Music
Press
“Fellswoop will let you decide if they are a jam band or a bluegrass group...No matter what they are; Fellswoop has an upbeat style and optimism. The fun they have playing quickly communicates itself to audiences in one fell swoop." (Dave Howell; The Morning Call)“Fellswoop will let you decide if they are a jam band or a bluegrass group...No matter what they are; Fellswoop has an upbeat style and optimism. The fun they have playing quickly communicates itself to audiences in one fell swoop." (Dave Howell; The Morning Call) - The Morning Call
"Fellswoop's ''Against the Odds'' sounds like three guys fresh from the country sat down and started recording in the Lehigh Valley. Almost.
...It has the feel of traditional bluegrass, with its speedy strings and light touch. Songs like the delightful ''My Delight'' or the story of ''North Side Of the Tracks'' would not seem out of place on a contemporary Ralph Stanley release. However, some of the melodies stray from the standard chords of country and bluegrass, and many of Chris Murphy's lyrics don't sound like folk standards
The 12 songs are upbeat. Murphy's lyrics are quite serious in print, for example, from ''Hometown'' -- ''Different people that knew each other/They were trapped inside these walls/Memories clouded by rubble/Coming down from the storm.'' But the spirited playing doesn't give you time to ponder, instead giving you a feeling that you can dance away from that hometown instead of being trapped in it." Dave Howell; The Morning Call - The Morning Call
Fellswoop evokes bluegrass/roots music with some unexpected new twists. - Kadmus Arts
The new year is always ripe with change; this is immensely the case with Fellswoop.
-MERGE DIGITAL. January 08
- Merge Digital
Discography
"Against The Odds" - 12-Song CD. Available for purchase at CD Baby and Amazon. Available for download at iTunes and DigStation.
4-Song self-titled CD (2007) - Out of print
Photos
Bio
"
bluegrass roots music with some unexpected new twists."
-Kadmus Arts
Emerging in 2007 as Lehigh Valley's "Best New Artist" (Lehigh Valley Music Awards), Fellswoop is a modern-day/old-time hybrid; combining traditional sounds and contemporary song-writing.
Multi-instrumentalist, Chris Murphy fronts the band with a prominent acoustic guitar style and heartfelt vocals; often drifting from the usual bluegrass formula, into a less-predictable, improvisational style; utilizing foot pedals and acoustic effects. Chriss sound is accompanied by JP on the five string banjo, with whom he started the band.
As a duo, Chris and JP recorded a 4-song debut (now out-of-print), which showcased their original songs. The self-titled CD opened the door to a wide range of gig-opportunities, and earned Fellswoop a soundtrack-slot in a feature-length independent film, titled Nacho Mountain, starring Comedy Centrals Jay Larson.
The bass player and third vocalist void was soon filled by upstate New York native- Tom Evans. As a trio, the band covered an enormous amount of ground. Spanning the Pennsylvania / New York region from Allentown to New York City, Philadelphia to Ithaca and everywhere in between, Fellswoop heeded their calling in the Spring and Summer of 08, appearing at numerous festivals such as Allentown's Mayfair Festival of the Arts, Fetish Fest in Upstate NY, Utica Fest, and Muse Fest; sharing the stage with such acts as Rusted Root, Ron Palmer, and SeepeopleS. The year culminated with the bands first venture into the recording studio together, as well as a late-night appearance at the Lehigh Valley Music Awards ceremony, where they took home Best Live Americana.
Fellswoop started 2009 with a New Years Eve show in front of a full-house at internationally acclaimed folk-circuit club: Godfrey Daniels. The press had this to say:
Fellswoop will let you decide if they are a jam band or a bluegrass group...No matter what they are; Fellswoop has an upbeat style and optimism. The fun they have playing quickly communicates itself to audiences in one fell swoop."
-Dave Howell; The Morning Call
The bands 2009 full-length CD, Against the Odds went into rotation at numerous radio stations, including Roots WXLV in the Lehigh Valley, WMUH in Allentown, PA, and RadioVolta.org in Philadelphia.
Against The Odds fully embodies the significance of traditional bluegrass: peoples music from the mountains. Its not about where you come from...Its about where your soul lives.
Origivation Magazine
Fellswoop has shared the stage with the legendary Tony Trischka, as well as Gordon Stone, Hot Buttered Rum, Donna The Buffalo, Chris Baron of the Spin Doctors, and many more. Fellswoop continues to perform annually on their home turf at the countrys biggest/longest-running music festival: Musikfest, in Bethlehem, PA.
With the recent addition of Drummer/percussionist/fourth vocalist- Josh Kanusky, Fellswoop is reaching new heights, and opening new doors in their musical exploration. Fellswoop will be somewhere and everywhere in 2010.
"The New Year is always ripe with change; this is immensely the case with Fellswoop."
Merge Digital
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