Frog Holler

Last updated
Frog Holler
Frog Holler Godfrey Daniels.jpg
Background information
Origin Virginville, Pennsylvania U.S.
Genres Alternative country
Alternative rock
Americana
Years active1996–present
LabelsZoBird Records
Record Cellar
Associated actsAtaloft
Website FrogHoller.com
MembersDaniel Bower
Cory Heller
John Kilgore
Mike Lavdanski
Josh Sceurman
Darren Schlappich
Past membersTodd Bartolo
Will Dennis
Ted Fenstermacher
Toby Martin

Frog Holler is an American alternative country/rock, Americana band from Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

In 1996, Darren Schlappich started the band Chigliac Feedhorn in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania, with local bluegrass musician Van Wagner as a duo that played original acoustic bluegrass at area open mic nights. [3] They released the record, Dunawetter, of which seven songs were written by Schlappich. Wagner went to college and the band became an acoustic trio made up of Schlappich, Mike Lavdanski on banjo, and Will Dennis on acoustic bass. [4]

The trio eventually became an electric six-piece band that performed original songs written by Schlappich. [5] Some of the band members came from Kutztown University while others are from the local community. [6] Guitarist John Kilgore, formerly from the Kutztown bluegrass jam band, the Saucony Creek Ramblers, joined, as did drummer Toby Martin. Dennis left the band and Josh Sceurman joined, playing electric bass.

Frog Holler

The core band evolved into its present-day Frog Holler lineup of bandleader Schlappich on vocals and left-handed guitar, Lavdanski on banjo and vocal harmonies, [7] Daniel Bower on drums, Kilgore on guitar, Cory Heller on keyboard, and Sceurman on bass, and often incorporate mandolin and steel guitar in their music. [4]

Because many members of the band are of Pennsylvania Dutch ancestry, they are sometimes affectionately referred to as Pennsylvania Dutch rock. [4]

Frog Holler self-released its debut album, Couldn't Get Along. The record is dedicated to "The three Jays," possibly Jay Farrar, Jay Bennett, and J Mascis. The band followed their debut with three releases on the local label. Record Cellar. As they built up a following regionally, the band began touring extensively, playing gigs from Boston to the Carolinas. [8] Frog Holler released three records through the small independent label from Philadelphia, Record Cellar, run by Neil Drucker. Improved visibility and the release of their positively reviewed fourth record, Railings, [9] led to the band touring the industrial midwest as well as the Netherlands. [2] [10] Frog Holler has been mostly regionally focused, [11] [12] while maintaining annual residencies at the now defunct New York City Rodeo Bar [13] [14] as well as an upstate New York music festival. [15]

Many of their songs reflect the small rural community of their origins, with the song "Pennsylvania" off their third record, Idiots, an ode to tension between modern life and the more conservative, set-in-its-way, German-American lifestyle of past generations. [4] Idiots charted 34 on Americana radio charts and was well-reviewed. [16] [17] Throughout Frog Holler's music there are local references to landmarks and evocative descriptions of rural life. [2] Their fourth record, Railings, was recorded at Edan Cohen's Soundgun Studios in Philadelphia. [16]

In 2016, seven years after their prior record, Frog Holler celebrated their 20-year anniversary as a band, [18] releasing their seventh full-length record called Souvenir. The record was recorded between March 2015 and February 2016 with Bruce Siekmann, engineer and owner of Amoeba Studio in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. [2]

Critical response

Rachel Maddow saw Frog Holler open for Marah and became an avid fan, which led to her inviting Schlappich to perform on her Air America Radio show. [19] Writer Meredith Ochs cites Frog Holler's live performances and high level of musicianship, [20] as does Fred Mills, describing them as a "killer live band." [21] Andy Turner in No Depression calls Schlappich a "real-deal storyteller." [22] Peter Bothum from the York Daily Record says the music comes from a rare place of honesty. [23] Doug Wallen from Philadelphia Weekly liked their genuine, "down-home sweetness of their loose, melodic strain of alt-country." [24] Geoffrey Himes, writing in The Washington Post, described Frog Holler as a secret treasure. [25]

Ataloft

In 2012, Schlappich, Lavdanski, and Bruce Siekmann formed the pop-rock band Ataloft as a side project. [26] The band released a self-titled album called Ataloft in 2014. [27]

Dem Hills

In May 2017, Schlappich released Maybe Life Is Sweet in a new band collaboration project with Bruce Siekmann (Ameoba Audio) on guitar, Schlappich and Mike Lavdanski on vocals, Josh Kanusky on drums, Nick Franclik on bass and Cory Heller on keyboards. Siekmann and Schlappich wrote the songs and the band includes members of Frog Holler, Ataloft, and the David Bromberg Band.

