Gwyneth & Monko

SUPPORT
KLCC 89.7 FM - Eugene, OR
KDHX 88.1 FM - St. Louis, MO
Folk Radio UK - Internet Radio
CMT - "Found in Benson", Gwyneth + Monko 2011 - featured on their Spring 2011 Playlist
KBRP 96.1 FM - Bisbee, AZ
KRUX 91.5 FM - Las Cruces, NM
KXCI 91.3 FM - Tucson, AZ
KEOS 89.1 - Bryan, TX
WDVX 102.9 - Knoxville, TN
KXZI 101.9 FM "Montana Radio Cafe" - Creston MT
KDVS 90.3 - Davis, CA
KVMR 89.5 - Nevada City, CA
KFOK 95.1 - Georgetown, CA
KVDU - Denver, CO
KGNU 88.5/93.7 - Boulder/Denver/Nederland, CO
KJAG Radio - Salina, KS
KSAN 107.7 "The Bone" - San Francisco, CA
KZYX & Z 88.1/90.7/91.5 – Philo, CA
KOZT 95.3/95.9 – Fort Bragg, CA
KHUM 104.7 – Ferndale, CA
KMUD 91.1 – Garberville, CA
KNYO 107.7 – Fort Bragg, CA
KMFB 92.7/96.7– Fort Bragg, CA

IN-STUDIO PERFORMANCE / INTERVIEWS

KLCC 89.7 FM Living Large with host Eric Alan - Eugene, OR
11 O'clock Rock - Knoxville, TN
KRUX 91.5 FM on Seeds & Stems - Las Cruces, NM
KEOS 89.1 with Larry Boozer - Bryan, TX
NPR Feature - "Hey Ladies: Being a Woman Musician Today" featuring Gwyneth Moreland
KHUM 104.3/104.7 with Larry Trask - Ferndale, CA
KVMR 89.5 New Brick Road with Laurie DesJardins - Nevada City, CA
KEOS 89.1 with Stevo Schlemmer - Bryan, TX
WDVX 102.9 Blue Plate Special - Knoxville, TN
KHUM 104.3/104.7 with Mike Dronkers - Ferndale, CA
KXZI 101.9 Montana Radio Cafe with Scott Johnston - Creston, MT
KFOK 95.1 Jukebox Sparrows with Patrice Webb - Georgetown, CA
KDVS 90.3 Saturday Morning Folk Show with Bill Wagman - Davis, CA
KVMR 89.5 Backroads Radio with Larry Hillberg - Nevada City, CA
KJAG Radio with Jiggy Jaguar (Internet) - Salina, KS
KZYX&Z 88.1/90.7/91.5 with DJ Larry Hacken – Mendocino, CA
KZYX&Z 88.1/90.7/91.5 with Jimmy Humble – Philo, CA
KSAN 107.7 “The Bone” with Joe Rock – San Francisco, CA - Various

Sisters Folk Festival
Carter Ranch Music Festival
CasparFest
Wild Iris Folk Festival
Mendocino Music Festival
Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival
Mendocino Wine & Chocolate Festival
- Various

Musicians Gwyneth and Monko met in just 2009, when Gwyneth Moreland was looking for somebody to back her while she toured for her solo album. They quickly took to one another, finding a home in a rock sound with a rootsy, stripped down feel. So far their career as a duo has been overwhelmingly spent on the road, but it seems to work extremely well for them creatively. Their new, self-titled album was matured and perfected over months of touring to promote their debut EP.

In their music, Gwyneth and Michael Monko both reveal their individually Californian roots, reflecting a blend of American folk and bluegrass by way of rock. The tunes seem to follow an adapted formula of narrative not unlike one Bob Dylan found success with, and the pair says they have experimented and brought a more complex instrumentation to the album than was on their EP. In the midst of their constant stream of shows, Gwyneth & Monko took the time to answer some questions on their roots, their hopes, and their music’s role on the U.S. music scene.

Marie Meyers: How have you both grown through the search for the perfect musical partnership and have you surprised yourself in any partnerships along the way?
Gwyneth Moreland: We have both grown as musicians in the last few years just from the shear daily practice of being out on the road. We both have such different pasts in terms of our music, and I feel like we have really learned to meet in the middle and create a sound that features both of our influences equally. Monko has definitely helped me to feel free to get a little more gritty in both my singing and playing.

Michael Monko: My musical past included a lot of raucous and loud rock music, as I was a bassist for a heavy rock band in San Francisco. So this project is bit different. But, I think it’s more true to a style that I can immerse myself in. Working with Gwyneth is easy. We have a similar creative thought process and agree on most everything. I can feel free to bring anything to the table. The result is something that we are both proud of. Gwyneth’s talent is beyond any I ever thought I’d be involved in. I’m truly excited and honored to share in this with her.

There seems to be a resurgence of Americana music in recent years. Why do you think the music has been so successful in appealing to younger generations?
G.M.: I think the younger generation is seeking a link to a confusing and complicated history, and modern Americana music is a kind of link to the past that we can grasp onto. The lyrical themes of the old songs are still something we can identify with today: work, travel, love, betrayal, death and God. The Americana genre to me is an all-encompassing group of music that pulls from these age-old themes and with a lot of the same instrumentation of the old days gives us something fresh and somewhat dark. I know for me, there is something really appealing about this, and it feels good to keep the old tradition of American Roots music alive while putting our own twist on it.

M.M.: I agree with Gwyneth. I also believe that as technology progresses with MIDI and digital recording and electronic music (which I am fan of all those things) there is a desire to experience something more tangible. Real instruments played and expressed with real human qualities. Something that is embedded in those old songs. It’s like you can really feel the emotion more intimately. That’s how it is for me, anyway.

