Although M. Lockwood Porter grew up on a 30-acre farm in northeastern Oklahoma, he didn’t feel the pull of country and folk music until he left home to attend college at Yale University. Homesick and band-less, the self-taught multi-instrumentalist and veteran of the Tulsa punk and hardcore scenes found comfort and inspiration in artists like Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, and Townes Van Zandt – whose records not only served as reminders of home, but also as makeshift instruction manuals on songwriting. While his college classmates spent their spare time at the library, bar, or frat house, Porter could usually be found in his dorm room, studying records and writing songs.
After relocating to Oakland, California, Porter spent much of his early twenties playing a backing role in other bands while continuing to write. In the spring of 2011, he first began recording his own songs with the help of bandmate and audio engineer Peter Labberton. What began as an off-the-cuff recording session evolved into a two-year process resulting in the creation of a 12-song album, Judah’s Gone. M. Lockwood Porter plans to self-release Judah’s Gone in late spring 2013, and tour for the remainder of the year.
M Franklin Porter Website: http://mlockwoodporter.com/
Classically trained Michael Levasseur, who performs under the name Michael the Blind, is without a doubt one of Portland's most exceptional musicians." -- Morgan Troper, Portland Mercury
Portland Oregon based The Moonshine is an idea on the rise. An incandescent blend of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. A rhythmic network of folks and songs from everywhere and nowhere. This is roots music born of the endless wonder of the open countryside, just as it is music meant to be heard blaring from brightly lit dancehalls on crowded city streets. During a given performance one is as likely to hear a modernist take on a Carter Family song from the 20's, as an anti-GMO song written in the new millennia with a distinctly old-time feel.
The Moonshine crafts a style all their own based on applying traditional stringband techniques to the unconventional, yet instantly familiar writing of Michael Gerard Levasseur (formerly performing as “Michael The Blind”). As “Michael The Blind,” Levasseur put out two solo records and the 2012 acclaimed Alder Street Records release “Are’s and Els.” "His songs have acquired a texture that’s more British post-punk than Americana. Are’s & Els gets rowdy at times, but it’s also darkly shaded, with melodies that seem to take shape on the fly, guided by Levasseur’s trembly, angsty vocals."-- Noel Murray, Onion AV Club
Moonshine Website: http://www.themoonshinemusic.com/
Listen (Single: Never Know): http://themoonshinemusic.bandcamp.com/
Adventurous Americana duo, Heartache Sisters, is the excitable younger sibling of Laura Benitez and the Heartache that was built streamlined for the road. In 2013, the Berkeley/Oakland, CA pair sprang from the magic created by the 5-piece electric band to showcase their close female harmonies and let songwriting shine through unadorned. Their music cuts to the core with lyrics that resonate and melodies that shine.
Heartache Sisters are multi-instrumentalists and fashion lovers, Laura Benitez (ex-The Cottonpickers) and Michele Kappel-Stone (ex-Kirby Grips/Tippy Canoe). They bring their guerilla-style acoustic guitar, ukulele, and snare drum driven sound to nightclub, house concert, festival, and street corner alike, spreading the gospel of classic country and folk.
The Heartache Sisters Website: http://heartachesisters.com/
show less
After relocating to Oakland, California, Porter spent much of his early twenties playing a backing role in other bands while continuing to write. In the spring of 2011, he first began recording his own songs with the help of bandmate and audio engineer Peter Labberton. What began as an off-the-cuff recording session evolved into a two-year process resulting in the creation of a 12-song album, Judah’s Gone. M. Lockwood Porter plans to self-release Judah’s Gone in late spring 2013, and tour for the remainder of the year.
