North
Manchester, Michigan, United States
Music
Press
Never heard of North? That's OK. Joseph Mancuso, the Ann Arbor-based band's founder, says the 12-year-old rock-acoustic group is accustomed to operating under the radar.
That's about to change, though. North's debut CD, "Drowning in Sky," is finally ready to roll. They'll celebrate Saturday night with a show at The Ark.
"It's been such a long road, hanging out in the back corner of the Ann Arbor music scene," Mancuso said. "This is our all-stops-pulled moment. ... After 12 years of hacking away in the background, I feel like we're really ready to emerge, that we've got something that's worth that wait."
In addition to Mancuso, North's other core member is Markus Nee. Both are songwriters and multi-instrumentalists; they are joined on the CD by drummer Hans Masing (The Witch Doctors, Blue Tango), Latin jazz percussionist Al DiBlassio (Los Gatos), Christine Kapusky (flute, vocals), Kevin McGowan (bodhran, electric guitars), Chicago's Jeff Elbel, world musician Tom Sharpe and local musical heroes Brian Lillie and Jim Roll.
[ Full article at http://blog.mlive.com/encorea2/2008/09/preview_north.html ] - The Ann Arbor News
Discography
Drowning In Sky - LP - 2008
Orange Lights - EP - 2008 (special limited edition)
Five - EP - 2001
Revolutions - EP - 1999
Play The Muse (independent film score) - 1996 (special availability only)
blueprint - EP - 1995 (out of print)
Photos
Bio
Despite its generally rock-based center, North's description goes well beyond that of a traditional "band". While its lineup has featured a handful of long-standing members over much of its 13-year history, the project now draws upon a wide-reaching musical family that gives North its dynamic mix of styles and influences.
The core of the project are multi-instrumental composer/songwriters Joseph Mancuso and Markus Nee, who themselves shamelessly color outside the lines of what pop-culture might consider musical icons. Alongside their everyday adventures as mild-mannered mid-30s engineers, the imaginative duo uses their organic folk/rock originals as the core of musical collaborations with a wild variety of artists -- some 10-year veterans with the project (such as regional blues/rock drummer Hans Masing), others bringing rare features and new flavors to the experience (such as award-winning world artist and Mannheim Steamroller percussionist Tom Sharpe).
The result is music that is solid and heartfelt at its roots, but ever-changing and unique in its extent. Rather than try to rigidly define its sound, North happily delivers a living and breathing brand of eclectic rock for the dedicated lover of music, with bold and diverse recordings that refuse to be pigeonholed. Their lighthearted and sincere never-quite-the-same-twice live performances are guaranteed to impress, whether the lineup is eight performers or three or one.
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