BIG TREES

BIG TREES is the brainchild of Bostonian guitarist, singer and songwriter Rick Frauton. While recording and performing on the West coast in 2005 with San Francisco-based indie rock band The Distraction Fit, Rick began working on his own original compositions. “I started to think about the big picture with regards to arranging and recording original music,” says Rick. “It wasn’t long before I realized I had to start my own project in order to execute my artistic vision without compromise.”

At the end of 2006 Rick returned to Boston, and by 2007 he was writing songs and assembling a band of like-minded bohemians. Rick soon met drummer and co-conspirator David Fried and the two hit it off with an undeniable musical rapport. In 2009 Samuel Rulon-Miller joined BIG TREES on upright bass to flesh out the rhythm section. “We love making music together,” says Rick. “Each of us has a responsibility to hold down the groove without overplaying. We value aural space just as much as the notes that divide it, so it is our mutual goal to create that space and allow the songs to breathe.” Cellist Yacov Aviv also joined BIG TREES in 2009 to contribute his tonal bliss to their raw, textured sound.

The result is a unique blend of thoughtful lyrics set to simple melodies and supported by rich layers of organic instrumentation, all with an undying devotion to the almighty groove. BIG TREES' genre-bending sound incorporates elements of folk-rock, reggae and jazz to form an eclectic style all their own. Plans for 2009 include writing, recording, collaborating, rehearsing, and performing. Keep an ear out for BIG TREES as they embark upon the Boston music scene. - INTUIT Records

Written by Erica Garvin
Tuesday, 12 May 2009 21:38

If you find yourself strolling down Washington Street in Brighton and you stumble upon what looks like a little Irish cottage, then you know you are at Porter Belly’s Pub. It is highly encouraged you go in. Maybe it will be a Sunday and you can muster up the strength to display your talents for, “Krazy Karaoke”. Hey if you’re good enough you should go back for, “Open Mic Night” on Wednesdays. Or maybe you want to check out Mr. Porter Belly himself. His likeness is painted on the wall and can be easily viewed as you sip a Guinness and scarf down a, “Green Bay Packer” from the burger menu. Ok, so Boston sports fans may feel obliged to pass on anything with such a name, but who can resist all that hearty meat complete with fries and fixings?

Of course, to truly satisfy your musical palette, a visit on Thursday evening is best. On Thursdays’ “I’ll Drink to that”, Porter Belly’s features live music from the latest local up and coming talent. One of the most recent performances by BIG TREES with guest Jonny Rely lived up to that expectation, as many a drink was poured and sipped amongst a variety of their tunes.

Jonny Rely began the evening with his solo acoustic performance, taking his listeners on an anecdotal journey: from the beaches of Florida, with his fast guitar strumming tune, “In the Sand” all the way to the realm of outer space with a song about an unearthly girl entitled, “She’s So Far Out”. Of course, somewhere in the middle Rely stopped for provisions with, “Check Out Girl”: an upbeat and catchy tune in which he professes his love for a super market cashier. Rely’s presence both in song and on stage is basic and straight forward, yet he intrigues the audience with a mysterious and, at times, comical sensibility leaving his listeners to question both the why and why not of it all.

Where Rely’s lyrical tale ended, BIG TREES’ pilgrimage began, however, in an all together different direction. It was the orchestration of the music that seemed to pave the winding path for the listener to get lost in: the kind where the absence of direction lends itself to peace rather than panic.

The collaborative workings from lead singer and guitarist Rick Frauton, drummer David Fried, and bassist Samuel Rulon- Miller delivered a sound of thick musical complexity, while emitting a relaxing and soothing presence. The music seemed to unfold organically and with modest subtlety, while demonstrating the true cohesive talent that existed among its members.

Songs such as, “Rise Above” felt reggae inspired, as the carefree tangling of drums, bass, guitar and bongo drum centralized around the soft spoken lyrics uttered by Frauton. Other songs such as “Unstrung Leos” wrestled more with a melancholy feel, countered by the raw and cutting beauty of cello accompaniment performed by newest band member, Aviv. The presence of the cello brings a different layer to the tunes and only enhances BIG TREES’ marriage of the electric with acoustic; of the eclectic with the classic. There is an airy lightness and yet solemn thoughtfulness to BIG TREES’ style, making it something worth exploring.

The talents of artists such as these are sometimes hard to grasp from a few songs off of an EP or Mp3 clip. These artists, BIG TREES especially, give a live performance that is worthy of seeing, or from Porter Belly’s standpoint raising a pint to. So please, go out and listen to live music. Listen online and you may hear a great tune. Listen live and you may just become part of the journey.

BIG TREES’ next performance is scheduled at the First Annual North Shore Folk Festival in Salem, MA on Saturday, May 16, 2009.