Discography

Chigliac Feedhorn
Frog Holler
Ataloft
Dem Hills
Collaborations / contributions

Related Research Articles

Bluegrass music is a genre of American roots music that developed in the 1940s in the United States Appalachian region. The genre derives its name from the band Bill Monroe and the Blue Grass Boys. Unlike mainstream country music, bluegrass is traditionally played on acoustic stringed instruments. Bluegrass has roots in traditional English, Scottish and Irish ballads and dance tunes, and in traditional African-American blues and jazz. Bluegrass was further developed by musicians who played with Monroe, including 5-string banjo player Earl Scruggs and guitarist Lester Flatt. Monroe characterized the genre as: "Scottish bagpipes and ole-time fiddlin'. It's Methodist and Holiness and Baptist. It's blues and jazz, and it has a high lonesome sound."

Berks County, Pennsylvania U.S. county in Pennsylvania

Berks County is a county located in the U.S. commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 411,442. The county seat is Reading.

Reading, Pennsylvania City in Pennsylvania, United States

Reading is a city in and the county seat of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States. With a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, it is the fifth-largest city in Pennsylvania. Located in the southeastern part of the state, it is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area, home to 420,152 residents, and is furthermore included in the greater Delaware Valley.

Delaware Valley Metropolitan area in the United States

The Delaware Valley is the valley through which the Delaware River flows. By extension, this toponym is commonly used to refer to Greater Philadelphia or the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The Delaware Valley is coterminous with a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) and broader combined statistical area (CSA), and is composed of counties located in Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, Delaware, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. As of the 2010 Census, the MSA has a population of over 6 million, while the CSA has a population of over 7.1 million.

The Yonder Mountain String Band is an American progressive bluegrass group from Nederland, Colorado. Composed of Dave Johnston, Allie Kral, Ben Kaufmann, Adam Aijala, and Nick Piccininni, the band has released five studio albums and several live recordings to date.

Albright College

Albright College is a private liberal arts college in Reading, Pennsylvania, affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It was founded in 1856.

Crystal Cave (Pennsylvania)

Crystal Cave is a cave near Kutztown in Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. It was discovered by William Merkel and John Gehret on November 12, 1871, and quickly became a popular tourist attraction.

The Cellar Door Music club in Washington, DC

The Cellar Door was a 163-seat music club located at 34th & M Street NW in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. from 1964 through January 7, 1982. It occupied the location of a former music club called The Shadows.

Jeffrey D. Erb American actor and director

Jeffrey D. Erb is an American film producer, director, actor, musician. He is also the Co-Founder and Co-President of the film production company Framelight Productions, the co-founder of Invivid Media and the CEO of Feverpitch Pictures. He has produced or executive produced a wide range of films, including The Speed of Life, which won an award at the Venice Film Festival.

Reading Railroad Massacre

The Reading Railroad Massacre occurred on July 23, 1877, when strikes in Reading, Pennsylvania, led to an outbreak of violence, during which 10 to 16 people were killed and between 20 and 203 were injured. It was the climax of local events during the Great Railroad Strike of 1877 towards the end of the Long Depression of 1873–1879, following arson and riots against local facilities of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad.

Joseph Calvin "Butch" Robins is an American five-string–banjo player with his own, distinct style. He's an individualist and, according to himself, "a seeker of information, knowledge and wisdom."

Tin Bird Choir

Tin Bird Choir is a barn rock band from Chester County Pennsylvania. Eric and Heather Hurlock, Josh Sceurman, Ellen Houle, and Brad Hinton weave the poetry of rural life into urgent melodies and heartbreaking harmonies and pair it all with burning musicality. "Tin Bird Choir's mix of pop hooks, delicate harmonies, and tight playing is a winning blend," says, John Vettese of 88.5 WXPN. Their signature “barn rock” sound has earned them some national attention: Their recent single "Hide My Heart was picked up by SiriusXM The Village; Two songs off their sophomore album Homesteady, “Straight Face” and "Take Me With You When You Go," were picked up by Starbucks and are played in their stores worldwide. Another song off the Homesteady album, “Cheaper, Less Painful,” earned the band a spot as one of the regional finalists in the Mountain Stage Newsong Contest. Homesteady was one of the Top Albums of 2013.

Universal Warning Records is a record label and video production company located in the greater Philadelphia area. Universal Warning produces and releases independent music from local and national bands, as well as produces music videos, live concerts for DVD and digital transmission as well as music documentaries, primarily from the indie, punk, and hardcore genres.

Muhlenberg Greene Architects

Muhlenberg Greene Architects, Ltd. is a full-service architecture firm, in continuous operation since 1920, and was one of the predominant architecture/engineering firms in Reading, Pennsylvania, during the first half of the 20th century.

Mipso

Mipso is a North Carolina quartet formed in Chapel Hill and known for combining a traditional string band format with close harmony and a variety of modern influences. The band is made up of Wood Robinson, Jacob Sharp, Joseph Terrell and Libby Rodenbough.

Larry Stephenson is an American singer-songwriter. He sings, plays mandolin, and writes songs in the bluegrass tradition.

Herschel Sizemore is an American mandolinist in the bluegrass tradition.

