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Drew Emmitt (Vocals, Mandolin)
Vince Herman (Vocals, Acoustic Guitar)
Bill McKay (Hammond Organ, Piano, Vocals)
Greg Garrison (Bass)
Noam Pikelny (Banjo)
Jeff Sipe (Drummer)
The sound of Colorado’s legendary
Leftover Salmon is unmistakable: fluid, loose-limbed,
and simultaneously rootsy and daring. Fusing an
unrivaled improvisational fervor to a dizzying
combination of bluegrass, Cajun, funk, Southern
rock, boogie, Caribbean, Latin, and jazz influences,
Leftover Salmon has earned a legion of diehard
fans, critical accolades, and a reputation as
one of the most exciting, engaging concert experiences
to ever hit the road.
The origins of Leftover Salmon
are as intriguing as their name. The group was
born in Boulder, Colorado in 1989, as the result
of a merger between Vince Herman (from Cajun/Calypso/jugband
The Salmonheads) and Drew Emmitt and Mark Vann
(of progressive bluegrass Left Hand String Band.)
Leftover self-released their first
album, Bridges to Bert in 1992 and the live Ask
the Fish in 1995. They were then signed to Hollywood
records, who released Euphoria in 1997 and the
widely-heralded Nashville Sessions in 1999. The
recording of The Nashville Sessions was a star
studded affair that paired Leftover with an A-list
of Nashville’s most notable session players,
including Jerry Douglas, Sam Bush, Bela Fleck,
Reese Wynans, John Cowan, and Sally Van Meter.
Country legends Earl Scruggs, Waylon Jennings
and Lucinda Williams also contributed, as did
many of the bands friends from the road, including
Blues Traveler’s John Popper, John Bell
from Widespread Panic and Big Head Todd’s
Todd Park Mohr.
In 2002, Leftover Salmon signed
with Compass Records label and released Live (pronounced
“liv”), a live album designed in tribute
to the late Mark Vann. Vann urged the band to
continue after being diagnosed with melanoma,
and since his untimely passing in spring of 2002,
they continued to tour relentlessly, playing countless
clubs, theatres and appearing at every festival
known to mankind, wowing their audiences with
their crazy antics and powerful musical mélange.
2003 saw the band take part in
a critically acclaimed tour with bluegrass giants
the Del McCoury Band and released an album with
the rock band Cracker titled O' Cracker Where
Art Thou?, release on David Lowey’s Pitch
A Tent label. Similarly, the band can play both
folk and rock festivals, and they’ve performed
in elegant theaters and in grungy rock clubs.
Leftover Salmon is the rare band with a broad
enough sound and a large enough repertoire to
shape its set list to fit any crowd and any venue.
2004 brought a new studio album
self titled Leftover Salmon released on Compendia
Records. For this album, the band broke its pattern
of inviting scores of musical guests to participate.
This time, Leftover Salmon decided to focus on
their own special ensemble play. The only instrumental
guest was the producer Bill Payne of Little Feat,
who adds a spicy piano track to “Whispering
Waters”. “How could you have Bill
Payne in the studio and pass up the chance to
get him to play on your record,” Vince Herman
points out. Singer K.C. Groves adds harmony on
“Woody Guthrie,” but otherwise the
band goes it alone.
The end of 2004 also brought an
end to Leftover Salmon. A statement was posted
to the bands website on 6/15/2004 that read:
We are aware of the rumors that have been circulating
over the past few weeks and would like to let
everyone know what's going on so there is no confusion.
The band is indeed going to take a break at the
end of this year. After years of touring everyone
is ready for some time off to spend with their
families and to pursue solo projects that Salmon's
busy schedule has not permitted. As of right now
the future of Leftover Salmon is uncertain but
the band is not breaking up, just taking a break.
Mark wanted us to continue after he left the band
and that's what we did. We have toured just as
hard, rebuilt the band and put out a new record.
Now we feel that we can take a break without letting
him down.
We're all very proud of our latest release, Leftover
Salmon, and after experiencing so many ups and
downs, it feels right to step back while on this
high. We want to thank the Salmon family, our
friends, and especially our fans as this dream
would have never come true if it wasn't for you.
We look forward to seeing your faces as we continue
to perform in various projects and hope you will
all support our decisions and future ventures.
This band has created a lifetime of memories for
us and that is something that can never go away.
The Festivaaal will go on.
We will be performing several shows and festivals
throughout the summer and play our 3rd annual
Halloween celebration at the Fillmore Auditorium
in Denver on Saturday October 30th this year.
After that, the final show will be New Year's
Eve, which marks 15 years to the date of the first
Leftover Salmon performance. We are excited to
reach such a milestone and hope all who can, will
join us this New Year's. Check our web site for
details-to-come.
On the early morning hours of January
1st 2005 the band left the stage at the Fox Theatre
in Boulder Colorado leaving behind them the band
Leftover Salmon which had been apart of their
lives and so many fans for the past 15 years.
2007, 27 months after it’s
last performance a press release from the band
stated that it would return that summer for a
handful of reunion shows. The line up was that
same as it was when it ended in 2004 with the
exception of Jeff Sipe. Jeff who was the bands
long time drummer had left in 2000 to pursue other
career options. Jeff rounded out the line up that
would perform a few summer festivals and grace
the stage of the bands famous home state venue
Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The first unofficial performance
took place at the Telluride Bluegrass festival
on June 24 billed as Drew Emmitt, Vince Herman
and Friends.
www.leftoversalmon.com/salmon/HistoryandBios
Leftover
Salmon - The Very End
http://www.leftoversalmon.com/salmon/LaunchMusicPlayer/tabid/68/Default.aspx
http://www.leftoversalmon.com
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