Milagro Saints

Artist Information

Biography

Cosmic, literate roots rock, with poetic songwriting and passionate performance - the Milagro Saints brew soulful Americana with melodies reminiscent of The Band, lyrics in the heritage of Dylan or Neil Young and the passion for performance of the Dead or Panic. The literate interests and songwriting of the band were honored when they were asked to play in Jack Kerouac's hometown of Lowell, Massachusetts to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the release of 'On The Road'.

Frontman and primary songwriter for the Milagro Saints is Englishman Stephen Ineson, who originally came to the U.S. for a national tour with TVT recording artists The Jack Rubies. He met Lee Kirby and Joyce Bowden (Casual Gods and tours or recording with Ramones, Tom Tom Club and David Byrne) in New York City where they formed the Milagro Saints in 1995. The band moved to North Carolina when they signed to Mood Food Records who had released Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown debut "Faithless Street"

New England columnist Seth Rogovoy, ('The Beat', 'Berkshire Living Magazine') has characterized the sound of the band as "a timeless fusion of folk and soul music reminiscent of The Band but with distinctive touches all its own."

Rob Forbes (of U.K. online mag Leicester Bangs) described the latest cd as "Pure Cosmic Country Rock" Peter J. Brown of the influential online music review site based in England "Toxic Pete" , wrote of the new release "Stunningly performed and seriously contagious" and AMERICANA U.K. described the album as a "grower, Like ivy, it sits there in the background growing all over you and taking on a life all of its own."

Back in the U.S.A. other folks have proclaimed the music as:

"Raising the standard of modern folk rock"
-The Independent

"striking a note of majesty"
David Menconi
News & Observer, Raleigh NC
and "No Depression" contributor

"Sweet Rugged Folk"
The Tulsa World

Instrumentation

SD Ineson lead vocals guitars
Lee Kirby on hammond and other keys
Ed Root on drums and background vocals
Roberto Morales on electric guitars and mandolin
Smitty on lap steel
David Kaminski on bass
Guest Musicians include Joyce Bowden on vocals and clarinet, Kevin Bobal on Yidaki (Didjeridoo), Karen Delahunty on vocals and Richard Bowden on fiddle

Discography

Milagro Saints (Mood Food Records) 1998
Midnight America (Moon Caravan Records) 2001
Sunday (Moon Caravan Records) 2003
Let It Rain (Moon Caravan Records) 2006
Warm Soul Sunshine (Moon Caravan Records)2008
Blue Halo Valentine (Moon Caravan Records) 2009
Songs on the Live Wire (Moon Caravan Records) 2009
Chance & Circumstance (Moon Caravan Records) 2012

Official Website

http://www.milagrosaints.com

Links

• MySpace
• Last.fm
• Facebook
• Twitter

Audio

Video

It Takes A Train (05/01/10)

Photo Gallery

Press

• instantly memorable tracks - 5 STARS [+ Show ]
  

  A congenial jam-band vibe and the warm-spirited songs of guitarist/vocalist S.D. Ineson make for a s...A congenial jam-band vibe and the warm-spirited songs of guitarist/vocalist S.D. Ineson make for a set that grabs the ear quickly and serves up some instantly memorable tracks. Ineson's unassuming but always-attractive melodies are buoyed by the Saints richly textured, broad and breezy grooves; the band's three fret-board players meshing masterfully with keyboardist Lee Kirby. The chorus hooks of Gonna Rain Again and These Things "About You" are about as radio-friendly as they get but this is definitely a disc where each song is attention-worthy. 5 STARS

• Strong Melodies [+ Show ]
  

  "With careful textures and strong melodies, the songs certainly stick on Chance & Circumstance"…envi..."With careful textures and strong melodies, the songs certainly stick on Chance & Circumstance"…environmental call to action "Don't Give It Up" deserves its seven minutes. This activist epic is built on a masterfully solid groove"
  

• Heartfelt, Funky and a little Trippy [+ Show ]
  

  “Heartfelt, funky, and just a little bit trippy in the spirit of Donna The Buffalo. That’s how I’d...“Heartfelt, funky, and just a little bit trippy in the spirit of
  Donna The Buffalo. That’s how I’d describe the
  Milagro Saints’ latest release, “Chance & Circumstance”.
  These veterans of the roots music scene have transcended
  the alt.country crowd they sprang from into a band that
  creates Americana that’s deceptively modern. Whether it’s
  the mandolin riffs setting a easy going roll or a well timed
  accordion riff at just the right moment, they know how to
  pay homage to traditional music without being limited by it.”
  

• Album is a grower [+ Show ]
  

  "This album is a grower. Like ivy, it sits there in the background growing all over you and taking o..."This album is a grower. Like ivy, it sits there in the background growing all over you and taking on a life all of its own...There is some fine guitar playing here. The folk rock of ‘A Million Times’ introduces a searing lap steel courteousy of Smitty, and ‘Closer (one desire)’ drives along with a chugging acoustic. ‘Raphael Road’ indicates their ability to write catchy choruses and utilises Joyce Bowden’s melodic background vocals."

