BIO
It's a commonplace that crises create opportunities, but the principle was thoroughly—and successfully—tested by Alaska-‐ by-‐way-‐of-‐Nashville's Bearfoot last year, when original members Angela Oudean and Jason Norris found themselves presiding over a prolonged period of shifting personnel. Yet the cliché proved true in the end when the pair recruited Todd Grebe, another Alaska-‐to-‐Nashville transplant, Nora Jane Struthers, a rising young singer/songwriter and one of her bandmates, P. J. George, to create a renewed ensemble full of energy and creativity. And now, with the release of American Story (available Sept 27), the group's latest effort for Compass Records, it's plain to see that the crisis was little more than a blessing in disguise.
Following the success of Bearfoot's 2009 Compass debut, Doors And Windows, which debuted at # 1 on the Billboard Bluegrass chart, American Story introduces three new members, showing off both their distinctive voices and the impressive level of integration the quintet's already achieved. Lead singer, songwriter and guitar player Nora Jane Struthers is the best known of the additions, having already released one stellar album highlighting her thoughtful songwriting and cool, clear voice—and having won the tough Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition in 2010 with her Bootleggers, a group featuring the second new member of Bearfoot, bass player P. J. George. (The original Bearfoot lineup won the same title in 2001). Rounding out the revamped lineup is guitarist/vocalist Todd Grebe, previously known for his work fronting the acoustic honky-‐tonk group Todd Grebe & Cold Country. And while the group claim that they're still settling into their new sound, one listen to American Story offers compelling evidence that they're being more modest than accurate.
With veteran producer/engineer Brent Truitt at the helm, Bearfoot hits the ground running on the new project with the Struthers-‐penned opener, "Tell Me A Story." With its restrained prologue and keenly rhythmic body, the song dishes up a healthy serving of the band's strong points: a winningly intimate lead vocal, tight harmonies, and an arrangement that weaves together a multiplicity of musical strands, from the string band and bluegrass music that made up Bearfoot's earliest sounds to a unique take on the acoustic pop influences whirling around the group's East Nashville home. "This song, and in some ways, this album, is really about escapism," says Nora Jane. "We all have different ways of removing ourselves from reality, and I get myself lost in stories."
From there, it's a swift, satisfying run through a dazzling array of sounds and stories to the easy, good-‐time lope of Grebe's closing "Mr. Moonshine." Along the way, there are stops for hard-‐core bluegrass ("Midnight in Montana" with help from guest Charlie Cushman on banjo), a sly and sultry come-‐on ("When You're Away," written by the entire group), the poignant and ominous portrait of a trapped woman in "Eyes Cast Down" (written by Struthers and Claire Lynch) and much more—true stories and tall tales, but always with real people and real situations at their center. "I really connect with those lyrics," Jason Norris says of "Feel Free" (written by Struthers and Tim O'Brien). "When Nora Jane first played it for us, I thought 'Wow, that could actually have been written by me,'" he adds, and in truth, the sentiment could as easily come from a listener.
Adding to the project's depth, Truitt and Bearfoot haven't been afraid to explore new sonic territory, deftly blending the group's acoustic instruments with touches of percussion, electric bass, accordion, banjo and more—many of them supplied by P. J. George, who serves as the group's gifted utility man—yet always, each touch appears to underline, rather than draw attention from the songs. "I love that the entire album has a really rockin' element to it, with more energy than we've ever had before," Oudean observes—From start to finish, it's an album of distinctive music that remains deeply authentic, true to the band's rootsy origins even as it steps into more sophisticated musical territory.
American Story would be a strong collection coming from a veteran artist and it's certainly true that the individual members of Bearfoot, old and new, are, while still young, genuine veterans. Yet it's all the more impressive for being the product of a group that has yet to celebrate its first anniversary as an ensemble. That makes for a great story, and for an even greater appreciation of American Story, but as the members of Bearfoot would be the first to point out, in the end the only thing that matters is the music; here it is, and it's mighty fine.
