Oakhurst (band)

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Oakhurst is a Denver-based international act with deep Appalachian roots and original songs that fuse traditional bluegrass with indie-rock and a citybilly attitude. The band's sound is more rustic and rocking, and less jazzy and jammed, than the typical hybrid bluegrass found in the Rocky Mountain region. Oakhurst played nearly 200 shows in 20 states and 5 European countries during 2006. In 2007, the band played 12 states, 7 European countries, and The Caribbean. ^[1] Even though their tour schedule is incessant, the band never stops playing. On off days, the boys of Oakhurst take to the streets, deploying their Rocky Mountain Guerrilla Grass style, making some new friends and promoting. Along the way the band has entertained crowds as large as 5,500 and played on the Xingolati Groove Cruise. ^[2] Over the course 2005 and 2006 Oakhurst has shared stages with the very diverse national talent such as Nickel Creek, Yard Dogs Roadshow, Bela Fleck, The Ditty Bops, John Prine, The Musemeant, Junior Brown, The Hackensaw Boys, Ekoostik Hookah and Arlo Guthrie. Oakhurst has shared the stage with Colorado legends and emerging talent as well. The list includes Yonder Mountain String Band, Devotchka, Rose Hill Drive, The Motet, Pete Wernick and Vince Herman. ^[3]

Contents 1 History 1.1 The Beginning 1.2 Porch Music is Born 1.3 Greenhorn and a New Drummer 1.4 Enter The Banjo 1.5 The Dual Mono Era 2 Rocky Mountain Guerrilla Grass 3 Awards 4 Personnel 4.1 Current members 4.2 Past members 5 Discography 6 References 7 External links

[edit] History

[edit] The Beginning

After a stint in Nashville, A.P. Hill had an itch to head west. Guitar in hand, this singer and storyteller left the hills of Tennessee for the mountains of Colorado. A.P. hit Denver as a solo act, honing his craft and fattening up his songbook, while keeping his good eye peeled for the right musicians to accompany him. Shortly after his arrival in Denver, A.P. was invited to a basement jam session by a co-worker where he met a young man by the name of Johnny James Qualley. Johnny had just left Las Vegas for a simpler life in Denver and just before he left those bright lights behind, Johnny made a score at a local Pawnshop that changed the direction of his musical career. He found a Stand-Up Bass Fiddle for a price he could barely afford and hardly resist. After a lively and jubilant three hour jam session, Johnny admitted to A.P. that he was a guitar player, but had no idea how to play his new instrument. He said that he would figure it out if A.P. wanted to give it a whirl. A few months later A.P. tracked Johnny down and told him he had procured a rehearsal studio in an old yogurt factory. The two got to work right away. Soon they had enough songs together to bring in the drummer that had seen A.P. performing solo. Todd Hoefen was a gifted drummer but there was one thing that concerned A.P. and Johnny; he was playing an electronic kit. "We can't play these wooden instruments with that robotic spider lookin' thing!" said Johnny. Once Todd was hooked he got himself a real trap kit and Oakhurst was ready to start gigging. ^[4]

[edit] Porch Music is Born

After a couple of years of paying their dues, the band started hitting hard,touring and recording. The groups first record entitled Loose & Prosperous was recorded in a basement studio in 2001. In 2002 the group became a quartet with the addition of Ray Foss on keys. The addition of Ray's keys helped the group round out the sound and gave Oakhurst it's first true soloist. Shortly there after, A.P. and Johnny met Adam "Tarzano" Smith for the first time at the now defunct Tin Lizzie. Tarzano was invited down to jam by Oakhurst's booking agent, Erin Cushenbery. When he arrived A.P. & Johnny were in mid-performance and talked to them for the first time with his mandolin. Oakhurst had a new member. ^[4]

