Acoustic Syndicate

Last updated
Acoustic Syndicate
Origin North Carolina, United States
Genres Americana, Rock
Years active 1992 present
Labels Sugar Hill Records

Acoustic Syndicate is a roots-rock/Americana band from North Carolina that has been an active part of the rock music scene since forming in 1992. They have toured nationally in the US, including appearances at Farm Aid, Jazzfest, MerleFest, and the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Their sound is characterized by three-part vocal blood harmony and complex polyrhythmic banjo playing. Although they are known for featuring traditional acoustic instruments, Acoustic Syndicate's early influences in rock, jazz and reggae surface throughout their approach to songwriting with electric guitar, electric bass and saxophone instrumentation often appearing. Lyrically, the group often discusses themes relating to subsistence, sustainability, social justice and quality of life. Their live touring act is a popular draw to festivals, theaters, clubs, and performing arts centers.

Contents

The band consists of the McMurry family (brothers Bryon McMurry and Fitzhugh McMurry, along with their first cousin Steve McMurry), who come from a small family farm in Cleveland County, North Carolina, north of Shelby, North Carolina. They have been farming the same region that their ancestors settled over 200 years ago. Rounding out the quartet is long-time member, Jay Sanders, who currently resides in Asheville, NC, and is an active member of the local music scene.

Since 1996, the band has released six full-length albums, one double live album, and as of 2021, they recorded five new singles with current label, Organic Records. Recorded at Crossroads Studio in Arden, NC, the singles feature a mix of original songs and covers by influences The Grateful Dead, Willie Nelson, and The Velvet Underground.

Members

Current members

Former members

Discography and Singles

Related Research Articles

<i>Shut Down Volume 2</i> 1964 studio album by the Beach Boys

Shut Down Volume 2 is the fifth album by the American rock band the Beach Boys, released March 2, 1964 on Capitol Records. Produced by Brian Wilson, it is the follow-up to the band's Little Deuce Coupe, released the previous October, and to Shut Down, a Capitol compilation album. Shut Down Volume 2 was the first of three studio albums that the band released in 1964, and the first recorded without guitarist David Marks, who departed from the band following disagreements with manager Murry Wilson. The album reached number 13 in the US during a chart stay of 38 weeks.

<i>Toulouse Street</i> 1972 studio album by the Doobie Brothers

Toulouse Street is the second studio album by American rock band the Doobie Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Railroad Earth</span> American Americana/bluegrass band

Railroad Earth is a bluegrass-influenced Americana band formed in Stillwater, New Jersey in 2001. The band's music combines elements of progressive bluegrass, folk, rock, country, jazz, Celtic and other Americana influences. Recognized as "carrying on the tradition of improvisational, genre-spanning music laid forth by the Grateful Dead," Railroad Earth is known for lyrical songwriting and extensive live improvisation. The band takes its name from the Jack Kerouac prose poem "October in the Railroad Earth". The band also has a song of the same name.

<i>Little Love Letters</i> 1993 studio album by Carlene Carter

Little Love Letters is the seventh studio album by American country music artist Carlene Carter, released on June 22, 1993. It had one major Billboard Hot Country Songs hit in the No. 3 "Every Little Thing", and two minor ones in the No. 51 "Unbreakable Heart" and No. 50 "I Love You 'Cause I Want To". The album itself rose to No. 35 on the Top Country Albums chart. "Unbreakable Heart" was later covered by Jessica Andrews on her 1999 debut Heart Shaped World, whose version reached No. 24 on the country singles charts.

<i>Greatest Hits</i> (Bob Seger album) 1994 greatest hits album by Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band

Greatest Hits is a compilation album by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, released in 1994. Certified Diamond by the RIAA, it is Seger's most successful album to date. In December 2009, Billboard and Nielsen SoundScan confirmed that with nearly nine million copies sold. Bob Seger's Greatest Hits was the decade's best-selling catalog album in the United States, even out-selling The Beatles' 1 and Michael Jackson's Number Ones. By September 2011, the album had sold a total of 9,062,000 copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coral Reefer Band</span>

The Coral Reefer Band is the touring and recording band of American singer-songwriter Jimmy Buffett. The band's name alludes to both coral reefs and "reefer".

