklessness. Over the fourse of four albums, multiple EPs, and singles, they have created a catolog of ragged glory that continues to grow and evolve while managing to keep a heart stil stitched on it’s well worn sleeve. – RBATO Days Or Nights/That’s Life! by Roger Bryan and The Orphans
In the summer of 2012, my family traveled two and a half hours to see a musician named Willie Watson play at an anti-fracking festival in his hometown of Hector, NY. The festival was free, in a grass lot, and Willie was one of maybe eight other musicians on the day’s lineup. An untrained eye may have glanced over the list of performing acts without a second thought, but to anyone slightly familiar with bluegrass or Americana music, the fact that WILLIE WATSON was playing a FREE SHOW just TWO AND A HALF HOURS from Buffalo was jaw-droppingly lucky. So travel we did, to what has gone down in history as one of our favorite musical experiences. Ever. You may recognize Willie Watson as the former co-leader of Old Crow Medicine Show. His high harmonies and skillful guitar playing gave the band the unique country sound that made everyone—including Doc[...]
A lot can happen when a bunch of local songwriters and musicians happen across each other’s paths and subsequently decide to make some music. Sounds come together, voices fall into harmony, and direction begins to take form. Coming off their self-titled debut release, The Observers seem to have little else on their minds than following a road they have ardently begun to forge for themselves and busting out of Buffalo’s coddling grips. “The trajectory seems to be moving in a positive direction,” says Josh Gage, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of the now seven-person ensemble. “Coming off the CD release, our goal is to get on the road as much as we can…and possibly do a house-concert tour along the 90 corridor.” It couldn’t be a more perfect regional introduction for an acoustic band that is just coming of age. “It’s kind of our bag. When we can forget about the[...]