Are there any different types of projects you would like to try someday, either together or independently?
M.M.: I’d like to continue to evolve with this project. Gwyneth and I have a love for all types of music and I don’t think we purposefully confine ourselves to any particular genre. We just kind of do what comes out. I think our future projects will grow as we grow. Including different instruments or elements that capture our attention at the time.

Was there anything musically you were exposed to as kids that you only embraced once you developed musically?
M.M.: My father always played his polka and big band records when I was a kid. I liked the music, but didn’t understand it like I did rock. But as I grew older and started to play I became more interested. Classical, Big Band/swing – I love listening to all of it. Music is all good to me.

Are there any experiences you have both had had that made their way onto the album? Please give an example each.
G.M.: The first track “Found In Benson” is based on real experience we had last winter on the road in Omaha. There is a blooming artist community in Omaha in an old neighborhood called Benson that we have spent some time in. The song speaks for itself, and is a true story. Also, “Consumption” is a song I wrote about my grandfathers who both suffered from Tuberculosis (I never met either one of them).

M.M.: A very deeply moving song “Down” I think is something that both Gwyneth and I have experienced independently and can share in the emotion. The lyrics are dark, but they speak of a very powerful emotion that I think it is important to acknowledge. Depression is something that affects many, many people and it can feel overwhelming. I think, to be aware of what’s going on inside your mind is the best way out.

Which comes first, the lyrics or the melody?
G.M.: It really happens both ways.
M.M.: Agreed.

How has growing up in California contributed to your music?
G.M.: I grew up in a very musical family and a very artsy small town in Northern California where music and self-expression was always encouraged. I feel like growing up in this kind of environment really played a big part in getting me where I am today. My parents both moved here from other parts of the country, and I think that has also been a great influence on my music. I have always enjoyed hearing stories of the Midwest farm that my mother grew up in and the stories of a Northwest city from my father. California is a melting pot for sure, and I think that is a good place for art to bloom.
M.M.: California is so diverse with people, climate and geography that it’s hard not to be influenced by all of it.

If you both could play a “fantasy show” with any one musician, who would you pick?
G.M.: I have always dreamed of singing with Gillian Welch…
M.M.: Neil Young. Before I die, I hope.

What current music are you both listening to now? Any other up-and-coming artists?
G.M.: Laura Meyer’s new album “Been Here Before” is on repeat in my car player right now. She is an awesome blues guitar player and singer from New York that we have had the pleasure of playing with a few times around the country.
M.M: The Crooked Jades

What are your future goals for your next music project?
G.M.: I look forward to having a nice chunk of time blocked off from tour so that we can really explore the new songs we have been writing on the road.
M.M.: Yeah, a little more time to explore. But, there’s nothing like a deadline, right? - Jupiter Index: Rediscover Music - by Marie Meyers

"Americana fans, rejoice, because Gwyneth & Monko have arrived to provide us all with our fix! ... “Down” is an amazing example of their work, a slow-burning groove featuring some of the best mournful female vocals not to be prominently featured on a Rosanne Cash or Lucinda Williams album — and Monko’s guitar solo midway through the song’s seven minute length will hook you if the vocals haven’t"
- Hear, Hear! What Matters in the World of Popular Music | August 6, 2011

"Gwyneth & Monko ... kinda reminds me sometimes of Nanci Griffith's wonderful work of the late '80s -- if Nanci had been hanging out a lot with Lucinda Williams. Or maybe I should just say it's as if Lucinda Williams had Nanci Griffith's voice. Or something highly complimentary. Aw, hell. What I'm trying to say is this is good stuff."
- Revolution 21's Blog for the People, The Mighty Favog | February 15, 2011

"An album full of dark and beautiful songs that radiate with the fever of Appalachian folk tunes yet have the easy going attitude of West Coast rock. .... Together, the two present a real no-nonsense approach to playing Folk inspired music that strikes the right balance between rural roots and urban attitude."
- Tuneraker.com | February 11, 2011

"... Monko’s virtuoso guitar work lifts the tracks to a new level, especially on the slow-burning sorrow of “Down.”
- Paranoid_Humanoid | November 10, 2011 (Jeremy Lukens - Music critic for Glide Magazine)

"...a singer with a moving voice and an amazing musician in Michael Monko."
- Kevin Gustafson, Blogcritics

"Americana is alive and kicking, this is splendid, gentle, moving music from two very talented individuals (more please!)."
- Beehive Candy

"Complexity within simplicity. That's the recipe that drives Good Old Horse and makes it such an indispensable EP.... Don't be surprised if Gwyneth & Monko become darlings of the folk circuit over the next few years.
- Wildy's World, Blogspot

"...I found myself weak at the knees listening for the first time to the lovely song Pine Box Sailor."
- CALL IT FOLK: A Home for Good Songs and Ballads, Hosted by Tunesmith

"Lexington Ballad" .... showcases Monko's musicianship, as well as Moreland's flair for folk-style storytelling. Wielding his mandolin with a bold, yet gentle, force, Monko expertly weaves in and out of verses, intersecting with his partner in cascading spurts."
- Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority | Author: Nereida Fernandes

"Maybe roots music, in the context of Americana, has become an increasingly popular genre over the last 10 years because it has the ability to span across blues, country and rock-and-roll. And so someone who plays a little blues can also say they're "Americana" if they put a little twang into it. But there's not many who combine all the elements as fluently as Gwyneth Moreland.”
– Monica Stark, The Ukiah Daily Journal

"From out of the Northern California redwoods on the beautiful Mendocino Coast comes a talent so unique, it makes me want to shout it from the hilltops to the world-wide airwaves."
– DJ Larry Hacken, KZYX

"... Gwyn's smooth, angelic voice is mesmerizing."
- Stringband.com
(Foxglove: Foxglove, 2004 - review)

