Big Blue Spruce

Artist Information

Biography

Philadelphia's Big Blue Spruce combines rootsy-folk inspired harmonies and jam band instrumentation with a southern rock aesthetic.The band formed in 2009 as a trio then added their pianist in early 2010. The quartet has been playing for less than a year but you wouldn’t know that from their live performance! The band released their debut LP entitled “Short Story Long” to a sold-out crowd at World Café Live this past September and recently signed to Toil Records.

Accomplishments:
-Sold Out World Cafe Live in Philadelphia (201 tickets sold)
-Selected to Showcase @ MMC15 (Millennium Music Conference 2011)
-Selected for 2010 Philadelphia Film & Music Festival
-Selected for 2011 David vs. Goliath Music Festival in NYC
-Signed by Toil Records (2010)
-Endorsed by Knucklehead Strings

Instrumentation

Paul Miller - Guitar
Dan Park - Drums, Percussion
Sheila Hershey - Piano, organ, Cello
Will Moreschi - Bass

Discography

Short Story Long - LP 9/17/10
Seeds - EP 3/1/10

Official Website

http://www.bigbluespruce.com

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• Twitter
• Record Label: Toil Records

Audio

• As Hell
  Listen  
• Only Break
  Listen  
• All Away
  Listen  
• When It Dies
  Listen  
• Season Jam -> On Her Dime (128)
  Listen  

Lyrics

• All Away
• When It Dies
• Show Your Face

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• “As Hell,” may be my favorite on the album because it reminds me of “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands” by Band of Horses. The nearly 7-minute song is also the best example of their “rootsy-folk harmonies” and “jam band instrumentation.” [+ Show ]
  

  “As Hell,” may be my favorite on the album because it reminds me of “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands” by B...“As Hell,” may be my favorite on the album because it reminds me of “Cigarettes, Wedding Bands” by Band of Horses. The nearly 7-minute song is also the best example of their “rootsy-folk harmonies” and “jam band instrumentation.”

• "Short Story Long" Album Review by theswollenfox.com [+ Show ]
  

  “Philadelphia’s Big Blue Spruce combines rootsy-folk inspired harmonies and jam band instrumentation...“Philadelphia’s Big Blue Spruce combines rootsy-folk inspired harmonies and jam band instrumentation with a southern rock aesthetic.” It can’t really be explained much better in a single sentence. That quote is straight from the band’s bio section on their website, and hits the nail on the head better than I can… but I’ll try to add to it, just in case you’re bored.
  
  The debut album isn’t exactly long, like its title may suggest, coming in with only 8 songs at just over 35 minutes, but these days that’s not all that short. The album begins with “All Away,” which instantly gives you a pretty good idea of those harmonies and jam band instrumentation you’ll hear throughout the album. “When It Dies” follows and throws in some of that “southern rock aesthetic” their bio talks about.
  
  My favorite portion of the album comes from the last 2 songs, starting with “Only Break.” The song is a bit out of the band’s character, as it is a quieter acoustic piece, but has some very strong lead vocals and harmonizing. The following song, “As Hell,” may be my favorite on the album mainly because part of it reminds me of “Cigaretts, Wedding Bands” by Band of Horses. The nearly 7-minute song is also the best example of their “rootsy-folk harmonies” and “jam band instrumentation.”
  
  ———————————————————————————————————-
  Short Story Long, the band’s debut LP, was produced by David Park (Kurt Vile, Divine Loraine) and will be officially released by Toil Records this Friday, January 21st. Big Blue Spruce will celebrate with an album release show at the Hard Rock Cafe on Market Street. The cover is $5 and the show starts at 10 P.M. and will also include a headlining set by Jersey’s Desoto Jones. All the info can be found here.
  
  Every day this week BBS will be giving away a free download of a song from Short Story Long. Yesterday’s download was “The Hands.” Right now you can grab “Karma” at their website.
  
  They will also headline the Toil Records Showcase @ The Grape Room on February 20th. Cover price is to be announced, show starts at 7 P.M. 21 and over only. Details here.

• "Don’t let this indie folk rock fool you. You’re not going to bang your head ‘til your eyes bleed, but you will rock your body. It’s like eating really delicious health food. You’ll leave satisfied, but still have your self-respect." [+ Show ]
  

  "Don’t let this indie folk rock fool you. You’re not going to bang your head ‘til your eyes bleed, b..."Don’t let this indie folk rock fool you. You’re not going to bang your head ‘til your eyes bleed, but you will rock your body. It’s like eating really delicious health food. You’ll leave satisfied, but still have your self-respect." November 08, 2010

• "The best aspect of BBS is their vocal layering and harmonies. If you didn’t tell me I was listening to a local group, I would have bet dollars to donuts that this was Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It is uncanny how much some of the vocals come off so tight and polished." [+ Show ]
  

  "The best aspect of BBS is their vocal layering and harmonies. If you didn’t tell me I was listenin..."The best aspect of BBS is their vocal layering and harmonies. If you didn’t tell me I was listening to a local group, I would have bet dollars to donuts that this was Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. It is uncanny how much some of the vocals come off so tight and polished."

• If I had to pick one criticism of the band, it would be the fact that they aren’t playing closer to me tonight so I could go see them. [+ Show ]
  

  "If I had to pick one criticism of the band, it would be the fact that they aren’t playing closer to..."If I had to pick one criticism of the band, it would be the fact that they aren’t playing closer to me tonight so I could go see them."

• "Big Blue Spruce is unlike anything I’ve ever heard before. And that’s saying something!"
  

  - Marguerite Kranick, Bits & Watts (Mar 10, 2010)

• "The first thought I had when I heard this trio harmonize together was POCO or maybe Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young. They really are that good. Those references cannot be ignored!"
  

  - Rod Ames, ReviewYou (Nov 22, 2009)

• "There is most definitely chemistry within this trio and when you listen to them it becomes quite obvious they were meant to sing and play music together"
  

  - Rod Ames, ReviewYou (Nov 22, 2009)

• "They achieved a goal that should be the goal of every recording artist. That goal is leaving the listener hungry for more. Mission accomplished."
  

  - Rod Ames, ReviewYou (Nov 22, 2009)

• "I’d say they nailed that haunting, mellow vibe that Floyd fans eat up...it’s like music from another time."
  

  - Marguerite Kranick, Bits & Watts (Mar 10, 2010)

• "It's been said that some bands have a unique sound, is it really true in this case? Ms. Kranick came clean & admits she couldn't find a "sounds like" for em."
  

  - Ben Dickinson, Bits & Watts (Mar 10, 2010)

Setlist

Originals:
All Away
Show Your Face
When It Dies
High Life
Just Go
Not This Time
Back Alley
The Hands
Another Day
Only Break
The Queen
On Her Dime
As Hell
Cutting Your Teeth

All Original Sets Range from 45 minutes to 90 minutes

Covers by Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Neil Young, Meat Puppets, Marc Ford

Basic Requirements

Calendar