Pop/rock songs arranged for electric banjo, bass and drums. like the replacments and earl scruggs mixed in a blender.

6 MP3 Songs
ROCK: Roots Rock, ROCK: Jam-band



Details:
ONESIDE

âbanjo-sweetened music that ranges from indie-flavored jangle pop to straight-out newgrass.â

Ned deBary â Lead vocals; Guitar
Ian Knox - Electric and acoustic banjo; Vocals
Jake Brooks - Drums and percussion
Grafton Pease â Bass; Vocals

Boston, MA, based band ONESIDE uses banjo, drums, bass, and guitar to create a unique, organic variety of rock (Fondly dubbed "Electrified Yankee Roots/Rock" by lead singer/songwriter Ned deBary). Critics have likened ONESIDEâs music to that of early R.E.M, My Morning Jacket, and present-day Wilco, but with a stronger basis in Americana. Confident vocals convey thought-provoking lyrics that flirt between candid and enigmatic, with plenty of sing-along choruses to lodge in the listenerâs head.

How did all of this get started? "It started when I lived next door to Ian (Knox)," recalls deBary. "He was learning the banjo and Iâd hear him practicing through the wall, and it sounded really cool. At the time, I didnât know anyone who played the banjo so of course I invited myself over to jam. After finishing one night of particularly inspired picking, Ian said, âwe have to form a band!â One of our friends took it as âwe are a bandâ and booked us to open for the Pat McGee band at a benefit concert he was putting on. The show was three weeks away and we really didnât know any songs yet. We wrote and practiced day and night until we had about five decent tunes. At the show, we just got up there and went for it. To our surprise, everyone in the room (including Pat McGee) seemed to enjoy it and we left the stage to surprisingly loud applause. From then on we were hooked on performing live and have been writing and playing ever since.â

Of course, ONESIDE has often struggled against othersâ preconceived notions. "Every one assumed we were a âwanna-be jam bandâ just because of the electric banjo" even though most of our songs are under four minutes long," says deBary. "Also, Ianâs style is sometimes too âun-banjoâ for the Bluegrass purists and too pop-fusion jammy for the âIndie Rockersâ. So itâs taken some time to find our niche."

But the band members donât like to spend too much time categorizing their music â they prefer to just play it. The inherent challenges of a stripped down format have been the catalyst for the bandâs rapid musical growth. As sparse arrangements propelled deBaryâs songwriting to the next level, Ian Knox further developed his truly unique approach to the banjo. Citing âThe Joshua Treeâ-era Edge and âExperienceâ- era Hendrix as big influences in finding his own sound, Ianâs style of creating âsoundscapesâ via the instrument continues to amaze people at every show. Meanwhile, the groove is held firmly in place by the rock solid rhythm section of Jake Brook (drums) and Grafton Pease (bass).

In 2004, ONESIDE started taking to the road and bringing their music out to a broader crowd. âWhen weâd play out of town, we sometimes wouldnât play to as many people, but theyâd all buy a CD and ask us to sign itâ¦so weâve discovered consistent enthusiasm in those who do connect with our music,â says deBary. âWeâve also found fans at high schools and colleges â really enthusiastic ones. These kids are open to something really differentâ¦they seem downright hungry for it.â

The bandâs genre-infusing sound allows ONESIDE to comfortably fit onto bills with a range of different sounding bands. ONESIDE has already successfully shared the stage with such a variety of bands as southern rockers Lucero, NYC pop band The Damnwells, and newgrass sensation Railroad Earth. In August 2006, ONESIDE released a self-titled eP, featuring advance tracks from the bandâs forthcoming debut full-length release (planned for 2007).


QUOTES

"Could ONESIDE be the first modern rock band to discover how catchy the sound of a banjo can be in a pop song? If this doesn't make them distinctive, then their inherent intelligence does. Smart stuff, fresh on the ears."
-Buzz McClain (Washington Post, No Depression)

âONESIDEâs got some good hook-filled songs and they keep their playing tightâ¦this quartet promises much.â
-Mick Skidmore (KyndMusic.com)

ââVibrantâ is the first word that came to mind when I listened to Oneside. Words that followed were âmelodicâ, ârootsyâ, âsmartâ and âprogressiveâ. Oh, and can I make up a word? OK, then, âbanjoadelicâ. DeBary's vocals get it done quite well along with the electric and acoustic banjo played by Knox. There's a time and place for banjos, and Oneside has chosen well. Knox plays at a sometimes frantic pace, and I for one dig it.â
-Aimsel Ponti (Portland Press Herald)

âWith precise musicianship, tight harmonies, and enough energy to forget it was a Wednesday night, this quintet tore through their original material with confidence and attitude that belied their youth. These guys should be around for a while and are sure to turn some heads.â
-Northeast Performer

âTheir sound is rich and unique.â
-Insite Magazine