"Gwyneth Moreland has been a standout member of our musical communities for years but, with the release of Gwyn's first solo album "Wishbone", we get to share nuances, emotions and music only hinted at in the past. This one is deep and rich. Nice work!"
- Tom Yates, KOZT

"What strikes me about Gwyneth’s music is the breadth of styles, and the refreshing straightforwardness of her writing. She speaks her mind in her poetry, and is not afraid to set up a musical expectation that shifts gears in unexpected ways. She evokes the lurch of the tavern and the comfort of home with a playful and poignant lyricism wrapped in clear musical arrangements."
- David Remedios, Sound Designer and Composer, Boston MA


"Good taste would be worthless, ... without a great vocalist to voice these songs. With Gwyn Moreland, Foxglove has just such a stellar singer. Moreland sings these songs with tangible gentleness, but she’s also steadfastly purposeful at the same time."
- Dan Macintosh, Indie-Music.com
(Foxglove: Foxglove, 2004 - review)

- Various -

Americana fans, rejoice, because Gwyneth & Monko have arrived to provide us all with our fix! For fans of Emmylou Harris and Gillian Welch, this is music which is at once modern and original, while paying proper respect to the classics of the genre. Their self-titled debut has been out since February, the northern California duo sounds like they’ve been born and raised in the Tennessee hills. “Down” is an amazing example of their work, a slow-burning groove featuring some of the best mournful female vocals not to be prominently featured on a Rosanne Cash or Lucinda Williams album — and Monko’s guitar solo midway through the song’s seven minute length will hook you if the vocals haven’t. Download the song and then check out the full album — if you’re an Americana / folk / indie junkie you won’t be disappointed.

And if that’s not enough to stoke your musical addiction, check out the band’s live performance of “Wishbone” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=pTO-dFtO9MU - Hear, Hear! What Matters in the World of Popular Music

Excellent set of songs from North American new acoustic duo

Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko are a North American duo with Moreland providing the excellent vocals and Monko the intricate instrumentation and this release follows on from their first EP together Good Old Horse. There is a real earthy almost classic country style to Moreland's simple vocals which are backed with some clearly stated, simple and subtle acoustic guitar stylings of his own that provide a perfect backdrop that adds to the country feel.

We are told that the duo have converged from different musical bases - vocalist Moreland emerging from a pure country background which is clearly reflected in her vocal performance whilst Monko comes from a hard rock beginnings that have been transformed into a more folkier side and it seems that here they have come together in a perfect match to deliver a fine set of songs that I would heartily recommend. - Maverick Magazine | CD Reviews - The New Releases, June 2011 by Ian Grundy

Part of what makes traditional music relevant in this day and age is the content," says singer-songwriter Gwyneth Moreland, half of the indie-folk duo Gwyneth and Monko.

"This stuff still applies to our lives today, for the most part. What I love about American Appalachian music is that you can listen to it now, and it's not all sunshine-y and carefree. A lot of the times, the words and sentiments are dark, and characters are working hard to overcome obstacles, just like we are today."

All of this inspires Moreland and partner Michael Monko when they sit down to create their original blend of folk and country music with a contemporary, indie-rock sensibility.

Moreland says folk music is a tool for being present and aware of life and the world around us. "It's music for reflecting on what our lives are about. That's what folk music is, whether it's traditional country or rock or rap music."

Gwyneth and Monko will play March 7 at Plush, on the road to celebrate the release of their full-length debut album, Gwyneth and Monko.

The duo calls the small Northern California town of Mendocino its home, but Moreland says she and Monko "spend pretty much all our time playing out on the road."

They last played in Tucson in November, as part of the last leg of a tour as they made their way home for Thanksgiving. Moreland enjoys visiting Tucson because she gets to see her aunt and cousin, who live here.

Although Moreland and Monko are both from Northern California—she grew up in Mendocino, and he's from the San Francisco Bay area—they come from different backgrounds, especially musical.

Moreland grew up in a rural, back-to-basics atmosphere with four siblings and no TV, CD player or junk food. But there was no lack of music. "I grew up in a really musical family," she says. "My dad played a lot of folk music, so at an early age, I was listening to Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and my mother brought a love of church hymns and old-time-y music."

Monko says that while growing up in the East Bay, he "did a lot of things that were common amongst teenaged boys. I started playing guitar when I was about 12, trying to learn 'Stairway to Heaven.' I played in some heavy rock bands in high school in the 1980s. I was primarily a bass player. And in the '90s, we started playing modern rock and grunge stuff."

He strayed from music for a while after that, studying fine woodworking. His rejuvenated interest in music—with a more acoustic-oriented approach—led him to online studies in theory, harmony and music production at the Berklee College of Music. When he discovered Moreland, he was exploring folk and country in earnest, and with her, he now plays acoustic and electric guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle.

Moreland started singing at 16 in a "newgrass" band she formed with her brother, Morgan Daniel. "We've been together for 11 years and still play when we can," she says about her brother.

She released a solo album, Wishbone, in 2009. "Then it came time to start performing those tunes, and I wanted to have a CD-release show, so I was looking for some people to play with, and there was Monko. We had jammed together a few times, so he played the CD-release show, and we have been playing together since then."

The music of Gwyneth and Monko has been compared to that of Jenny Lewis and Gillian Welch, but the moody arrangements also recall those of the Cowboy Junkies while Moreland's sweet voice brings to mind a less mannered Victoria Williams.

The duo's first EP, Good Old Horse, was released last year.

While the EP showed promise, the new album is flat-out excellent—a robust assortment of country-folk tunes with touches of edgy rock, often supplied by the rich textures of Monko's electric guitar. The tunes "Hand in the Fire," "Blood of the Lamb" and "Down," for example, conjure dark atmospheres. Other tracks, such as "Summer Bliss" and "Get in the Sun," are lighter in thematic tone and instrumentation.