[edit] Greenhorn and a New Drummer

Now that the band had some real momentum it was time to capture the energy on record. They went to Colorado Sound Studios to work in one of the region's best recording facilities with esteemed engineer Lorne Bregitzer. The result was Greenhorn, a seven song E.P. released to the public in January 2004 which received favorable reviews all over the nation. By this time the band's schedule had gotten incredibly hectic and Todd left the band for personal reasons. Enter Andrew Clapp: son of Stephen Clapp the world class violinist & Dean of Juiliard School. Oakhurst had played many a show with this drummer's last band, 3 degrees of freedom. The departure of Todd and the break up of Andrew's band happened simultaneously. Andrew stepped right in and played the next 30 shows without as much as a single practice. ^[4]

[edit] Enter The Banjo

The 16th Street Mall in Denver is a place where A.P. and Johnny played for beer money many times over the years. Although those were great and memorable times, what they will remember most about 16th street is that banjo player they found there. After inviting Zach Daniels to sit in with them at the Appaloosa Grill, (one door down from where they found him), Zach went from playing with them weekly to playing with them full time in no time at all. He left the streets behind to become the sixth member of Oakhurst. Together, Zach and Tarzano became a wicked one-two punch of inventive (yet traditionally-drenched) banjo playing and feverishly crispy mandolin licks. An unfortunate construction accident forced Ray Foss to quit playing and retire from Oakhurst. ^[4]

[edit] The Dual Mono Era

Dual Mono finds Oakhurst ever growing as writers and performers. The band recorded this one in cabins, barns, and other rural places across Colorado to avoid the clock ticking feel of urban studios. During the recording of Dual Mono, Oakhurst also swapped drummers, converting local drum player Chris Budin into a one band man. Since then the band has become a machine touring constantly all over the U.S. and Europe spreading their new style "Rocky Mountain Guerrilla Grass" world wide. If you hear a string band in the distance where ever you are it just might be Oakhurst. ^[4]

[edit] Rocky Mountain Guerrilla Grass

"A musical assault on unsuspecting listeners" ^[5] as defined by A.P. Hill. Oakhurst will use various types of transportation, ex. golf carts at Hookahville, trollies in Pennsylvania ^[6] and their feet to sneak up on random people and give them a healthy dose of their music. This can occur in the streets of any city, around campires at music festivals, or in any public or private place. You don't know when or where it's coming, but if Oakhurst is in the area, somebody will more than likely be musically assaulted. Even foreign countries are subject to Guerrilla Grass.

[edit] Awards

• On June 28, 2007, Oakhurst was voted Best Bluegrass Band in Colorado by Denver Westword magazine. ^[7]

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Current members

• A.P. Hill - Lead Vocal and Acoustic Guitar
• Johnny James Qualley - Upright Bass, Sideways Bass
• Adam "Tarzano" Smith - Mandolin, Electric Guitar, and Vocal
• Zach Daniels - Banjo, and Vocal
• Chris Budin - Drums, Vocals

[edit] Past members

• Todd Hoefen - Drums
• Andrew Clapp - Drums
• Ray Foss - Piano

[edit] Discography

• Loose & Prosperous (2001) - "River & Sticks", "Punch Me", "Speak", "Loose & Prosperous", "Hands Tucked", Djibouti", "Frenchina"
• Greenhorn (2004) - "Leslie's", "Give", "Sweet Carolina", "Linger", "Change", "Four-Twenty", "Circles"
• Dual Mono (2005) - "Gypsies at JR's", "Moonshine Still", "Arkansaw River", "Brigade", "Eggs On my Face", "Grass is Greener", "Dance Around", "River and Sticks", "Chili", "Hit The Road", "Kooky-Eyed Fox", "Olivine", Can't Wait", "Say Hello"
• Jump in the Getdown (2008) - "Down the Lane", "Huckleberry Strangler", "Get Down", "Passing Through", "Love Law & Pain", "Bitterroot Hop", "Close Your Eyes", "Soon As The Sun", "Crazy", "Run Run Run", "Heart String"

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• http://www.porchmusic.com
• Oakhurst Myspace Page
• Oakhurst collection at Internet Archive's live music archive
• http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Oakhurst Various videos of Oakhurst performing on and off-stage.
• Westword article "Hootennany" written by John La Briola