For more information on BIG TREES please visit: http://www.sonicbids.com/BigTrees

For more information on Jonny Rely please visit: http://www.littleguyrecords.com/main.htm

For more information on Porter Belly’s Pub visit: http://www.porterbellyspub.com - NotYourAverageFolk.com

By William Routhier/salem@cnc.com
Thu May 21, 2009, 12:05 PM EDT

Salem - Throughout last Saturday, May 16, sounds emitted from Salem’s historic Old Town Hall that harkened back to folk festivals of decades past.

You could hear the strumming of guitars and voices singing songs of love, blues, personal narratives, politics and the renewal of hope. While a speaker system and small amplifiers were used, the overall sound of the festival was decidedly acoustic.

If you closed your eyes while the opening band, Boston’s The Dirt Naps, played their authentic style bluegrass music, you might think you were listening to a band plucking and singing on a front porch in the Kentucky Hills.

The authenticity of the music was a theme that ran throughout the day. North Shore Folk Festival producer and organizer, Salem resident John Kane, chose bands representing a diverse spectrum of acoustic music. All of the music performed throughout the day showed displayed roots firmly planted in the folk and blues traditions.

The main music took place on the upstairs stage of the hall, while downstairs in the main building, there were tables were you could browse, buy handmade jewelry and other artisan products, have your face painted, see art displayed and also hear occasional performers play.

The crowd, which Kane estimated as 200 people overall (Old Town Hall holds 250), included young and old, music aficionados and parents with children in tow, all of whom were able to enjoy a peaceful, well organized day of enjoyable sights and sounds.

The music ran from 1-7:30 p.m., with each performer playing for a half hour. The friendly and helpful all-volunteer staff kept the performers to a professional schedule, with little wait time between the acts. Midday, there was a short, 15-minute intermission.

The performers who played on the main stage were, in order of appearance: The Dirt Naps, Rising Tribe, The Ten Foot Polecats, Shoheen, Michael Murray, BIG TREES, Francis Doughty, Avi Jacob, Thea Hopkins, Kevin G. Moore and Kathy Apt. Downstairs in the artisan’s area, Peter Mercier and Christopher Davis performed.
The peoples’ music

The Ten Foot Polecats played Mississippi and Memphis blues, which rang true to its sources. Unabashed blues enthusiasts, the band has traveled south to hear the music of those areas first hand. Rising Tribe combined wistful folk tunes with their love of reggae.

Shoheen, originally from the West African island of Lagos, captivated the crowd with his intimate songs and storytelling, bringing the entire hall to a hush. Fittingly, his adopted stage name derives from an old Celtic word which mothers would use to quiet their children before sleep.

Michael Murray’s folk originals, with his strong singing and musical dynamics, ended the first section of the music.

BIG TREES offered an eclectic blend of styles, including reggae, jazz and folk. Francis Doughty’s virtuoso guitar instrumentals dazzled, reminding one of guitar master Leo Kottke. Avi Jacob’s sincere vocals and unadorned “new depression” songs were a clear breeze, sung in a style evoking both folk and country music.

Boston’s Thea Hopkins played narrative songs she calls “American Short Story Folk.” Hopkins, who has received numerous songwriting awards and has had one of her compositions recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary, is of African American, Wampanoag, Irish, French and Portuguese heritage. She displayed her clear, striking, soulful voice, which could be said to fall somewhere in between the singing of Tracy Chapman and Joan Baez.

Kevin G. Moore, originally of Wakefield, Mass., who has been playing folk music since the age of 13, spent 10 years playing music in Anchorage, Alaska. He displayed deft finger picking, heartfelt songwriting and vocals. Peter Mercier, Christopher Davis performed downstairs, playing their folk and folk-rock based music, respectively. North Shore resident Kathy Apt closed out the festival upstairs, with a three-song set of her blues influenced songs.

Smiles were abundant throughout the day, whether they were on the faces of toddlers or those old enough to have gone to the legendary folk festivals of the past. The setting of the Old Town Hall gave the event a feeling of timelessness and history, as well as an air of quiet respectfulness.

Kane is planning to have another North Shore Folk Festival next year. He is already posting a mailing list for those interested in performing or participating in next year’s festival.

“Everyone involved was so supportive,” Kane says of the inaugural event. “I now have the additional knowledge to accommodate what this year’s festival may have lacked. This was a learning experience for me and it has been a pleasure. I reveled in seeing folks come out to celebrate new music within such wonderful venue.”

On the festival’s Facebook page, Kane proclaims, “Until next year, folks! Thank you to all who made it out to the NSFF … it was a great success.”

Want to learn more about the North Shore Folk Festival? Visit their web site at northshorefolkfestival.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/people/Northshore-FolkFestival/1289531500. - The Salem Gazette