Tall Tall Trees is the musical id of songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mike Savino, a pioneer in the realm of experimental, DIY banjo music. Accompanied by his trusty Banjotron 6500, a highly customized, electrified banjo and effects pedal setup, Savino has wowed audiences since the 2009 debut of his self-titled album with his eclectic and innovative blend of psychedelic folk, rock and world music. His work seems to actively evade comfortable definition, upon first listen one will recognize the tenderness of Cat Stevens, the melancholy introspection of Elliott Smith, the anthemic psychedelia of Pink Floyd, and a deep abiding respect for Earl Scruggs. Savino often performs solo, showcasing his fleet-footed loop pedal mastery, as well as alongside long-time collaborator and fellow innovator, Kishi Bashi. Tall Tall Trees latest release, A Wave of Golden Things was released in 2020 on Joyful Noise Recordings.
Playing an amorphous variety of folk-rock that incorporates elements of indie, funk, gospel, etc., JB+RF is an ensemble of musician-friends led by singer-songwriter and filmmaker Joe Baughman. Equally influenced by the sacred and profane, JB+RF’s music takes color from daily Middle American existence, personal sadsackery, religious imagery, and Joe’s experience as a freelance artist.
Joe started off as a solo act in 2011, and from banjo, bass to brass, he almost exclusively handled all of the musical duties on his early recordings (except for his brother Mike on drums/percussion). Under the enigmatic stage persona of Roscoe Baggins, Joe started The Flying DeSelms in 2016—a project that allowed him to explore a “rockier” sound with Mike and Bryan Lewis (Bailey Williams & The Cherranes, Every Mother, The Golden Mallard). In order to emulate that heavier sound of The Flying DeSelms live, Joe recruited the aforementioned and others to accompany him as they played shows in the South Bend scene. Some stuck around to back Joe as he simultaneously performed under his own name, culminating in the collaborative sessions of 2019 EP, Vacant Spaces, and The Righteous Few was “born.”
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