Homegrown: Dan Blakeslee, Coyote Kolb, and Caleb Groh
Monday, March 5, 2012 at 7:21AM Words // Scott Pingeton
When it comes to Boston bands, I often find myself caught between two extremes. On one hand, I want to root for the local guys. The idea of finding your new favorite band sweating it out in the local bars is a romantic dream, but visions of the Cavern Club can cloud one's judgement. On the other hand, I have no interest in pandering to the local scene. I seek out the best music period, regardless of geography - and that often means paying less attention to Boston than to Seattle, Nashville and New York. Every once in a while I need to remind myself that there is a lot of great music being made in Boston. Here are three artists you need to know:
Dan Blakeslee
Dan Blakeslee is one of Boston's most promising songwriters - spinning literate songs that feature the perfect mix of folky grit and soulful swoon. Tatnic Tales is a record I'm ashamed to say I overlooked in 2011, but I've made time for it in 2012 and I encourage you to do the same. "Lazy Eyed Girl" is a beautiful piano and fiddle folk jam - perfect for those nights when the party is winding down, but you're not ready to leave. (website)
Coyote Kolb
Coyote Kolb is a band that I've been aware of for a while, but only fell in love with recently. Hearing their new record United State for the first time, I can't help but feel like I've made a big, big mistake by not getting on board sooner. Country, folk and blues meld into something magical and mysterious - the musical equivalent of a dark desert highway, ominous clouds fast approaching. (website)
Caleb Groh
I was vaguely aware of Caleb Groh's Happiest Lion project - which, fairly or unfairly, I sort of considered to be Sufjan Stevens-lite. I was intrigued and excited by the rootsy new direction on last years' Down, Dakota! EP - it's hard to go wrong with simple folk songs and banjo. "Hapless Dreamer" is from his upcoming LP Bottomless Coffee and it suggests yet another (exciting) new direction - melodic, melancholy indie-folk. (website)
Share Article | tagged Caleb Groh, Coyote Kolb, Dan Blakeslee in Free music, New Music, Review, Scott 
Reader Comments (1)
Hey now, on the small chance that you didn't know this all ready, Caleb Groh posted the full length for Bottomless Coffee. I only knew about it form your post here so I thought I would pass on the info. I'm so love'n this disc! Keep up the great work you do here. Beautiful stuff! Thanks!