Nodding to the traditional-music past, Gywneth and Monko also includes as its final track an actual wax-cylinder recording of the tune "Pine Box Sailor" in its distorted glory.

In the past, Moreland says, she primarily wrote fictitious narratives. On the new recording, she and Monko occasionally explore personal themes and autobiographical details. "Consumption," for instance, relates her feelings about her family's history of tuberculosis, while the aforementioned "Down" relates an especially trying period of Moreland's life.

The album's opening track, "Found in Benson," is about Gwyneth and Monko's experience getting stranded in and then getting to know an artsy neighborhood in Omaha, Neb. (It does not refer to the small town in Arizona.)

"Benson is this really cool old neighborhood in Omaha that had fallen on hard times and was full of just bars and car lots before young artists started moving in and rejuvenating it. It's really inspiring. They even have their own newsletter. We ended up playing there last year, and it was really great."

Most of the time, though, Gwyneth and Monko don't spend long periods of time in cities. They are hardworking and focused, just the two of them traveling in a camper van—complete with a sink, stove and refrigerator—without the backing band that fills out many of the songs on their album.

"Many times, we arrive at a venue just about the time to load in," Moreland says. "We pride ourselves on our punctuality, by the way, so what we get to experience of a town is many times just what is happening right there at the venue or nearby. Occasionally, we'll have time for dinner or to look into a shop." - Tucson Weekly - by: Gene Armstrong

Hailing from northern Californa, indie-folk duo Gwyneth & Monko have been traversing the country relentlessly after the release of their debut acoustic EP, Good Old Horse. Now, with a new record coming out in February, the two singer-songwriters are working the new material on an ever-growing audience. Austin Music + Entertainment was able to have a conversation with the musical couple via phone while they were on the road in their tour van. They were still riding high off of a strong recent show in Austin

“We played Austin for the first time in March of last year,” says Gwyneth, whose last name is Moreland. “This time there were more people and warmer reception. It was a great, good time.”

The Gwyneth & Monko website (gwynethandmonko.com) describes the group’s sound as “indie folk with a style rooted deep in old-time, blues, and true American music.” Monko elaborates, “It’s songs based in an old-timey structure. Our music isn’t written in modern verse-chorus arrangement, so it captures the old flavor but in a modern way.”

Gwyneth is more succinct: “Old timey sentiments with modern indie-folk, indie-rock sounds.”

With a new release coming out on February 15th, the duo has charted itself on a demanding schedule of recording and performing.

Monko (whose first name is Michael) explains, “We’ve been touring and recording at the same time. The tour has been going on since August, and we were making weekend trips home to California to record. Then we took it out to Boulder for mastering. We’re very busy.”

Gwyneth adds on, “We scheduled our tour so we were in the northwest first and from there going to record. Then there was a southwest leg followed by seven days of recording. Then to Boulder, Colorado, where we worked with David Glasser, who has done a lot of mastering for notables – including a few Dave Matthews Band records – and he’s really great to work with. We tried to schedule the tour around the recording so it wasn’t so exhausting.”

Glasser is a venerated mastering engineer and a huge get for this young group.

“He was mostly hands-off,” says Monko. “He was just working with us to capture the right overall sound quality and feel of album. All tracking and mixing has been done, but he brought life to it.”

What can Gwyneth & Monko’s fans expect from the upcoming release? Moreland says “this new album is a more accurate representation of what we do live. The previous EP was acoustic, but when we play live Monko is on electric guitar a lot. This album incorporates the live sound with the electric guitar.”

“Six or seven songs have drums and bass, that full band sound,” Monko adds. “The EP was pared down. There was more tracking that went into [the new record], more work on the production side.”

Despite having more arrangement and instruments on the new music, Gwyneth & Monko are not changing their concert approach for it. So don’t expect a drummer or backup guitarist onstage if you catch them on the current tour.

“We definitely talked about the possibility of inviting some other musicians to join us, but we really enjoy playing as a duo and will continue that way,” Gwyneth says.

“We want to fill out the sound best we can with the two of us,” Monko follows. “We can fill out rooms very well without drums and bass; it’d be nice to have a full group but it’s easier to just do the duo thing right now.”

“We’ve been playing together as a duo for 1 1/2 years,” Michael elaborates. “We’ve been touring non-stop since January.”

“We’re starting to figure it all out,” Gwyneth laughs.

“Last year, in 2009, Gwyneth released her solo album Wishbone, which she spent 3 years recording with many musicians,” Monko explains. “When it came time to release the CD we were talking about putting band together and it ended up just being the two of us. It worked out so well that we have continued that way. Economically, psychologically, artistically it works best for us. We travel in a van and we’ve met a lot of different musicians at this point. It’s easier for us to travel, with just two, than a band of five people.”

The two say their songwriting process “varies,” especially when it comes to the new album. Sometimes Monko starts with a guitar melody and Gwyneth comes up with words. Other times the words are first followed by the music. Says Monko, “Once we had an idea lyrically or melody wise, we spend a lot of time alone working for weeks, recording ideas and arranging. She’ll leave the room and I’ll hole up in there for a few hours and run through approaches. It makes for a rough draft we walk into studio with. That’s an example of one approach.”

Like most involved musicians, Gwyneth & Monko are rapacious music consumers. They took stock of their current road trip mix.

“We picked up new Dead Weather, which we’re listening on repeat,” Gwyneth reveals. “Sea of Cowards is the album’s name. We also got this new Jimi Hendrix anthology-“

“West Coast Seattle Boy,” supplies Monko. “We meet a lot of different musicians. There’s a lady we just stopped touring with – Laura Meyer – who’s a talented singer-songwriter. We’re listening to her record.”

Gwyneth has some local flavor as well. “We’ve also got the new David Ramirez (editor’s note: probably the new American Soil), he’s from Austin. We’re listening to that.”

