Puzzleroot

Artist Information

Biography

Puzzleroot is an eclectic, genre-bending and blending band from Vancouver Island. They have been labeled roots, altfolk, altcountry, bluegrass, and punkgrass. Drawing on primarily original material, this band encompasses adept vocal harmonies, with poetic and yet, often humourous and insightful lyrics. From gorgeous vocal harmonies to foot-stomping fun, this band includes slide banjo and country picking at its best.

Puzzleroot is releasing their 2nd CD in Spring 2012 and embarking on their debut tour of Europe in May 2012. Their first CD was released in late 2009 and has not only received airplay on CBC, Village 900, CHLY, CJSF, CIUT, CiTR and CFUV, but has already hit the charts on CFUV, CJSF, CIUT and CHLY. It has also garnered positive reviews from the media, musicians, and fans. Puzzleroot has performed at music festivals, house concerts, open air farmer and craft markets, bars, pubs, coffeehouses, fundraisers, and even illegally - on pirate radio. A versatile band, Puzzleroot is right at home on a festival stage, at a large urban venue, or in your living room. They have shared bills with many talented performers, including David Essig and Rick Scott, Annabelle Chvostek, Annie Lou, The Fugitives, Linda McRae, the Lonesome Valley Singers, David P Smith and Ben Sures.

Band Members:
Gary Eugene (guitar, vocals) is the primary songwriter and has been a songwriter for over 20 years. He easily moves across musical genres, having been part of punk (Mickey Christ, Remanes), rock (96 Tears), altcountry (The Hardluck Angels), and folk bands throughout his life. He is a versatile musician and a powerful player. He writes with a dry wit and powerful social commentary. Clever and poetic lyrics are matched with melodic compositions that range from foot-stomping fun to hauntingly beautiful tunes that don’t easily escape the mind. He has a wide vocal range to complement his playing, able to belt out a raucous line or reach that sweet harmony note.

Marian van der Zon (banjo, slide guitar & slide banjo, vocals) is a mostly self-taught musician who has developed her own style on the 5-string banjo. This innovator is experimental in her playing (perhaps due in part to a background in sound art) and incorporates extensive slide banjo into her playing. Her picking and slide have been inspired by the early slide banjo work of 1920’s and 1930’s blues players, and yet mixed with a contemporary feel that allows her to provide sparse melody lines or slide into a punk tune. She has a wide vocal range to complement her playing, a voice that is distinctive and memorable.

Shelley Brown joins Puzzleroot on upright bass and vocals. Shelley is a strong and versatile player, well known across Vancouver Island. She has played with numerous bands including, David Essig and Rick Scott, Tuber, The Flying Accusations, and Wise Acre. She has joined many more bands in the recording studio, and is an absolute pleasure to have on board. She gives Puzzleroot the third harmony and keeps things grounded.

Instrumentation

Gary Eugene - Vocals, Guitar
Marian van der Zon - Banjo, Vocals, slide guitar, Slide Banjo
Shelley Brown - Vocals, Upright Bass

Discography

Puzzleroot has hit the charts on Toronto's, CIUT 89.5FM, Vancouver's CJSF 90.1 FM, Victoria's CFUV 101.9FM, Nanaimo's CHLY 101.7FM and have regular play on Village 900 and CBC Radio 3. They have shared bills with many talented performers, including David Essig and Rick Scott, Annabelle Chvostek, Annie Lou, The Fugitives, Linda McRae, Pharis Romero’s Old Time Vocal Choir, Ben Sures, David P Smith and the Lonesome Valley Singers.