• Classic Americana [+ Show ]
  

  Our Rating: 7 out of 10 "This laid-back collective who revel in mid ‘60s and early ‘70s Americana...Our Rating: 7 out of 10
  "This laid-back collective who revel in mid ‘60s and early ‘70s Americana have a strange and fascinating range of musical backgrounds, ranging from involvement with TVT signings The Jack Rubies to immersion in the NY new wave scene and working with Joey Ramone and members of Talking Heads. While their backgrounds may not show through on this 12-track offering, their influences are clearly to the fore.
  
  It’s classic Americana all the way, down to the retro-looking cover art. Vocalist and guitarist SD Ineson’s Bob Dylan obsession (10 of the tracks were even recorded on Dylan’s birthday) is tempered by heavy hints of Neil Young, Van Morrison and The Band. Ineson also wants to draw attention to his appreciation of Jack Kerouac. When it comes to the Beats, I’m more of a fan of Burroughs and find Kerouac self-indulgent, disorganised and turgid. Thankfully, Ineson is more interested in Kerouac’s positivity, and as such the songs, which possess self-explanatory titles like ‘Come on Down,’ ‘Warm Soul Sunshine’ and ‘River of Love’ are concise, upbeat and gently melodic rather than sprawling and aimless.
  
  While I suspect that this kind of music makes more sense if one has at least experienced the America that isn’t so much a backdrop to these songs as the fabric from which they’re made, you have to give it to these guys for producing a record that’s unquestionably heartfelt and authentic. Actually, you also have to give these guys credit for producing a record: yes, in addition to the CD, there’s also a vinyl edition. And for that alone, they get my vote."
  author: Christopher Nosnibor

• Blissful & Exciting Sound [+ Show ]
  

  Milagro Saints are a five-piece folk rock outfit from Raleigh, North Carolina; their blend of sweet ...Milagro Saints are a five-piece folk rock outfit from Raleigh, North Carolina; their blend of sweet country folk put me straight away in mind of Grateful Dead, The Byrds and Neil Young.  Bright, contemporary and 'cultishly' commercial 'Warmsoulsunshine' is rich, warm, exciting and extremely fulfilling.
  
  
  Milagro Saints keep it cool and relaxed but manage to conjure up a real blissful and exciting sound that seamlessly blends all the subtle nuances of nu-country with all the graceful undercurrents of acoustic folk; theirs is a masterful variety of the form, lovingly conceived, stunningly performed and seriously contagious. Their respectful melding of acoustic and electric sounds is quite brilliant and sublime vocal harmonisation adds real depth and tenderness to the mix.   There are eleven great Milagro Saints originals here and one impressive cover of Van Morrison's 'And It Stoned Me' - bountiful indeed!!
  Milagro Saints also 'splice' in some really heavenly keyboard work that lifts and decorates the underlying instrumentation. Mixing old with new, traditional with contemporary, Milagro Saints have concocted a wonderfully vibrant but somehow mellow and expressive sound; layering fiddle onto organ, blending electric with acoustic guitars, carefully slotting in soaring lap steel and crying slide guitars, harmonica, clarinet, didjeridoo and much more, Milagro Saints fill the 'dynamics' pot to overflowing - but nothing spills out, nothing is wasted and not one instrument is even faintly superfluous to the requirements of the overall mix - totally spot-on!!
  Milagro Saints' 'Warmsoulsunshine' is modern country folk music at its absolute best; twelve brilliant tracks adding up to one mighty fine and very impressive album - brilliantly conceived, stunningly crafted, faultless execution, flawless production - altogether, a quite stunning album!!

• Pure Cosmic Country Rock [+ Show ]
  

  Milagro Saints mix up their folk, rock and country influences...with a lyrical emphasis on the ideal...Milagro Saints mix up their folk, rock and country influences...with a lyrical emphasis on the ideals of the '60's generation, and with plenty of hooks to
  hang the message on...The title track with its hammond and harmonies,
  is pure cosmic country rock.

• Acoustic Punch [+ Show ]
  

  "A constant feature of the songwriting is is a superb tuneful literacy" Philip Van Vleck (Feb 8, 2..."A constant feature of the songwriting is is a superb tuneful literacy"
  Philip Van Vleck (Feb 8, 2007)

• Soul Folk Pioneers [+ Show ]
  

  "Soul-folk pioneers Milagro Saints open and just might steal the show... Without Natalie Merchant ..."Soul-folk pioneers Milagro Saints open
  and just might steal the show...
  Without Natalie Merchant the 9,999
  Maniacs can't re-create the chemistry that once made this band tick."
  
  Christopher Treacy
  entertainment writer Boston Herald

• Majesty
  

  Milagro Saints strike a note of Majesty with "Child Of Peace" David Menconi (Dec 6, 2006)

• Breakthrough
  

  "A breakthrough group"

• Dylanesque
  

  "Dylanesque Populist grit & Van Morrisson-style urban soul" Seth Rogovoy-The Beat

• Rugged
  

  "Sweet Rugged Folk"

Setlist

2 hours of original material, improvisational breaks, and occasional covers by Dylan, Van Morrison, REM, Joe Cocker, Traffic, Neil Young, the Grateful Dead and others

Basic Requirements

Calendar