nelo
Austin, Texas, United States | INDIE
Music
Press
Austin-based nelo's smooth and compulsive 21st century pop sound has broad commercial appeal, with just enough Texas in it to keep things sharp and sturdy. The band has its origins in Dallas, TX, where guitarist and songwriter Matt Ragland, guitarist Stephen Goodson, drummer Chris Hill, and tenor sax player David Long played together while still in high school. By 2002, with lead singer Reid Umstattd and multi-instrumentalist (bass, trumpet, trombone, organ) Mike St. Clair now on board, the full six-piece was in place. The band itself marks 2005, the year the whole group relocated together to Athens, GA, as a formal starting point. With an infectious set of original songs and the pop sense to pull them off, nelo (the name rhymes with "hello") were soon a favorite on the Georgia club circuit. But they still retained a strong Texas fan base as well, and found themselves touring small and medium venues in both states, making things happen on two fronts at once. Producer Freddy Fletcher, who happens to be country singer Willie Nelson's nephew, caught nelo at one of their Texas shows and was impressed enough to bring the band into Nelson's Padernales Studio in Austin, TX, and start recording an album. The band left Athens and moved back to Austin to work on the project, which was eventually released in 2008 by Houston-based Justice Records - All Music Guide
AA-S Best Bet - Nelo:
The members of Nelo — say it like 'hello' — released their self-titled album on Tuesday, and they celebrate tonight at Antone's. The folk-rock band sounds like a mix of the Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler. Their unconventional use of saxophone, trombone and trumpet might just get your feet tapping along. Nelo is much more than just a jam band; the single 'Jumping Bean' gives you the feeling of cruising down a highway in a convertible. Catch this new band before the lines to see them get too long. Singer/songwriter Ryan Carter of the band Francis opens for Nelo.
Watch video of Nelo performing live on the Statesman's patio at austin360.com/musicsource.
— Blair Shiff - Austin American-Statesman
AA-S Best Bet - Nelo:
The members of Nelo — say it like 'hello' — released their self-titled album on Tuesday, and they celebrate tonight at Antone's. The folk-rock band sounds like a mix of the Dave Matthews Band and Blues Traveler. Their unconventional use of saxophone, trombone and trumpet might just get your feet tapping along. Nelo is much more than just a jam band; the single 'Jumping Bean' gives you the feeling of cruising down a highway in a convertible. Catch this new band before the lines to see them get too long. Singer/songwriter Ryan Carter of the band Francis opens for Nelo.
Watch video of Nelo performing live on the Statesman's patio at austin360.com/musicsource.
— Blair Shiff - Austin American-Statesman
http://www.austinme.com/index.php?t=browse_playlist
Right out of the gate, “All Gone To Nothing” immediately draws listeners into nelo’s full, contemplative sound. Although the band credits the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sting, Duane Allman, and especially Dave Matthews for their musical inspiration (easily heard in their proficient use of horns and poetic lyrics), you might also catch a bit of the Counting Crows and Widespread Panic among the streaming melodies and heartfelt crooning of Matt Ragland and Reid Umstattd.
At once uplifting, smooth, happy and emotional, nelo (rhymes with “hello” by the way) jams in a way bands with twice as many musicians wish they could. Bubbly instrumentals will have hippies bobbing across the grass at outdoor venues all summer long. This will be no surprise to the band, which regularly sells out shows and has already created a substantial buzz among high school- and college-age students. nelo is not pop candy, though. Four of the six members—Chris Hill, Stephen Goodson, David Long and Mike St. Clair—studied jazz in college. They’re launching their first nationwide tour this april, but you can bring ‘em right into your living room with this gem of a debut album. Do we recommend it? You bet.
-hillary r. skaff - Austin Music Magazine
http://hub.ou.edu/articles/print.php?item_id=1870657758&hub=376d8b28bb5db855f5206983eaf790b3
CD Rating:
“nelo”
nelo
Justice Records
Recently, when I was in Chili’s Grill & Bar dining with a buddy of mine, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “Never Had To Knock On Wood” came over the speakers. I was instantly back in the mid to late ’90s. With the music that accompanied this great song, it became apparent everything they played ushered me back to the good ol’ days of my youth.
Now, what does this have to do with my review? Well, you see, when I was handed nelo’s self-titled album last week, I really wasn’t expecting much, if anything, from this Austin, Texas-based band. But, being such a sucker for the nostalgia of ’90s music, I couldn’t dislike nor stop listening to this band.
Imagine a twangy, more upbeat version of the Counting Crows with a cup of Blues Traveler, a pinch of Rob Thomas and Jason Mraz and a touch of Dave Matthews Band (in the sound of his voice only, not the annoying or convoluted parts of his music).
One thing is for sure, nelo certainly isn’t lacking in overall sound. The band’s instruments include a 12-string guitar, tenor and soprano saxophones, trombone, trumpet and an organ. This creates a rich depth of quality to their music that’s hard to come by these days with everybody using sound mixers, audio distortion, synthesizers and turn tables.
The entire album is pretty solid all the way through with some key, high points, such as the first track, “All Gone To Nothing” and the third track “On Top of Love.”
The band’s Hootie and the Blowfish-type sound makes the CD the perfect feel good music for spring.