<i>Volume Dois</i> 1998 studio album by Titãs

Volume Dois is the ninth studio album released by the Brazilian rock band Titãs. Following the success of the previous album, Acústico MTV, Volume Dois features unplugged arrangements of previously recorded Titãs' songs, along with some new ones. Once again, an orchestra was called to record the album. It is one of their most successful albums, having sold more than 1 million copies as of 2015.

<i>Carencro</i> (album) 2004 studio album by Marc Broussard

Carencro is the major label debut of Louisiana musician Marc Broussard. The album was released by Island Records on August 3, 2004. The album title pays tribute to the musician's hometown of Carencro, Louisiana.

<i>Rose of Cimarron</i> (album) 1976 studio album by Poco

Rose of Cimarron is the ninth studio album by the American country rock band Poco, released in 1976.

<i>Cardiff Rose</i> 1976 studio album by Roger McGuinn

Cardiff Rose is a solo studio album by American singer/songwriter and ex-The Byrds frontman Roger McGuinn, released in 1976. The album, produced by Mick Ronson, was recorded on the heels of Bob Dylan's Rolling Thunder Revue 1975 tour, in which both McGuinn and Ronson had participated. The album includes a pirate tale "Jolly Roger", a song about King Arthur's "Round Table", and a classic version of Joni Mitchell's "Dreamland", which later appeared on her 1977 album Don Juan's Reckless Daughter.

<i>When It All Goes South</i> 2001 album by the American band, Alabama

When It All Goes South is the nineteenth studio album by American country music band Alabama, released in 2001. It produced the singles "When It All Goes South", "Will You Marry Me" and "The Woman He Loves". This became Alabama's final studio album of original materials until 2015's Southern Drawl. It ranked at No. 37 in Billboard Album Charts and No. 4 on Country Album Chart.

<i>Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead</i> 1991 tribute album with the music of Grateful Dead, by various artists

Deadicated: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead is a 1991 tribute album with music of the Grateful Dead performed by various artists.

The Sessions Band is an American musical group that has periodically recorded and toured with American rock singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen in various formations since 1997.

Sirius.B is an eight-piece musical group from Asheville, NC. It was formed in late 2006 by Xavier Ferdón, Pancho Romero Bond, and Imhotep and takes its name from the white dwarf star, Sirius B. The band describes itself as "Absurdist Gypsy Folk Funk Punk". Sirius.B combines accordion, violin, cello, acoustic guitar, flamenco and electric guitar, charango, banjo, percussion, drums, upright bass, melodica, clarinet, and multi-lingual vocals to create a sound that has a gypsy feel, but with elements from other modern genres.

<i>More Than Ever</i> (Blood, Sweat & Tears album) 1976 studio album by Blood, Sweat & Tears

More Than Ever is the ninth album by the band Blood, Sweat & Tears, released in July 1976. This was the band's ninth studio album and their last for Columbia Records. The album peaked at number 165 on the Billboard albums chart. It contained one charting single, "You're the One".

<i>Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song</i> 2013 studio album by Amos Lee

Mountains of Sorrow, Rivers of Song is an album by American musician Amos Lee, released on October 8, 2013. This album follows Lee's record, Mission Bell, which went to Number 1 on the Billboard 200. The album is the first to feature his touring band with guest appearances by Alison Krauss, Patty Griffin and Jeff Coffin of the Dave Matthews Band. The album features the single "The Man Who Wants You."

<i>Myths and Heroes</i> 2015 studio album by Fairport Convention

Myths and Heroes is the twenty-seventh studio album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in January 2015.

<i>50:50@50</i> 2017 studio album by Fairport Convention

50:50@50 is the twenty-eighth studio album by British folk rock band Fairport Convention, released in January 2017 to mark the band's 50th anniversary. Half of the album was recorded in the studio, and the other half is a selection of songs recorded from live performances.

Jack Lawrence is an American bluegrass guitarist. He was Doc Watson's performing partner since the early 1980s. As major influences, Lawrence cites Doc Watson, Clarence White, and Django Reinhardt.

Heart Like a Levee is the seventh studio album by American band Hiss Golden Messenger. It was released on October 7, 2016, under Merge Records.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Acoustic Syndicate at Allmusic.com