The Giving Tree Band

Last updated
The Giving Tree Band
Giving Tree Band 44 (21181310083).jpg
The Giving Tree Band in Davenport, IA at the Redstone Room, July 2016
Background information
Origin Chicago, Illinois, United States
Genres
Years active2004 - present
Labels Crooked Creek Records
MembersE Fink
Todd Fink
Norm
Z
Charlie Karls
Past membersPatrick Burke 2004-2011
Justin Forsythe 2010-2011
Andy Goss 2009-2011
Philip Roach 2009 -2013
Woody Woods 2009 -2013
Website TheGivingTreeBand

The Giving Tree Band is a rock & roll band from Yorkville, Illinois. The band is known for their live shows, which cover a vast array of genres. The current lineup consists of brothers Eric "E" (Guitars/Lead Vocals) and Todd Fink (Banjos/Guitars/Lead Vocals), Karl "Charlie Karls" Kieser (Bass/Vocals), Zachariah "Z" Oostema (Percussion/Vocals), and Erik "Norm" Norman (Keys/Mandolin/Guitars/Vocals) who is recognized for adding elaborate solos. Though the group uses an instrumentation largely associated with bluegrass and Americana, their sound often drums up comparisons to such classic rock icons as The Band, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and The Beatles. [2]

Contents

History

The Giving Tree Band was started by brothers Todd and Eric Fink in 2004. They released their first full-length album - a double disc, entitled Unified Folk Theory - in 2007. The album features 33 songs of original material. [3] In 2008, the band set out to record a carbon-neutral album, which was done at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in Baraboo, Wisconsin. [4] The album was released in 2009, [5] and was entitled Great Possessions , which was the working title of conservationist Aldo Leopold's book, A Sand County Almanac . [6] [7] It was recorded with 100% solar energy at the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center in Baraboo, WI. [8]

On September 21, 2010, the band released their third full-length album, The Joke, The Threat & The Obvious. [9] The album spent multiple weeks on various Americana radio charts, peaking at number 15 on the Roots Music Report and number 40 on the Americana Airplay Chart. [10] [11] The album also received critical acclaim, including a spot on Acoustic Guitar Magazine's "Best Acoustic Albums of 2010" list, [12] as well as garnering positive reviews from such publications as Relix Magazine , [13] The Huffington Post , [14] and American Songwriter . [15]

The group toured extensively in 2010, playing such notable festivals as South by Southwest, [16] Wakarusa, [9] the Philadelphia Folk Festival, [17] and Forecastle Festival, [16] along with such venues as The Kennedy Center [18] in Washington, D.C. and Millennium Park [9] and the House of Blues [16] in Chicago. When not touring, the band members all live together at a house in Yorkville, where they also record their albums. [19]

Instrumentation and sound

The band uses a multitude of acoustic instruments, including guitar, banjo, upright bass, violin, mandolin, slide guitar, and drums. During their November 3, 2008 appearance on WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour, host Michael Johnathon described them as having "the spirit of Pete Seeger with the musical abilities of The Band." [20] Reviewers have referred to their songwriting as having "Dylanesque imagery, John Prine-like aphorisms and Abbey Road -era Beatles overtones" [21] and being "reminiscent of Bob Dylan and Neil Young". [22] A review from the Nashville Metromix described The Giving Tree Band as being "a neo-retro take on The Band or the American answer to Mumford & Sons". [23]

They're known to dress in costumes and perform sets as a range of classic acts around Halloween each year. On October 28, 2016, at a costume party at The Law Office Pub & Music Hall in The Giving Tree Band's hometown of Yorkville, they dressed and performed an entire set as The Band.

Environmental initiatives

The Giving Tree Band is also known for its great environmental stewardship and eco-friendly music production. [24] They use a number of instruments that were handmade from naturally fallen trees and reclaimed woods. [8] By 2010, all members of the band were vegetarians. [25] They have recorded with renewable energy and package all their CDs with 100% recycled materials. [8] During the recording session of the 2009 album Great Possessions, the band camped in a nearby state park and commuted over 500 miles by bicycle. [8] As a result of this, the Chicago Sun-Times called it the "greenest of albums." [26] National and international environmental media, such as The Sierra Club, [27] The Discovery Channel and Mother Earth News, have also highlighted the band's activism, with the latter referring to them as "the greenest band in the land". [28] [29]

Following the release of Great Possessions, the band began receiving international recognition, as news sources in countries as diverse as Mexico, [30] France, [31] Kuwait, [32] Lebanon, [33] Egypt, [34] China, [35] and Ecuador [36] reported on the making of the album and the band's other environmental initiatives. These international sources put the group's environmental efforts as being on par with those of popular rock artists Radiohead and Kings of Leon. [35]

In 2016, the group appeared on a compilation album entitled Home on the Range alongside Moby, Matisyahu, Nellie McKay and others. [37] The compilation album is the project of the Compassionate Farming Education Initiative, and proceeds from the album will benefit farm animal sanctuaries. [38]

Discography

Studio Albums

Live Albums

EPs

Singles

Compilation Albums

Related Research Articles

<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.