Meet the Band
Angela Oudean:
"Angela is a rare and real talent on the fiddle. Anything she needs to do on it, she can do. I really like listening to her because I can relax while she takes care of business." - Darol Anger
Angela grew up in Anchorage, Alaska with a family of musicians. She was influenced to sing and play music by going to church, music festivals, and even singing along with the radio on long road trips. She learned to play the fiddle and guitar by taking lessons, attending acoustic music camps for kids, listening to CDs, and watching her family and friends play. Some early influences also included close family friends Frank Solivan II ("Navy Bluegrass Band/Country Current" and "Frank Solivan and Ditry Kitchen") and bluegrass music innovator Ginger Boatwright ("Red, White and Bluegrass" and "Doug Dillard Band.")
Angela was in many childhood bluegrass and folk bands that performed all over Alaska. When she was 16, she became a part of Bearfoot and began to get more serious about playing bluegrass fiddle after traveling and performing more than she had ever done before. After graduating high school, she decided to attend East Tennessee State University and their Bluegrass and Country Music Program where she learned from Jim and Jesse band member Raymond McLain and Bill Monroe band member Tater Tate.
While in Johnson City, Angela played fiddle with the ETSU Bluegrass Pride Band, and a prominent local group called the Everybodyfields and played fiddle on their CD entitled "Plague of Dreams" (2006). She also played fiddle on Warner Bros. recording artist Megan McCormick's first solo CD ("Runaway") 2005, and received an IBMA award for Recorded Event of the Year for her work on Daughter's of Bluegrass's "Back to the Well" project in 2006. In the spring of 2006 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology, and became one of the first people in the world to receive a minor in bluegrass. When she returned to Alaska after college for a couple of years to visit her family and friends, she was honored to be featured on Alaska music legend Joe Page's solo mandolin album entitled "Alaska Mando" (2007) and then also record with popular Alaska performing and songwriting artist Todd Grebe on their original honky tonk album entitled "Cold Country" (2008).
Angela has had many opportunities to play with great musicians and friends, but one of her personal highlights is when she performed with Jesse McReynolds band at Rockygrass 2008.
Songwriting is one of her hobbies when she gets some extra time and energy. Bearfoot has recorded two of her originals; the title track from their second release "Back Home," and "Time is No Medicine" from their first Compass Records Release Doors and Windows.
Angela’s fiddling continues to be a powerful and essential part of Bearfoot’s music.
Jason Norris:
"Jason Norris plays some inspired mandolin with a very nice touch, reminding me at times of Bill Monroe and at other times of Chris Thile." ---Bluegrass Works
Jason is known for being the "I'm gonna go out and jam with everyone at this festival" guy in the band. He has a contagious musical enthusiasm and is often seen yelling "Happy Bluegrass!!!" to everyone he sees at Alaska festivals.
He started playing mandolin at age 9, and has picked up the fiddle, guitar, and bass along the way. In addition to Jason’s crafty mandolin work, his fiddling has become an integral part of Bearfoot’s sound. Jason now lives in Nashville, TN. When he's not on tour with Bearfoot he's usually on some sort of other expedition. He recently stated that he hadn't been in the same place for over two weeks in the last few years. He definitely likes to move around and check out new scenes. One of his favorite places to visit, besides Alaska, is Lafayette LA. His mother raised him with a strong love for Cajun music and dancing and he might be happiest when he's playing or dancing in the heart of Cajun country.
Nora Jane Struthers:
"Old time music continues to reinvent itself in the able hands of young artists like Nora Jane Struthers." - Tim O'Brien
Born in Virginia, raised in New Jersey, Nora Jane Struthers grew up singing and playing traditional music with her dad, Alan Struthers. After earning her degree in English Education from New York University, she spent three years teaching high school English in Brooklyn, NY. During these years, Nora Jane and her dad began performing out in New York City and New Jersey, as a duo under the name Dirt Road Sweetheart. In August of 2008, Nora Jane made a career change and moved to Nashville, TN where she recorded her debut, self-titled, album, comprised of eleven original songs and one traditional song. The record, which features some of Nashville's A-List players (Stuart Duncan, Tim O'Brien, Bryan Sutton, Dennis Crouch, Shawn Lane, Scott Vestal, Rob Ickes, Jeff Taylor, John Catchings, Emily Miller, Brent Truitt, and Macon Gurley) was produced and recorded by industry stalwart Brent Truitt and was released independently in June 2010, staying in the top 40 of the Americana Radio Chart for 14 weeks.