While they were in Austin, the band went to Bouldin Creek Coffeehouse and spent time hanging out with fellow musician friends (and Austin band) The Preservation in their neighborhood. “We got a flavor of Austin that way,” says Gwyneth. “We didn’t get a lot of time to hang out. There’s so much talent, it’s overwhelming how much is going on.” They also visited the Longbranch Inn on the East Side.

The life of a touring musician can be tough, though. Gwyneth and Monko have family in California, and have to endure long separation from those they love for their career.

“Yeah, at times it’s difficult to be separated from my family,” Moreland admits. “We try to schedule tours around my home base and Monko’s in the Sierra foothills. I’m very attached and close to my parents, so I try to see them.”

“We usually go out for three months at a time, come back for weekend at home then back off again,” says Monko.

The band’s plan for the next few months is to dial in the new songs for the upcoming CD release tour in spring. For the release show, Gwyneth & Monko will play with San Francisco band The Crooked Jays. “We really respect and have been influenced by them,” Monko says. “During the recording process they were heavy on my mind and we weren’t even in contact.”

While they say new material exists on the horizon, their plate is full right now. While working on CD release shows in January in West Coast, they will play a handful of concerts in Cali in December. After that they’re back in the bus and on tour again. Gwyneth & Monko hope to be back in Austin for SXSW. “There’s no official showcase but we’ll see what we can get,” Monko says.

“The fans are responding well to new material, we think!” says Gwyneth. “Some songs on the new record that are scaled back, so it’s six songs with full band and the rest are the two of us. So far people are taking well to new songs; a few of them are up on our MySpace (myspace.com/gwynethmoreland). The new material is unexpected for people who like the older stuff and we’re excited about sharing more of it.”

Look out in February for Gwyneth & Monko’s new release. Asked if he had any final thoughts for the interview, Monko slyly adds “we’re really good.” - Austin Music + Entertainment

An album full of dark and beautiful songs that radiate with the fever of Appalachian folk tunes yet have the easy going attitude of West Coast rock.

Gwyneth Moreland grew up in sleepy Mendocino, weened by her Hippie parents on Joan Baez and Bob Dylan. Michael Monko played Hardrock in San Francisco High School bands while simultaneously developing an addiction to Bluegrass music. Together, the two present a real no-nonsense approach to playing Folk inspired music that strikes the right balance between rural roots and urban attitude.

The Northern Californian duo’s self-titled debut album bursts with tales of family drama, jealousy, loss, lust and illness. Gwyneth’s language is graphic, almost biblical, situated somewhere between the ballads of the Appalachian mountains and Nick Cave’s outback fantasies. With all that electricity in the air it’s Monko’s sparse yet elegant playing that provides an earth rod, funneling the energy into deceivingly easygoing sounding songs.

Both Gwyneth and Monko must have listened intensively to scratchy old records from the 1920’s and 1930’s in their quest to find a way to write songs that jump at you and grab you by the throat. ‘Gwyneth & Monko’ is an exercise in capturing the essence of that archetypal song, the one that transcends time and culture continuing to pull listeners into its thrall. The duo even experiments with the 19th century technique of recording music on a wax cylinder. The wax cylinder recording of ‘Pine Box Sailor’ is haunting in a way that is hard to achieve with more modern recording media: The fleeting, barely audible sound seems to spin off ghost harmonies and the fragile nature of the medium makes the performance even more poignant.

Gwyneth and Monko live their music. Their home is a camper van on the open road, traveling across the Western USA playing their music wherever they get a chance.Their debut album ‘Gwyneth & Monko’ allows you a vivid glimpse into the world of these two travelling 21st century troubadours. The album will be self-released in a private edition by the artists on 15th February. - Tuneraker.com

I adore Carrie Underwood, but the mainstream nevertheless remains guilty of cranking out bad country music. Now it’s updating it’s badness for a new generation. I recently heard a song on the radio whose chorus can be abbreviated as a texting acronym.

Gwyneth and Monko, on the other hand, focus on having the essentials: a singer with a moving voice and an amazing musician in Michael Monko.

The duo features songwriter Gwyneth Moreland on acoustic guitar and Monko on acoustic guitar and mandolin. Their hometown of Mendocino, a logging town a few hours north of San Francisco, provides the perfect setting for their traditional country music.

Despite having only two instrumentalists, you never miss hearing a bigger band thanks to Monko’s melodic lead work filling out Gwyneth’s songs. While not a jam-oriented record, he showcases himself during the ambling solo for “Good Old Horse,” dreaming up a surprising amount of notes to play. He almost cuts his fingers on the fast ballad “Jack-A-Row.”

The ballad-filled album covers themes of loss and love. A pleasantly different songwriter, Moreland stretches her range of topics beyond boy-girl crushes. On the title track, for instance, she muses about her 30-year-old horse. She plays various characters, like a gambler in “The Cuckoo.” The epic “Jack-A-Row” stars her as an upper-class woman in love with a sailor heading off to war. She acts out the lyrics with her great singing voice. Notice the barely concealed anger as a weary prostitute in “Lexington Ballad.”