Americana is an amalgam of American music formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the musical ethos of the United States, specifically those sounds that are emerged from the Southern United States such as folk, gospel, blues, country, jazz, rhythm and blues, rock and roll, bluegrass, and other external influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sugar Hill Records (bluegrass label)</span> American record label

Sugar Hill Records is an American bluegrass and Americana record label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wood Brothers</span> American folk band

The Wood Brothers are an American roots band consisting of brothers Chris and Oliver Wood, as well as multi-instrumentalist Jano Rix. Their music is a combination of folk, gospel, blues and jazz.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anders Osborne</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1966)

Anders Osborne is an American singer-songwriter. He tours solo and with a band, and often plays in North Mississippi Osborne (N.M.O), a group formed by Osborne and North Mississippi Allstars.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Wictor</span> American singer-songwriter

Pat Wictor is an American blues and folk musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, and recording artist. Known for his ethereal style, he was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year in 2006 by the Folk Alliance, and has released a number of solo albums. In 2010 Wictor co-founded the folk trio Brother Sun, with singer-songwriters Joe Jencks and Greg Greenway, and the band has since released two full albums and toured extensively. Wictor also has an extensive discography as a sideman, playing instruments such as lap slide guitar and dobro. He currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah and the Whale</span> British indie rock band

Noah and the Whale were a British indie rock and folk band from Twickenham, formed in 2006. The band's last line-up consisted of Charlie Fink, Tom Hobden (violin/keyboards), Matt "Urby Whale" Owens, Fred Abbott (guitar/keys) and Michael Petulla (drums). Doug Fink (drums), the brother of lead singer Charlie, and Laura Marling were also past members of the band.

<i>Midnight Moonlight</i> 1992 studio album by New Riders of the Purple Sage

Midnight Moonlight is the thirteenth studio album by the New Riders of the Purple Sage, released in 1992 on the Relix Records label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Woods (band)</span> American folk rock band

Woods is an American folk rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 2005. The band consists of Jeremy Earl, Jarvis Taveniere, Aaron Neveu (drums), Chuck Van Dyck (bass), and Kyle Forester. The band's former bassist, Kevin Morby, left the band in 2013.

<i>Keep On Keepin On</i> (New Riders of the Purple Sage album) 1989 studio album by New Riders of the Purple Sage

Keep On Keepin' On is the twelfth studio album by the country rock band the New Riders of the Purple Sage. It was released in 1989 by Mu Records, and subsequently re-released by Relix Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Under the Driftwood Tree</span> Cardiff-based band

Under the Driftwood Tree are a Cardiff-based band founded in Wales by Kitt Stoodley in 2008. Their music is described as 'surfer folk' and is based on vocal harmonies and unusual instruments, including ukulele, didgeridoo, djembe, cajon and accordion as well as acoustic guitars and bass.

Dangermuffin is an American band from Folly Beach, South Carolina. Their musical styles include Americana, folk, and jam music. The band is a trio whose instrumentation includes acoustic guitar, electric guitar, and drums. The group was founded in 2007 and has been touring throughout the United States since. Dangermuffin released their sixth album, Heritage, in May 2017.

<i>Down to the River</i> 2019 studio album by The Allman Betts Band

Down to the River is an album by the Allman Betts Band. Their first album, it was released as a CD and as an LP on June 28, 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shook Twins</span> American indie-folk music duo

Shook Twins is a folk music group originally from Sandpoint, Idaho and currently based in Portland, Oregon, formed in 2004. The nucleus of the band consists of identical twin sisters Katelyn and Laurie Shook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climbing Trees</span> Welsh band

Climbing Trees are a Welsh four-piece "Cymrucana" band based in Pontypridd, South Wales. The group currently features Matthew Frederick (piano/guitar/vocals), Colenso Jones (guitar/bass/vocals), Martin Webb (guitar/bass/vocals) and James Bennetts (drums/vocals).

<i>No Guts, No Glory</i> (Moe album) 2014 studio album by moe.

No Guts, No Glory is the eleventh studio album by the American rock band moe. It was released by Sugar Hill Records and Vanguard Records on May 27, 2014. moe. debuted the album live over the course of the 2014 Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Illinois, allowing attendees to purchase the album at the concessions the weekend before its official release date.