M Franklin Porter Website: http://mlockwoodporter.com/
Classically trained Michael Levasseur, who performs under the name Michael the Blind, is without a doubt one of Portland's most exceptional musicians." -- Morgan Troper, Portland Mercury
Portland Oregon based The Moonshine is an idea on the rise. An incandescent blend of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. A rhythmic network of folks and songs from everywhere and nowhere. This is roots music born of the endless wonder of the open countryside, just as it is music meant to be heard blaring from brightly lit dancehalls on crowded city streets. During a given performance one is as likely to hear a modernist take on a Carter Family song from the 20's, as an anti-GMO song written in the new millennia with a distinctly old-time feel.
The Moonshine crafts a style all their own based on applying traditional stringband techniques to the unconventional, yet instantly familiar writing of Michael Gerard Levasseur (formerly performing as “Michael The Blind”). As “Michael The Blind,” Levasseur put out two solo records and the 2012 acclaimed Alder Street Records release “Are’s and Els.” "His songs have acquired a texture that’s more British post-punk than Americana. Are’s & Els gets rowdy at times, but it’s also darkly shaded, with melodies that seem to take shape on the fly, guided by Levasseur’s trembly, angsty vocals."-- Noel Murray, Onion AV Club
Moonshine Website: http://www.themoonshinemusic.com/
Listen (Single: Never Know): http://themoonshinemusic.bandcamp.com/
Adventurous Americana duo, Heartache Sisters, is the excitable younger sibling of Laura Benitez and the Heartache that was built streamlined for the road. In 2013, the Berkeley/Oakland, CA pair sprang from the magic created by the 5-piece electric band to showcase their close female harmonies and let songwriting shine through unadorned. Their music cuts to the core with lyrics that resonate and melodies that shine.
Heartache Sisters are multi-instrumentalists and fashion lovers, Laura Benitez (ex-The Cottonpickers) and Michele Kappel-Stone (ex-Kirby Grips/Tippy Canoe). They bring their guerilla-style acoustic guitar, ukulele, and snare drum driven sound to nightclub, house concert, festival, and street corner alike, spreading the gospel of classic country and folk.
The Heartache Sisters Website: http://heartachesisters.com/
Although M. Lockwood Porter grew up on a 30-acre farm in northeastern Oklahoma, he didn’t feel the pull of country and folk music until he left home to attend college at Yale University. Homesick and band-less, the self-taught multi-instrumentalist and veteran of the Tulsa punk and hardcore scenes found comfort and inspiration in artists like Woody Guthrie, Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, and Townes Van Zandt – whose records not only served as reminders of home, but also as makeshift instruction manuals on songwriting. While his college classmates spent their spare time at the library, bar, or frat house, Porter could usually be found in his dorm room, studying records and writing songs.
After relocating to Oakland, California, Porter spent much of his early twenties playing a backing role in other bands while continuing to write. In the spring of 2011, he first began recording his own songs with the help of bandmate and audio engineer Peter Labberton. What began as an off-the-cuff recording session evolved into a two-year process resulting in the creation of a 12-song album, Judah’s Gone. M. Lockwood Porter plans to self-release Judah’s Gone in late spring 2013, and tour for the remainder of the year.
M Franklin Porter Website: http://mlockwoodporter.com/
Classically trained Michael Levasseur, who performs under the name Michael the Blind, is without a doubt one of Portland's most exceptional musicians." -- Morgan Troper, Portland Mercury
Portland Oregon based The Moonshine is an idea on the rise. An incandescent blend of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. A rhythmic network of folks and songs from everywhere and nowhere. This is roots music born of the endless wonder of the open countryside, just as it is music meant to be heard blaring from brightly lit dancehalls on crowded city streets. During a given performance one is as likely to hear a modernist take on a Carter Family song from the 20's, as an anti-GMO song written in the new millennia with a distinctly old-time feel.
