PERT NEAR SANDSTONE: Up and Down the River

Pert Near Sandstone

Up and Down the River

© 2007 Pert Near Sandstone (707541893626)

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Pert' Near Sandstone is a hard-driving stringband from Minneapolis and St. Paul. Gathered round an old-timey microphone, the boys play well-crafted original stringband material, as well as being purveyors of many songs from the old-time and bluegrass tra

notes

Pert Near Sandstone is a new-timey stringband from Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN, established in 2003. They play hard-driving acoustic music in the old-time vein, but with a fresh sense and new-time urban grit. Pert Near approaches the American stringband tradition with reverence, infusing their own ideas and character to deliver a sound and style uniquely their own. In Pert Near's songwriting there is as much depth and diversity (and often quirkiness) as their traditional material. You'll find this group gathered around a single, old-timey microphone in a choreographed dance of lyric & melody regardless of being in a rock venue or a formal theater. Their originality & energy has won them fans across generations and genres. Pert Near's rhythm get's people dancing, tight harmonies keep folks singing along, and the fiddle/mandolin melodies and hot solos tear a crowd up with energy. Having become a force in the Minnesota roots music scene, Pert Near Sandstone is streaching out along the rivers and roads of the region, picking up a following and teaming up with some great bands!

----Ryan Young: Fiddle (guitar/mandolin/harmonies)----A well accomplished and adept multi-instrumentalist, music teacher, and songwriter. Ryan's fiddle style threads archaic with experimental. He is a veteran musician, having been in every sort of band, and has shared a stage with some of the greats. "M'Pappy" Young is also Pert Near's sound and recording engineer.

----J Lenz: Acoustic Guitar/Backing Vocals----Also an accomplished multi-instrumentalist music teacher, and American Irishman. J has played more horns than most know the names of, and shared several bands with Ryan. His strong rhythm and solid backup vocals keep Pert Near grounded. "Captain" is our main tour driver and road manager.

----Kevin Kniebel: Banjo/Lead Vocals----Kevin's powerful workingman vocals, convincing songwriting, and syncopated clawhammer banjo are as gritty as the gravel road he grew up on... As band & booking manager, Kevin is the driving force of Pert Near. Without him, Pert' Near Sandstone would still be just a couple of guys on your neighbor's couch pickin' tunes and sippin' whiskey.

----Nate Sipe: Mandolin (manjo/fiddle/harmonies)----Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, folk-musicologist. Nate joined Pert Near in '04, after spending years traveling with a mandolin, often by way of the thumb or freight train. He brought the essential repertoire of song and influence that founded the group's sound and approach. "Sonnyboy" works at the prestigious Podium Music store, and is continually working to keep Pert Near sounding old-timey.

----Jeff Swanner: Upright Bass (whistling/harmonies/bowing)----Band mechanic. Jeff is the latest to join the group in '05. His dawghous was just what Pert Near needed to take their sound to the next level. His musical influences and character melded with the established group immediatly, and surpisingly well. A freelance welder by trade, and amature narcoleptic, "Swanner" provides the foundation for Pert Near's raucous renditions.

reviews

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  • PNS brings the ENERGY!
    author: Lindberg Chambliss

    I absolutely love this album. I don't buy many cd's, but I was on my way up to 10klf last summer and my buddy popped in Up and Down the River and I've been enjoying PNS since then. Summer Skies is one of my favorites songs of all time.

  • Yee-haw.
    author: e

    Great bluegrass without resorting to making it a novelty act like some groups do.

  • PHC Performance
    author: Frank Mayer

    Heard these guys on PHC and they blew the doors off the place.

  • foot stomper!
    author: Adam

    I first saw Pert when they played with the Turtles on New Years Eve at the Orpheum in Minneapolis. Ever since then, I've been enjoying their style over the Turtles. Great music!

  • An impressive Album
    author: Meridith Benter

    I have had this CD in my car since I got it. Everytime I get in for a drive I am amazed by these guys each time. I just can't get myself to change to another CD just yet cause I ain't tired of listening to this wonderful music just yet.

  • Great, energetic music!
    author: Mernie Perkins

    Everybody we play this cd for wants it for themselves. The one I ordered from CD Baby was for my brother-in-law. You can tell these guys are having a great time playing!

  • Definitely worth it! A must buy!
    author: Julie
  • Pert Near's third release; certainly their best to date.
    author: Raoul Duke

    Some tracks can be described as stunning (Gypsy Reel), others playful (Awesome Costume) or powerful (Aught Three Waltz), but the bottom line here is that these dudes from Minneapolis can roll. Summer Skies (Track 3) was a welcome inclusion; this quiet, beautiful song was on their previous (live) album, but was drowned out by crowd noise. Young (fiddle) and Sipe (mandolin) rightly command attention on most tracks; Okenagan Valley and Fishing Reel will blow you out of the water. No reason not to pick this album up.

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