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Acoustic Syndicate | 1.17.04 | Cat's Cradle | Carrboro, NC
Acoustic Syndicate is the story of the McMurry family. Brothers Bryon and Fitz, along with their cousin Steve (aka "Big Daddy"), formed the band in 1992 in the high mountain town of Boone, North Carolina. Their modern take on traditional bluegrass and rock values culminates in a glimmering, driving sound rich with acoustic textures and glowing vocals. Touches of jazz, world, folk, reggae, and more make their way through the fabric of the music. Years of touring, four studio albums, and a performance at the inaugural Bonnaroo festival in 2002 helped install them on the national radar. Their show at Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC spanned across the globe, from bluegrass ballads and incendiary instrumentals to soulful singing and high harmonies. If Bill Monroe was into Funkadelic, he might sound something like Acoustic Syndicate.
Steve is the front man for the band, playing acoustic guitar and handling most of the lead vocals. His guitar playing ranges from delicious ringing chords to frantic solos at high speed, while his voice booms out in a deep soulful tone. Bryon's banjo is alternately progressive and old-timey as he tears through the five-string with full force. Fitz holds down the rhythm, rolling and tumbling through the drum set as Jay Sanders' acoustic and electric basses glide through the music. Saxophonist Jeremy Saunders, fresh off assignment playing official White House functions as a member of the elite Marine Corps Band, is the Syndicate's secret weapon. An "unofficial fifth member" for years while serving in the Marines, he's now touring with the band full time. Saunders' singular saxophone sound flutters in waves above the music, hitting the right technique to enhance any genre they drift upon.
Carrboro is right next door to Chapel Hill, and even at a bluegrass jam band concert this is still a basketball town. Earlier in the evening the beloved North Carolina Tar Heels had defeated #1 ranked Connecticut. So when Steve jokingly asked the crowd "Was there a ballgame today?" the entire club erupted in cheers. Jeremy then made his way to the mic to further the frenzy. "Who'd you beat?" he asked. "Connecticut!" the crowd roared. "And what place were they in?" "Number One!" "And who's number one now?" Uh oh. Big mistake. You see, when the Tar Heels knocked Connecticut out of first place, the new #1 became cross-town super-arch-rival Duke, from neighboring Durham. Jeremy had dared to point out the irony of the situation, and the crowd kiddingly started to boo and jeer. Steve tried damage control, teasingly saying "Maybe he shouldn't have said that so early in the show" before Jeremy saved the day by proclaiming proudly "I'm a Carolina fan, always!" The crowd once again burst into screaming approval, and all was again well at Cat's Cradle.
Steve's furious guitar soloing and Bryon's manic banjo excursions lit up "Problems of My Own" before the band laid into their triple-time version of Neil Young's "Powderfinger." "Rainbow Rollercoaster" featured Fitz flying on frenetic high hat while Jeremy's sax soared and sang in between the rhythm. They settled into a tasty groove as Jay switched to electric bass mid-song. The happy Caribbean crackle contrasted with their Appalachian snap as the front row sang along to the island melodies. Bryon broke out his shimmering psychedelic science-fiction effects-laden banjo, featuring fractal colors beaming out from its body while warbled audio tones bloomed through the speakers.
Jeremy spawned a sax spectacle in "Believe" before things took a turn for the personal. Hanging behind the band all night was a huge banner reading "Hurry Back Josh." Jeremy explained that his little brother had just gotten called over to Iraq for an 18-month tour. Promising to send him a CD of the show, he snapped a picture of the crowd and then led everyone in yelling "Hurry Back Josh!" Jay's funky bass led into the next track, with Jeremy and Steve both taking massive solos, and Bryon triggering a heavy guitar effect on his banjo for maximum metallic energy. Jay's bass solo and a long intense sax solo lit up a Bob Marley cover before drifting on to "Veggie Burrito."
Their encore concluded with a blistering version of The Who's "Baba O'Riley." The timeless opening notes were covered by the banjo as the band stomped and roared through an intense version of the rock classic, hitting huge changes hard and leaving the audience amazed at the end. Coming from some of the same mountains that created bluegrass, they'd succeeded yet again at bridging the gap between the tastefulness of yesteryear and the energy of today. They're hitting the road again soon, so visit www.acousticsyndicate.com
for tour dates and sound samples. Check out the sound that's bursting from the mountaintops and floating into the valleys below.
Words by: Paul Kerr
Images by: Todd E. Gaul
JamBase | North Carolina
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