No one says country music is a happy genre. Good Old Horse exudes a lonesome tone. Combined with the mostly-slow pace of the songs, it paints a picture of deserted country roads. The duo could have included an upbeat song to give the listener a rest, but one characteristic of good music is that it is palpable. - BC *blogcritics Music | Author: Kevin Gustafson

Mendocino, CA-based duo Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko released their EP, Good Old Horse, in January 2010. Moreland released her solo full-length debut, Wishbone, in 2009, and the duo is working on a full-length for later this year. Their songs are all good, but they are varied, from lone and sparse ballads like Pine Box Sailor, to more upbeat songs with full arrangements. Being a sucker for traditional-style storytelling, and vocal harmonies, I found myself weak at the knees listening for the first time to the lovely song Pine Box Sailor. It's awash with imagery and longing, driven by it's waltz-like tempo and folksy, universal melody. Gwyneth's vocals and lyrics combine wonderfully in this sad lament. This song is from her solo album, but the killer harmony vocals are from Michael Monko. Lexington Ballad in the standout from the new EP. Great vocals from Moreland, with stellar mandolin lines from Monko. This is very good songwriting from a duo with lots of talent, and, we hope, at least a few more albums to come. - CALL IT FOLK: A Home for Good Songs and Ballads, Hosted by Tunesmith

Back when Bob Dylan and Joan Baez were making music, there was a strong showing of bringing the music back to the simplest of roots – to where the meat and potatoes could reign supreme. Rather than singing about the most complicated strategy, folk artists of their time would always bring their own lives to the main stage, for all to see. Singing about what they knew best, there was a true feeling of sincerity in their passions and it flourished onto the music with smooth ease because of it. In much of that same excitement and aesthetic sensibility, Gwyneth & Monko’s mostly-acoustic EP, Good Old Horse, steadies itself with simplistic stories and music, albeit a rather impressive suite of songs.

The five songs on this short and sweet EP encompass Gwyneth Moreland’s acoustic strums and frail voice, along with her counterpart, Michael Monko’s gentle accompaniment. Though each song displays an entirely unique and still, very traditional story at the helm, the sounds are easily identifiable with Moreland’s peculiarly gifted vocals and Monko’s bare-bones arrangements. Even when the duo break off into the even-keeled jangle of “Jack-a-Row,” each of their contributions are distinctly felt. Supporting a mandolin to intertwine with her guitar, Monko drives the music to an instrumental bridge; all the while, Moreland’s voice rides on top, singing about one her many fictional female characters.

Apparently the pair has an LP planned for the near future where new sounds and styles will be tackled. So it makes perfect sense for this quaint, touching and strikingly acoustic EP to be released as some sort of precursor. Moreland sings about women that are battle-tested and that have made difficult decisions and for the most part, her messages make good on their own. It recalls the plainness of folk music and portrays it in its most absolute form and thus, it might take some work for non-folk lovers to get into. But even when they veer into something a bit more playful, like the album’s title track and opener, the music still possesses a richly invigorating sound.

Through its basic routine and deepening spirit, Moreland’s voice always seems to be the music’s and individual songs’, strongest point. She definitely has a way of melting her voice around both the moving musical lines and whatever the subject matter is calling for. “Lexington Ballad” is probably the EP’s finest song – a ballad dressed up with flamenco-like guitar and a soaring acoustic melody – where Moreland shines as the song’s especially tremendous instrument. It’s her voice that serves as that extra instrument on Good Old Horse that calmly raises all of the release’s quality; and right now, it looks like a winning combination. - Adequacy.net - Indie Music Reviews | Author: Bryan Sanchez

From off the coast of northern California comes a charming package of rustic sing-alongs and old-timey ballads, courtesy of Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko. On the title track about Moreland's childhood horse, her voice takes on a sentimental, childlike tone, while "Lexington Ballad," sung from the perspective of an aging prostitute, finds her using a remorseful tenor, pining for a life that never was. The latter song, which recently received honourable mention at the Woody Guthrie Songwriting competition, showcases Monko's musicianship, as well as Moreland's flair for folk-style storytelling. Wielding his mandolin with a bold, yet gentle, force, Monko expertly weaves in and out of verses, intersecting with his partner in cascading spurts. His contribution to the duo's appeal is most obvious in their interpretation of the centuries-old song "The Cuckoo" (with lyrics from beloved traditional song "Jack O'Diamonds"). Monko's hard rock background fuels a passionate delivery that propels the track forward. If Good Old Horse is a trailer of sorts for their upcoming LP, it certainly has succeeded in what it set out to accomplish. (Independent)
- Exclaim! Canada's Music Authority | Author: Nereida Fernandes

Warm and friendly west coast Americana folk that follows in the footsteps of Gillian Welch

Comprising of Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko this duo are a unit of whom I expect to go on from here. Such is the warmth of Gwyneth’s lead vocals and at times Dave Rawlings-esque guitar of Monko on ‘Jack-A-Row’ as they kick up a little dust. It features alongside another traditional tune ‘The Cuckoo’ on the five-song selection to give the listener sufficient food for thought. As the music wafts friendly fashion from the speakers to weave a hypnotic strain sure to win favour with the Americana faithful.

Their version of the much-covered ‘The Cuckoo’ (‘Cuckoo Bird’) features steady mandolin and acoustic guitar to go with Moreland’s tender vocals is one of the better versions of the old standard. As for her own compositions, ‘Union Station’ it is a pretty little ballad that like with ‘Lexington Ballad’ it is likewise delicate affair that paints wonderful spare imagery to pull at the heartstrings. ‘Good Old Horse’ is a plaintive story of a horse she grew up with and has since reached the grand old age of 30 years old. And is well worthy of gaining the slot of title-cut. That marginally sneaks ahead of ‘Union Station’, a song that speaks of among other things catching the California Zephyr as she heads out west on leaving her man! - Americana UK :: The UK Home for Alt-Country, Americana and Alternative

Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko are a study in dichotomies. Moreland was raised in Mendocino, California in a back-to-the-land philosophy that eschewed such modern American fare as television, junk food and CD players. Moreland, whose aunt is Donna Reed (The Donna Reed Show), dug into her parents’ record collection, planting the seeds of her song craft with health doses of Dylan and Baez. Michael Monko was a suburbanite in San Francisco with a penchant for heavy rock and bluegrass. The two met in 2009 as Moreland was preparing to tour for in support of her debut solo album, Wishbone. Michael Monko was hired to support Moreland, but the two found immediate chemistry and began writing together. The result of that spark is the new EP from Gwyneth & Monko, Good Old Horse. The EP is a series of fictional tales involving female characters wrapped around a devotional to Moreland's childhood horse (hence the title). The blending of Monko's heavy rock and bluegrass styles with Moreland's country/folk songwriting and classic country voice makes Good Old Horse a treat.