Discography

Puzzleroot: Farewell to Gerald Fitzella (2009)

Gary Eugene: guitar, vocals
Marian van der Zon: banjo, slide guitar & banjo, vocals
Dan Fehr: upright bass
Andy Graffiti: drums, percussion
And special guests Patrick M’Gonigle: violin, J. Douglas Dodd: keyboards, Zak Cohen: electric guitar

Produced by: Gary Eugene & Marian van der Zon, Zak Cohen of Woodshop Recording Studio

Available for purchase at: CD Baby

Tracks:

1. Book of Ghosts: dark folk, hints of klezmer & gypsy, metaphysical, driving, upbeat
2. They: blues swing, upbeat
3. From the Sweetness: traditional, vocal harmonies
4. Metal and Bone: traditional, vocal harmonies
5. Blink of Death: philosophical death ballad, folk, beautiful
6. Hail to the Creep slide banjo funk, political commentary
7. Possibilities: upbeat, altcountry, traditional, twangy
8. Country Spiders: dancefloor barnburner, traditional
9. Where is my Mind? altfolk, Pixies cover
10. One Eye folk, sweet ballad
11. Gliding: folk, sweet, melodic vocal harmonies
12. Wall Mart: funky, political commentary
13. Back to the Very Start: edgy dissonant love song
14. Birthday: celebratory & wacky



-- All songs by Gary Eugene except
Track 9 (Charles Thompson, The Pixies) and
Track 10 (Marian van der Zon)


“It’s not puzzling to understand the appeal of Puzzleroot. Instrumentally perfect, fabulous vocals and an eclectic sound for any format,”
-Brad Edwards, Music Director, CKMO, Village 900

"Puzzleroot brings to the table an eclectic flavor in both song selection and performance styling. Their harmonies are spot on and their playing compliments their songs like adding nutmeg to hot chocolate. Yummy stuff!"
-Robert McCourty, Artistic Director, Islands Folk Festival

“The coming-out party for local roots act Puzzleroot will be distinguished by expert, exciting musicianship and its stellar cover of the Pixies' Where Is My Mind?, which should become a staple of the band's repertoire for years to come.”
-Mike Devlin, Times Colonist

“Ghosts in a West Virginia coalmine kidnap the acoustic love children of The Pixies. Haunting, spirited and fun, Puzzleroot's Farewell to Gerald Fitzella, is a weird and wonderful melding of crunchy metallic sounds, string and song: dark and metaphysical in one moment, burning the barn in the next.”
-Annabelle Chvostek

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace
• CBC Radio 3
• ReverbNation
• CD Baby

Audio

• Book Of Ghosts
  Listen   Download
• They
  Listen   Download
• Metal And Bone
  Listen   Download
• Country Spiders
  Listen   Download
• Where Is My Mind?
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Book of Ghosts
• They
• Metal and Bone
• Country Spiders
• Where is my Mind? (cover)

Video

Puzzleroot Port Theatre 4 Song Medley.mov

Photo Gallery

Press

• Puzzleroot Review [+ Show ]
  

  “It’s not puzzling to understand the appeal of Puzzleroot. Instrumentally perfect, fabulous vocals a...“It’s not puzzling to understand the appeal of Puzzleroot. Instrumentally perfect, fabulous vocals and an eclectic sound for any format. Another example of the rich, culturally diverse and artistic sounds from the deep talent pool of Victoria, BC.”
  Brad Edwards, Music Director CKMO Radio, Village 900

• Puzzleroot Review, Music Festival [+ Show ]
  

  "Puzzleroot brings to the table an eclectic flavor in both song selection and performance styling. T..."Puzzleroot brings to the table an eclectic flavor in both song selection and performance styling. Their harmonies are spot on and their playing compliments their songs like adding nutmeg to hot chocolate. Yummy stuff!"
  Robert McCourty, Artistic Director, Islands Folk Festival
  

• Critics' Picks [+ Show ]
  

  "The coming-out party for local roots act Puzzleroot will be distinguished by expert, exciting music..."The coming-out party for local roots act Puzzleroot will be distinguished by expert, exciting musicianship and its stellar cover of the Pixies' Where Is My Mind?, which should become a staple of the band's repertoire for years to come."
  Mike Devlin, Times Colonist
  