Levi Landis

Levi Preston Landis is an arts administrator, musician, manager and festival producer. Since 2016, he has been the Executive Director of GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, the largest visual art center in the country.

Morton L. Montgomery

Morton Luther Montgomery (1846–1933) was a native-born Pennsylvanian and Harvard-trained lawyer who became a respected military and public historian and author of more than a dozen books, lecture-related content and other materials documenting the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from its earliest days through the early part of the 20th century.

Charles Evans Cemetery

Charles Evans Cemetery is an historic, non-sectarian, garden-style cemetery located in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania. It was founded by Charles Evans (1768-1847), a son of Quaker parents and native of Philadelphia who became a prominent attorney and philanthropist in Reading during the late 18th and early 19th century. After donating the cemetery's first 25 acres and $2,000 to support the early development and operations phase of this public burial ground, he then ensured the cemetery's long-term stability by bequeathing a roughly $67,000 endowment from his estate, following his death in 1847 to support beautification of the grounds and other perpetual care activities. Sited atop a hill, the cemetery was initially located outside of the city when Evans first donated the land, but was absorbed into Reading's boundaries as the city developed to meet the needs of its expanding population.

References

  1. ↑ Henderson, Alex. "Frog Holler Biography & History". AllMusic .
  2. 1 2 3 4 Botch, Don (2 June 2016). "Frog Holler keeps time with the music". Reading Eagle .
  3. ↑ Farr, Sarah (1 January 2002). "Frog Holler takes its small-town roots big time: Frog Holler". Prefix Magazine.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Himes, Geoffrey (6 January 2002). "Old roles, new rock in Pa. Dutch country Frog Holler gives voice to a generation's conflict". The Philadelphia Inquirer .
  5. ↑ Speese, Jim (12 December 1997). "Frog Holler makes the leap from bluegrass to punk-rock". Reading Eagle/Reading Times. p. W2.
  6. ↑ Dechert, S. Renee (2001). "Frog Holler: Idiots. Modern PA Dutchmen". PopMatters .
  7. ↑ Speese, Jim (23 March 2001). "Frog Holler earns more kudos with release of third CD, 'idiots'". Reading Eagle . p. W2.
  8. ↑ Speese, Jim (2 December 2004). "Cover Story: Berks County Boys". Reading Eagle . p. 19.
  9. ↑ Tatasciore, David (8 April 2004). "Frog Holler hops into Zeno's for an evening of alt-country". The Daily Collegian . Pennsylvania State University.
  10. ↑ Train, John (June 2002). "Words from Jon (Archive June 2002)". Train Army.
  11. ↑ Speese, Jim (18 September 2003). "Local faves Frog Holler at it again". Reading Eagle . pp. 6–7.
  12. ↑ "Frog Holler to perform at Kutztown Park". The Berks-Mont News. 30 May 2016.
  13. ↑ Aradillas, Elaine (13 October 2004). "Urban, and Looking for the Cowboys". The New York Times .
  14. ↑ Pareles, Jon (14 January 2005). "The Listings: Frog Holler". The New York Times .
  15. ↑ Brown, Jake (4 November 2003). "Interview with an Independent Tour Manager". Glorious Noise.
  16. 1 2 Howard, Brian (4 September 2003). "Darren Schlappich". Philadelphia City Paper.
  17. ↑ Cohen, Bill (25 April 2001). "Frog Holler - Idiots". Philadelphia Weekly .
  18. ↑ "Back to the farm: Philadelphia Folk Festival ready to fest again". Ticket Entertainment. 11 August 2016.
  19. ↑ Maddow, Rachel (21 June 2006). "TRMS 06-21-2006: Darren Schlappich / Lead Singer of Frog Holler" (MP3). The Rachel Maddow Show (radio program) . Air America Radio. Download to play -- Starts at 00:58:15 out of 01:15:02
  20. ↑ Ochs, Meredith (30 April 2000). "Frog Holler - In the heart of Dutch country". No Depression (27).
  21. ↑ Mills, Fred (31 October 2003). "Frog Holler - Railings". No Depression (48).
  22. ↑ Turner, Andy (28 February 2006). "Frog Holler - Haywire". No Depression (62).
  23. ↑ Bothum, Peter (3 December 2004). "Content at their home pad". York Magazine. York Daily Record. p. 4. ProQuest   209393537.
  24. ↑ Wallen, Doug (22 March 2006). "A List: Frog Holler". Philadelphia Weekly .
  25. ↑ Himes, Geoffrey (29 May 2009). "CD Review: Frog Holler 'Believe It or Not'". The Washington Post .CS1 maint: discouraged parameter (link)
  26. ↑ Vettese, John (24 April 2014). "Unlocked: Darren Schlappich on the unexpected origins of Ataloft". WXPN The Key.
  27. ↑ Botch, Don (10 April 2014). "The rise of Berks County's promising new band Ataloft". Reading Eagle .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.