Two days before the release of her record, Nora Jane Struthers and her band, The Bootleggers, won the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival band competition (previous winners include Nickel Creek, The Dixie Chicks & Bearfoot). In both 2009 and 2010 Nora Jane was a finalist in The Telluride Troubadour Competition and in 2009, she and the Bootleggers won the Neo-traditional Band Competition at the Appalachian String Band Gathering in Clifftop, WV where Nora Jane was also given the award for Best New Song.
More Praise for Nora Jane
"You'll probably hear the name Nora Jane Struthers in conjunction with bluegrass awards for top female vocalist…and she writes with a clear-eyed traditional sensibility typically seen only in writers like Gillian Welch and Tim O'Brien, her songs sound immediately like pre-modern classics." –Bluegrass Unlimited
"Nora Jane infuses bright, fresh lyrics into this traditional genre with sheer intelligence. Musically, she take unconventional twists and turns, while 'holding you to the road' with commanding charm."
-Claire Lynch
"Nora Jane is one of the best songwriter-singers this side of the Himalayas!"
-David Mayfield
PJ George:
P. J. George, originally from Salem, Virginia, is a multi-instrumentalist who spends a lot of his time playing upright bass. He's been touring the country recently with Nora Jane Struthers and the Bootleggers. He began his professional music career playing drums and singing harmony in a Richmond, VA based band called The Cheap Seats. P. J. holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Radford University and in addition to bass, plays piano, guitar, drums, banjo, mandolin, fiddle, pedal steel, and accordion. While in college he spent his free time touring regionally with The Harwell Grice Band, an energetic bluegrass band out of Franklin County, VA. It was with the HGB that P. J. learned about playing bluegrass bass and singing harmony. Immediately after finishing college he jumped at the chance to move to Nashville to play bass with Nora Jane. Since joining Bearfoot, P. J.'s multi-instrumentalist skills have been utilized and on "American Story" he played not only upright bass, but also electric bass, drums, percussion, and banjo.
Todd Grebe:
Born into a self-proclaimed “non musical family” Todd Grebe developed an interest in guitar around the age of 16. Inspired by classic rock and friends around him, Todd bought his first guitar (a $300 black electric Yamaha). After high school Todd discovered bluegrass and country music and learned to play by putting his own band together and performing around the state. After a few years of touring, his band Wellstrung became one of the best-received bands in Alaska with appearances at all the major festivals and clubs.
As Todd developed as a bandleader, singer and instrumentalist, he found that writing songs came naturally to him. Most of the songs he was writing were outside of the bluegrass mold, which led Todd to start a new band that could facilitate his style of writing. Todd Grebe and his new band Cold Country came out with a self-titled all original album in 2008, which was well regarded among Alaskan fans and media. It featured rowdy lead vocals, slap bass, mandolin, and Angela Oudean of Bearfoot on the fiddle and harmony vocals.
Todd continues to explore songwriting in Nashville with his new Cold Country collaboration, which recently recorded a new album of original tunes in Dec 2010. Todd was honored to record with industry veterans David Ferguson (engineer), Mike Bub (bass and co-producer), David Long (mandolin) and Rob McCoury (banjo), with Angela Oudean continuing to accompany on fiddle and vocals.
Todd is also an experienced guitar teacher having taught many private lessons and at dozens of camps throughout Alaska and Hawaii, with 4-H, private and public schools, not to mention Bearfoot's Bluegrass Camps for Kids. As a member of Bearfoot, Todd brings his charming stage presence, original material, lead and harmony vocals, and his unique guitar phrasing.