• Music Reviews [+ Show ]
  

  "Farewell to Gerald Fitzella is an innovative folk/bluegrass leaning offering , that has an infectio..."Farewell to Gerald Fitzella is an innovative folk/bluegrass leaning offering , that has an infectious, rootsy, upbeat bounce that a listener will revisit time and time again. This independent release wraps you up in its carnivalesque air and fights to keep you there.
  John Roman, Gabriola Radio
  
  Singer/Songwriter Gary Eugene’s vocal delivery sounds effortlessly authentic and the relaxed harmonization with Marian van der Zon can only be struck in the tightest of groups. Applause is also warranted for Marian’s solo lead and intermittent scat vocals sprinkled throughout the disc. Her progressive five string slide banjo and guitar vibrato contribution to the groups voice I must label as unique and dissimilar to any groups I’ve tried to compare.
  
  Songs that shine like, From the Sweetness, They and Book of Ghosts hit me for their lyrical bends, twists, and puzzles; as did, the thought wrenching five minute, Blink of Death track. Country Spiders, Wall Mart and Birthday deliver comedic and/or social commentary interludes that are part and parcel to the carnival mystique. The only copy tune is a flattering rendition of the Pixies, Where Is My Mind? which previously served as the closing theme song in the hit movie, Fight Club.
  
  Have a listen and you’ll be asking, as I did: Is this Really a Debut Album?"
  

• Puzzleroot Review [+ Show ]
  

  "Punk rock moved to the country and bought a farm. And life is good on the farm. Puzzleroot live up ..."Punk rock moved to the country and bought a farm. And life is good on the farm. Puzzleroot live up to their name, blending a broad range of musical genres like folk, alt-country and indie rock with strong social commentary and witty storytelling. And it all melds together nicely on ‘Farewell to Gerald Fitzella’, their debut album. It will leave you stomping your foot and singing along to their tales of love, politics, and protest. But don’t let the anarchy of it all fool you, this album is fun, and Puzzleroot want you to have a good time. A strong debut from a charming West Coast band."
  Nicole Green, Producer, MuchMusic

• This is smart, witty and off-kilter roots music [+ Show ]
  

  "This is smart, witty and off-kilter roots music. Primarily a trio of guitar, banjo and upright bass..."This is smart, witty and off-kilter roots music. Primarily a trio of guitar, banjo and upright bass, Puzzleroot sound like Pixies on a relaxing summer retreat and evoke memories of cult acts like Colorblind James Experience."
  - The Gilded Palace of Sin, Totally Radio (Brighton UK)

Setlist

Puzzleroot Set List: Sample

1. LA de da (original)
2. POSSIBILITIES (original)
3. BOOK OF GHOSTS (original)
4. CLAP HAND (cover: Tom Waits)
5. BLINK OF DEATH (original)
6. ONE EYE (original)
7. WHERE IS MYMIND? (cover: The Pixies)
8. METAL & BONE (original)
9. BACK DIRT ROAD (cover: Oh Susannah)
10. STRUGGLE FACTORY (original)
11. COUNTRY SPIDERS (original)
12. GO DOWN MATTHEW (cover: Melissa MeCleland)
13. WAGON WHEEL (cover: Old Crow Medicine Show)

14. TIN CAN (original)
15. ½ A DOZEN DECADES (original)
16. FROM THE SWEETNESS (original)
17. I PROMISE (cover: When in Rome)
18. GLIDING (original)
19. THEY (original)
20. CACTUS (cover: The Pixies)
21. HISTORY (original)
22. MISS OHIO (cover: Gillian Welch)
23. SAVE YOURSELF (original)
24. L&N (cover: Michelle Shocked)
25. ATHIEST FISH (original)
26. FOLSOM PRISON (cover: Johnny Cash)
27. BIRTHDAY (original)
28. ONCE THERE WAS A TIME (cover: Ten Years After)

Basic Requirements

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