Gwyneth & Monko open with the title track. "Good Old Horse" is a loving tribute to a pet horse that to more cynical minds will seem like it must be a joke, but is an entirely heartfelt expression of affection for a pet that saw her through the trials and tribulations of youth. The simple folk arrangement adds to the sweet nature of the song, as if an appreciation for old ways and old music might go hand in hand. Gwyneth Moreland's voice is gentle and full of light; perfectly suited to this song. "Union Station" is a song about cutting your losses and getting out of town. The delivery here has an old-time feel even if the subject matter seems a bit more modern. It's a charming performance even if it seems a bit out of place at times.

Sounding like a frontier-day Lisa Loeb, Moreland tells a tale of sacrifice and regret in "Lexington Ballad", the musical autobiography of a prostitute who dreams of a better life. It's a moving tune that humanizes someone you might otherwise write off. It's a surprising and ultimately beautiful tune both for its melody and arrangement, but also for its stark measure of humanity. "Jack-A-Row" is the story of well-heeled girl who falls in love with a man of whom her family does not approve; a sailor. It's the age old story of a fight between mother and daughter over whom she should or should not marry. The heroine of the song proves she will do whatever it takes to keep her sailor man, and in the end it's clear they will marry in spite of all that works against them. Good Old Horse winds down with "The Cuckoo", a charming tune that allows Moreland to show off her sweet voice and Michael Monko to put his impressive instrumental skills on display.

Complexity within simplicity. That's the recipe that drives Good Old Horse and makes it such an indispensable EP. Gwyneth Moreland & Michael Monko carry with them old-time charm that's steeped in the Appalachian tradition. The comparison of Moreland to Lisa Loeb is apt if Loeb lived 100 years ago in the mountains of West Virginia. Don't be surprised if Gwyneth & Monko become darlings of the folk circuit over the next few years.
- Wildy's World, Blogspot

Gwyneth & Monko - Good Old Horse
2010, Reclamation Station

Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko are a study in dichotomies. Moreland was raised in Mendocino, California in a back-to-the-land philosophy that eschewed such modern American fare as television, junk food and CD players. Moreland, whose aunt is Donna Reed (The Donna Reed Show), dug into her parents’ record collection, planting the seeds of her song craft with health doses of Dylan and Baez. Michael Monko was a suburbanite in San Francisco with a penchant for heavy rock and bluegrass. The two met in 2009 as Moreland was preparing to tour for in support of her debut solo album, Wishbone. Michael Monko was hired to support Moreland, but the two found immediate chemistry and began writing together. The result of that spark is the new EP from Gwyneth & Monko, Good Old Horse. The EP is a series of fictional tales involving female characters wrapped around a devotional to Moreland's childhood horse (hence the title). The blending of Monko's heavy rock and bluegrass styles with Moreland's country/folk songwriting and classic country voice makes Good Old Horse a treat.

Gwyneth & Monko open with the title track. "Good Old Horse" is a loving tribute to a pet horse that to more cynical minds will seem like it must be a joke, but is an entirely heartfelt expression of affection for a pet that saw her through the trials and tribulations of youth. The simple folk arrangement adds to the sweet nature of the song, as if an appreciation for old ways and old music might go hand in hand. Gwyneth Moreland's voice is gentle and full of light; perfectly suited to this song. "Union Station" is a song about cutting your losses and getting out of town. The delivery here has an old-time feel even if the subject matter seems a bit more modern. It's a charming performance even if it seems a bit out of place at times.

Sounding like a frontier-day Lisa Loeb, Moreland tells a tale of sacrifice and regret in "Lexington Ballad", the musical autobiography of a prostitute who dreams of a better life. It's a moving tune that humanizes someone you might otherwise write off. It's a surprising and ultimately beautiful tune both for its melody and arrangement, but also for its stark measure of humanity. "Jack-A-Row" is the story of well-heeled girl who falls in love with a man of whom her family does not approve; a sailor. It's the age old story of a fight between mother and daughter over whom she should or should not marry. The heroine of the song proves she will do whatever it takes to keep her sailor man, and in the end it's clear they will marry in spite of all that works against them. Good Old Horse winds down with "The Cuckoo", a charming tune that allows Moreland to show off her sweet voice and Michael Monko to put his impressive instrumental skills on display.

Complexity within simplicity. That's the recipe that drives Good Old Horse and makes it such an indispensable EP. Gwyneth Moreland & Michael Monko carry with them old-time charm that's steeped in the Appalachian tradition. The comparison of Moreland to Lisa Loeb is apt if Loeb lived 100 years ago in the mountains of West Virginia. Don't be surprised if Gwyneth & Monko become darlings of the folk circuit over the next few years.
- Wildy's World, June 12th 2010

Translation: Wietske Uneken

Eating a five course dinner every day starts to get boring after while. And that's beside the enormous indigestion you will get from it. To keep balanced you should sometimes take a nice little ... (read: Moresnack) instead. 'Wishbone' the debut album by the captivating Gwyneth Moreland is such a delightful snack. I very much enjoyed listening to her record.
Moreland describes her overall happy music as "Regina Spektor jamming with Mother Maybelle Carter in a French cabaret." In my opinion these two words would have been just as clear: BIG FUN! Yes, in capitals. Listening to 'Wishbone' I wonder if the ambitions of this record reach any higher than supply musical entertainment. Nothing wrong with that of course. There are several amusement parks in the world which have no other goal than to entertain people and draw millions of visitiors. That the musician who can play several instruments like gitar, banjo and piano, names Loretta Lynn, Buck Owens and Dolly Parton as her influences may not come as a surprise after listening to her album. Songs like 'Bootless Man' (beautiful tongue-in-cheek lyrics! lovely acordion!), 'Screaming at Trains' (tongue-in-the-cheek again), 'After the Storm', 'Chess' and the amazing 'Shifting Sands' (great backing vocals by the Blushin' Roulettes) sound like coming from the setlist of Lynn or the young Parton, whyle 'Hole In My Sky' undoubtely makes one think of the Sir Douglas Quintet, a band which had something to do with Mendocino in the past....
Someone hungry for a snack with enough nutrition to fill an empty stomach? Go and see Gwyneth Moreland, she has some tasty 'Wishbone' for you! - www.altcountryforum.nl