The Moonshine crafts a style all their own based on applying traditional stringband techniques to the unconventional, yet instantly familiar writing of Michael Gerard Levasseur (formerly performing as “Michael The Blind”). As “Michael The Blind,” Levasseur put out two solo records and the 2012 acclaimed Alder Street Records release “Are’s and Els.” "His songs have acquired a texture that’s more British post-punk than Americana. Are’s & Els gets rowdy at times, but it’s also darkly shaded, with melodies that seem to take shape on the fly, guided by Levasseur’s trembly, angsty vocals."-- Noel Murray, Onion AV Club
Moonshine Website: http://www.themoonshinemusic.com/
Listen (Single: Never Know): http://themoonshinemusic.bandcamp.com/
Adventurous Americana duo, Heartache Sisters, is the excitable younger sibling of Laura Benitez and the Heartache that was built streamlined for the road. In 2013, the Berkeley/Oakland, CA pair sprang from the magic created by the 5-piece electric band to showcase their close female harmonies and let songwriting shine through unadorned. Their music cuts to the core with lyrics that resonate and melodies that shine.
Heartache Sisters are multi-instrumentalists and fashion lovers, Laura Benitez (ex-The Cottonpickers) and Michele Kappel-Stone (ex-Kirby Grips/Tippy Canoe). They bring their guerilla-style acoustic guitar, ukulele, and snare drum driven sound to nightclub, house concert, festival, and street corner alike, spreading the gospel of classic country and folk.
The Heartache Sisters Website: http://heartachesisters.com/
read more
After relocating to Oakland, California, Porter spent much of his early twenties playing a backing role in other bands while continuing to write. In the spring of 2011, he first began recording his own songs with the help of bandmate and audio engineer Peter Labberton. What began as an off-the-cuff recording session evolved into a two-year process resulting in the creation of a 12-song album, Judah’s Gone. M. Lockwood Porter plans to self-release Judah’s Gone in late spring 2013, and tour for the remainder of the year.
M Franklin Porter Website: http://mlockwoodporter.com/
Classically trained Michael Levasseur, who performs under the name Michael the Blind, is without a doubt one of Portland's most exceptional musicians." -- Morgan Troper, Portland Mercury
Portland Oregon based The Moonshine is an idea on the rise. An incandescent blend of guitar, autoharp, fiddle, banjo and upright bass. A rhythmic network of folks and songs from everywhere and nowhere. This is roots music born of the endless wonder of the open countryside, just as it is music meant to be heard blaring from brightly lit dancehalls on crowded city streets. During a given performance one is as likely to hear a modernist take on a Carter Family song from the 20's, as an anti-GMO song written in the new millennia with a distinctly old-time feel.
The Moonshine crafts a style all their own based on applying traditional stringband techniques to the unconventional, yet instantly familiar writing of Michael Gerard Levasseur (formerly performing as “Michael The Blind”). As “Michael The Blind,” Levasseur put out two solo records and the 2012 acclaimed Alder Street Records release “Are’s and Els.” "His songs have acquired a texture that’s more British post-punk than Americana. Are’s & Els gets rowdy at times, but it’s also darkly shaded, with melodies that seem to take shape on the fly, guided by Levasseur’s trembly, angsty vocals."-- Noel Murray, Onion AV Club
Moonshine Website: http://www.themoonshinemusic.com/
Listen (Single: Never Know): http://themoonshinemusic.bandcamp.com/
Adventurous Americana duo, Heartache Sisters, is the excitable younger sibling of Laura Benitez and the Heartache that was built streamlined for the road. In 2013, the Berkeley/Oakland, CA pair sprang from the magic created by the 5-piece electric band to showcase their close female harmonies and let songwriting shine through unadorned. Their music cuts to the core with lyrics that resonate and melodies that shine.
Heartache Sisters are multi-instrumentalists and fashion lovers, Laura Benitez (ex-The Cottonpickers) and Michele Kappel-Stone (ex-Kirby Grips/Tippy Canoe). They bring their guerilla-style acoustic guitar, ukulele, and snare drum driven sound to nightclub, house concert, festival, and street corner alike, spreading the gospel of classic country and folk.
The Heartache Sisters Website: http://heartachesisters.com/
show less
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