<i>Unified Folk Theory</i> 2007 studio album by The Giving Tree Band

Unified Folk Theory is the first studio album released by American folk rock/Americana band The Giving Tree Band, released on December 4, 2007, on Crooked Creek Records. In line with their environmental stewardship, the CD's were manufactured at Earthology Records and the band pledged to plant 10 trees for every 1000 Cd's sold. The album takes its name from the physics concept of the unified field theory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Shallow</span> American singer-songwriter

Travis Shallow is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and recording artist.

<i>Harmony</i> (Bill Frisell album) 2019 studio album by Bill Frisell

Harmony is a studio album by American jazz guitarist Bill Frisell. The album was released on 4 October 2019 by Blue Note.

The Weight Band is an American rock band formed in 2013. It consists of Jim Weider (guitar), Michael Bram, Brian Mitchell, Matt Zeiner and Albert Rogers. The Weight Band was created by Jim Weider to continue the musical legacy of The Band.

References

  1. ↑ Meckstroth, Haley. "80/35 2011 Festival Recap". QRO Magazine. QRO. Archived from the original on July 21, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Acoustic Guitar - Player Spotlight: The Giving Tree Band".
  3. ↑ "Unified Folk Theory Two Disc set from The Giving Tree Band".
  4. ↑ "The Giving Tree Band These acoustic folk-rockers just recorded the world's greenest album".
  5. ↑ "The Giving Tree Band Celebrate Earth Day and Summer Tour Dates, Free MP3s".
  6. ↑ "Carbon neutral music is a top priority for The Giving Tree Band".
  7. ↑ "RedEye Distribution: New Releases".
  8. 1 2 3 4 Kent Green (2008-08-14). "The Giving Tree Band: Sustainable Recording". Chicago Tribune . Archived from the original on May 23, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 "The Giving Tree Band Announce New Album".
  10. ↑ "Yorkville band's album hits national charts".
  11. ↑ "9 Questions and One Embarrassing Story With The Giving Tree Band".
  12. ↑ "Acoustic Guitar:Essential Acoustic Albums of 2010".
  13. ↑ "Relix - On The Verge - The Giving Tree Band".
  14. ↑ "Bill Chameides: Folk Rocking Sustainably". Huffington Post. 2010-09-30.
  15. ↑ "On Tour With The Giving Tree Band: "It is just after midnight..."".
  16. 1 2 3 "The Giving Tree Band, Chicago, IL".
  17. ↑ "Schedule of Events" (PDF).
  18. ↑ "The Giving Tree Band Explore the Arts".
  19. ↑ "Allmusic.com - The Giving Tree Band". AllMusic .
  20. ↑ "WoodSongs Old-Time Radio Hour "Show 508"".
  21. ↑ "The Bluegrass Special "The Giving Tree Band Takes Possession Of Its Art and Ethos on Great Possessions"".
  22. ↑ "The Giving Tree Band - A Band with a Green Heart".
  23. ↑ "New music: in stores and online, Sept. 21".
  24. ↑ Greg Chruscielski (2009-02-26). "The Giving Tree Band!". Buzz News Online Magazine.
  25. ↑ Anna Monette Roberts (2010-04-20). "Q&A with Todd Fink of The Giving Tree Band". Vegetarian Times . Archived from the original on September 7, 2018. Retrieved September 7, 2018.
  26. ↑ Sharon Hoyer (2008-11-21). "Giving Tree Band Grows Greenest of Albums". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on March 27, 2009.
  27. ↑ "The Giving Tree Band".
  28. ↑ Stephanie Bloyd (2008-03-25). "Giving Back To The Trees". Mother Earth News.
  29. ↑ Alison Rogers. "The Greenest Band in the Land". Mother Earth News.
  30. ↑ "La Jornada: Grupo de EU lanzará en agosto el primer disco ecológico".
  31. ↑ "Musique - Sauver la planète, un accord à la fois".
  32. ↑ "North American bands playing to greener tune".
  33. ↑ "فرقة موسيقية أميركية تنشر الوعي البيئي".
  34. ↑ "North American bands playing to greener tune". Archived from the original on 2012-11-05.
  35. 1 2 "Bands sing a green tune".
  36. ↑ "Bandas de música en EE.UU. le apuestan al medio ambiente".
  37. ↑ "The Pretenders, Yoko Ono, Moby, Joan Jett & More Contribute To "Home On The Range" Farm Sanctuary Benefit Project". 24 May 2016. Retrieved 7 October 2016.
  38. ↑ "Moby, Spiritualized for Animal Benefit CD".
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.