Go ahead and check out their MySpace page. This CD will make you want to run around the South Oval with an attractive, free spirited member of the opposite sex and an adopted puppy from the animal shelter, while carefully weaving some of Molly Shi’s flowers in your hair. - The Oklahoma Daily
http://hub.ou.edu/articles/print.php?item_id=1870657758&hub=376d8b28bb5db855f5206983eaf790b3
CD Rating:
“nelo”
nelo
Justice Records
Recently, when I was in Chili’s Grill & Bar dining with a buddy of mine, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones’ “Never Had To Knock On Wood” came over the speakers. I was instantly back in the mid to late ’90s. With the music that accompanied this great song, it became apparent everything they played ushered me back to the good ol’ days of my youth.
Now, what does this have to do with my review? Well, you see, when I was handed nelo’s self-titled album last week, I really wasn’t expecting much, if anything, from this Austin, Texas-based band. But, being such a sucker for the nostalgia of ’90s music, I couldn’t dislike nor stop listening to this band.
Imagine a twangy, more upbeat version of the Counting Crows with a cup of Blues Traveler, a pinch of Rob Thomas and Jason Mraz and a touch of Dave Matthews Band (in the sound of his voice only, not the annoying or convoluted parts of his music).
One thing is for sure, nelo certainly isn’t lacking in overall sound. The band’s instruments include a 12-string guitar, tenor and soprano saxophones, trombone, trumpet and an organ. This creates a rich depth of quality to their music that’s hard to come by these days with everybody using sound mixers, audio distortion, synthesizers and turn tables.
The entire album is pretty solid all the way through with some key, high points, such as the first track, “All Gone To Nothing” and the third track “On Top of Love.”
The band’s Hootie and the Blowfish-type sound makes the CD the perfect feel good music for spring.
Go ahead and check out their MySpace page. This CD will make you want to run around the South Oval with an attractive, free spirited member of the opposite sex and an adopted puppy from the animal shelter, while carefully weaving some of Molly Shi’s flowers in your hair. - The Oklahoma Daily
Discography
Two Years Ago EP, 2009
Ordinary Scene, 2010
Old Friends... (Live at Pedernales Studio), 2012
Nelo - unreleased (coming 2.4.14)
Photos
Bio
Music is hard work when you take it seriously. Amidst an endless sea of other young bands, it takes tenacity, charisma and something unique yet relatable to shine. The work is hard, but the reward is sweet. Just ask Nelo. After a few years of grinding it out on the road and in the studio, Nelo finished a brand new album and an authentic American rock band was born.
Nelo, the new self-titled L.P. has a target release date of February 4, 2014. It is a big, bold, evocative ensemble of sounds that somehow feels edgy and alluring at the same time. And this record is perhaps truer to the bands roots than any of the other recordings that Nelo has produced in the last few years. The album is packed with effortless live energy, but the story of how it came to be is not so easy.
The band essentially recorded off and on over a year and a half when not on the road. Matt Ragland, the bands primary songwriter and rhythm guitarist, produced the album and was adamant that no idea go untested. The result is a very personal record that deserves to be self-titled.
Nelo, named for a strategy in the card game Spades where one loses every hand in order to win big in the end, is led by the team of Matt Ragland and Reid Umstattd (lead singer). The name of the band draws likeness between the strategy in the game and the experience of songwriting, where one often takes the loss and pain experienced in life and uses it to create something distinctly positive.
Ragland and Umstattd met as kids at a summer camp outside of Austin, TX but did not become friends until years later. Ragland, who had begun writing songs, heard Umstattd sing by chance one day during a camp retreat, a pivotal moment for the duo that soon developed into a deep musical bond and friendship. By the time the two had graduated college, Ragland had already written multiple albums worth of songs and asked some musician friends from high school to join forces and form a new band.
In 2009, Nelo released Two Years Ago, an EP produced by Doug Lancio (Patty Griffin, John Hiatt) and recorded over 4 days at Willie Nelsons Pedernales Studio outside of Austin. The band began touring extensively making stops at Austin City Limits Music Festival, South by Southwest, and CMJ Music Festival. The following year the band released Ordinary Scene (2010), a full length LP that Ragland produced himself. The record was mixed by CJ Eiriksson (U2, Steve Lillywhite) and debuted in the top 5 of the ITunes rock charts.
Perhaps the best part about the Ragland/Umstattd dynamic is that crowds can feel that they are a team. Raglands songwriting is hard to describe. On the one hand its faintly familiar, but on the other youve never heard this before. His lyrics are packed with content and meaning, and one gets the impression that his songs need to be written. Whatever hes searching for, its deep and not often found in rock music. Umstattds singing is equally as inspired. He sings with an ease and passion that would make the best of singers jealous. Hell leave you saying to yourself that guy was just born to do that.
David Sierra (drums), Matthew Muehling (guitar/bass), and Dave Scher (also guitar/bass) complete the team and their level of musicianship is world class. Nelo has been compared to an array of acts including Kings of Leon, The Killers, Dave Matthews Band and Eddie Vedder due to their positive, powerful live energy coming from tight, cohesive songwriting and a healthy dose of improvisation. This is a deep, honest, and energetic rock band thats not afraid to smile.
Band Members
Links
