During the summer months we were all able to relish in the amount of music coming through our fair city. Of course all of the shows I covered worth more than worthy of your hard earned money but WFPK’s largest ‘Waterfront Wednesday’ concert was free, attended by an estimated 15,000 people, covered by yours truly, and headlined by the latest national marvel to be catapulted with the help of our insightful influence, Trampled by Turtles (TBT).
2012 has seen their 5th studio album break the top 10 on the US Bluegrass charts, a spot on Letterman, but TBT is made up of five humble lads from Duluth, Minnesota. Recently I had the opportunity to speak to resident fiddle wrangler, Ryan Young who partially credits their recent enhanced success to staying grounded, the recording process of the new album, and just their general awesomeness (well I may have thrown that last bit in there).
Since this year has been so explosive for TBT, they maintain some stability and normalcy by taking little breaks to return to their family and friends every 2-3 weeks. A couple members of the group have wives and kids and from what I’ve heard those can be quite enjoyable things to be a part of. The recording process for ‘Stars and Satellites’ is, personally, a bit more compelling. Having credited the recording process of the last album to some of its success, Young was kind enough to share some more detail. TBT, and their cohorts, physical built the recording studio for their last album on the North Shore of Lake Superior. It was also they actually recorded the entire album in the same place. Going forward, TBT is looking to replicate that process so I truly can’t wait until the next album. Below is what I previously wrote for their Waterfront Wednesday show and what you can expect for tonight. They’ve already sold out some international dates, are growing quite the following, so when they come through again get ready for The Palace. Get your tickets through the link below and let’s get loose!
WFW Preview: Closing out the show will be Trampled by Turtles. Having formed from punk and rock bands, with the goal to ‘play music with acoustic instruments as a break from our rock bands’, you are really in for a treat the way this bunch lays down a mix of bluegrass, folk, fused with their own sound. Their latest album, ‘Stars and Satellites’, is ‘result of us continuing the search for our own voice and a step in the growth of a band that, at the very least, still loves to play together.’ (Dave Simonett)
WFW Review: Trampled by Turtles took the stage…now, per the preview, this crew had/has the mission to translate their punk/rockroots into an acoustic rip. I can’t describe, in all my colorfully attempted prose, how well this is successfully achieved. The boys RAGE…I mean hands/arms moving faster than that Kung-Fu shuffle in the middle of an atom splitting centrifuge…and when any loving bunch plays ‘The Weight’ and pulls it off…even the main geeza, Levon Helm (RIP) would represent…thank you all…xoxo
Tickets Here: https://www.etix.com/ticket/online/performanceSearch.jsp?performance_id=1638677
Photo Credit: Dave Carroll