From out of the Northern California redwoods on the beautiful Mendocino Coast comes a talent so unique, it makes me want to shout it from the hilltops to the world-wide airwaves. Gwyneth Moreland began her career at a young age, as a member of her brother Morgan Daniel’s accomplished band, Foxglove. The band has become one of the most popular groups in the area, and deservedly so. As a mainstay of the Mendocino County music scene and with their ever-growing fan base, Foxglove's performances are typically sold out wherever they perform. Gwyneth's accompaniment on the guitar, banjo, accordion, and of course, her sublime vocals, are a perfect addition to the amazing talents of her brother Morgan’s guitar work, Booi Volk’s mandolin and John Bush’s bass.

As an accomplished songwriter, it was inevitable that Gwyneth would seek to showcase her beautifully written songs. After 3 years of painstaking work, Gwyneth's vision has finally come to fruition. Her long awaited solo album, "Wishbone", is a masterpiece that proves it was worth the wait. While most of her work with Foxglove would be classified as "Americana" and "Folk" Music, it becomes more of a challenge to categorize this new album. While there are definitely Americana and Folk influences throughout the album, the wide variety of songs and styles included shows that Gwyneth is a real artist. I believe a true artist is always searching for the next inspiration and is never satisfied repeating what has already been tried. Rather than completely relying on a comfortable style that she has known and has already mastered, she is unabashedly exploring new sounds and other genres. Gwyneth's songwriting and poetry skills are evident all the way through, but particularly on songs like "Ghost of a Girl", "Chess", "Sleep" and one of my favorites, which I believe has "hit" potential, "Bootless Man". Another favorite of mine is the haunting title song "Wishbone", which captures the depressive emptiness of living in a 9 to 5 world. This song is a wake-up call to anyone who is working for a living at a mundane job, or feeling trapped in an oppressive situation.

As a reflection of the complexities of Gwyneth's life, "Wishbone" surely reveals a great musician, who has reached into the depths of her soul to bring you this premiere album, - a true work of art!

Larry Hacken, KZYX/Z
- Larry Hacken KZYX&Z

By: Monica Stark

Maybe roots music, in the context of Americana, has become an increasingly popular genre over the last 10 years because it has the ability to span across blues, country and rock-and-roll. And so someone who plays a little blues can also say they're "Americana" if they put a little twang into it. But there's not many who combine all the elements as fluently as Gwyneth Moreland.

Moreland, a local country beauty hailing from Mendocino village recently released her first ever and long awaited solo album, titled Wishbone, a 14-track selection that spans across the Americana sub genres.

While her sound is certainly comprehensive, Moreland also manages to demonstrate a certain kind of folk-tinged, cabaret charm that makes her much more than just a straight up Americana singer.

And as mature her sound is, the lyrics tell the stories of death, heavy drinking, and what it's like to be living in a muddied haze issues that are commonplace in the coming to age story.

The song Pine Box Sailor is like a creepy lullaby, a story, Moreland describes, as one of "nature taking care of the hurt inside of us. I know for me nature is where we find a lot of our hope." About a dead child floating down the river, Pine Box Sailor does find solace in a rainbow trout that steers the vessel to the sea "where your final rest shall be."

Then there's Bootless Man, a song that Moreland says she has to preface as a song that is about no one in particular "It's just you and your Bud Light the two of you on a moonlit night/then there's Jager about an hour later/I know they'll share you and I hope the three of you/can stay together I hope you can/you're a bootless man you're a troubled man/you're a sorrowful man you're a difficult man/you're a bootless man."

For the "Wishbone" album release show earlier this year, Gwyneth teamed up with seasoned Bay Area heavy rocker, Michael Monko. Having mastered the nuances of "edgy" as a part of the pre-to-post grunge movement in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael rocked in Cult classic bands such as Big Janitor. This truly dynamic duo, with their musical wit and flare, will hit the studio together for an early 2010 release. The mixture of Gwyneth's "tangible gentleness" and Monko's old-timey grunge creates an exciting sound with something for everyone.

Since 2000, Moreland has belonged to a tight-knit community of musicians who claim the Northern California town of Mendocino as their home. As a lead vocalist in her brother Morgan Daniel's acoustically charged band, Foxglove, she has opened for such artists as Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks and Jesse Winchester, shared the stage with Joe Craven and played with guitar hero Nina Gerber. A founding member of the sweet Americana band, The Blushin' Roulettes, Gwyneth performs often with this increasingly popular California country group. Moreland and The Roulettes recently performed at the Kate Wolf Memorial Music Festival. She has been a featured accordionist and vocalist in the raucous country band The Kerosene Kondors, with whom she has opened for such acts as The Devil Makes Three and Wayne "The Train" Hancock. Gwyneth has also been a guest performer (accordion/vocals) with El Paso Chapel (Osage Orange) opening for The Mumlers.

With all that said, Moreland's Friday, Dec. 11 show at the Ukiah Brewing Company, is one that should not be missed.

Wishbone is available at Dig! in Ukiah and online at www.gwynethmoreland.com.

Monica Stark can be reached at udjfeatures@pacific.net. - The Ukiah Daily Journal