$3 Band

Although previously releasing recorded live performance albums, the arrival of 3 Dollar Band’s first studio album is here. This great first album showcases the talents of Adam Braunschweig, Keith Van Winkle, and Chris Carr. All members of the band contribute to the combination of acoustic rock, and Irish and American folk music. I found this album to be a refreshing sound, and was interested in the creativity of each track. 3 Dollar Band varies from track to track, with songs that are primarily guitar and vocals, to true folk music.

For those of us who love acoustic music, there are several tracks on this album that stand out. The first being “Gamble of Souls.” The combination of Adam’s wonderful voice, and the untraditional tuning that the band chose, creates a unique and amazing sound. He exhibits both great guitar composition and execution on this track. Accompaniments from Keith Van Winkle on the fiddle and Chris Carr on the flute, complete the track. The general folk nature behind the band comes through on most of their songs, including “Gamble of Souls.”

They really slow down the tempo with “Emmalene.” Again using a non-traditional tuning and style of play, “Emmalene” is truly one of the more powerful songs on the album. I first heard this song during a solo, head-turning performance by Adam Braunschweig at a bar in New York, and the studio version sounds the same. In music today, it is common to hear a lot of changes in music once it hits the studios. 3 Dollar Band however, stays true to their sound.

Along with great acoustic music and vocals, this album entails songs like “The Rolling Coins” and “Red Squirrel” that are instrumental folk songs that one cannot help but feel. There are elements of American and Irish folk present throughout the album, but they are most prominent in these tracks. “Spin Me Round” also has a very upbeat folk intro. Strong performances in songs like “Lull” and “Ballad of the Millworker” make this a great listen. Overall, the album is great for not only folk enthusiasts, but acoustic rock lovers, and anyone who appreciates an inspiring guitar performance.

Words by Stephen Hayman

- Beyond Race Magazine, New York, New York

The Three Dollar Band cut their teeth in Irish pubs around town, but their studio debut suggests they could be just as successful in Kansas City’s country bars.
The case is made over the self-titled album’s first three tracks. “Back at the Beginning” is a low-key number buoyed by lead singer and songwriter Adam Braunschweig’s unassuming baritone voice and laid-back acoustic guitar.
“All the Cats Are Sailing” is a lively flute-and-fiddle jig and reel driven by Chris Carr and Keith Van Winkle. Both elements converge on the third song, “Gamble of Souls,” a track that inhabits the same spirit, if not the energy, as Steve Earle’s “Galway Girl.” In fact, Earle’s song is a frequent touchstone throughout the album.
As the album bounces between Braunschweig’s earthy, Americana songwriting and his bandmates’ Irish impulses, the results are often spectacular. Flute and harmonica dance on “Ballad of the Millworker,” and the bodhran supplies a nice counter-rhythm to a banjo on “Leon’s Last Ride.” The closing track, “Spin Me Round,” is one of the few songs that could accommodate both Riverdance and the boot scootin’ boogie.
Braunschweig is a fine folk songwriter – his song “Lull” won second place in American Songwriter’s lyric competition – but Van Winkle and Carr’s contributions really push the material beyond the folk/roots circuit. A longtime veteran of Kansas City’s Irish music scene, Van Winkle’s résumé includes the bands Gabriel’s Gate, Scartaglen, Newgrange and the Cowtown Ceihlie Band. Carr’s decade-plus of classical training informs many of the arrangements, especially the instrumental “Fishing With the Count.”
“Three Dollar Band” captures the trio’s rapid growth in the two years since their debut. The band’s first album, a live recording issued last September, relied entirely on traditional material. All but one of the 16 tracks on their sophomore release are original compositions. The group’s woodshedding from constant gigs around town is also evident. The arrangements are lively but focused, and Braunschweig inhabits his songs with confidence.
The band is a welcome addition to our town’s already vibrant Irish music scene. With so many shining examples for them to follow and learn from, it will be exciting to see where this promising group goes from here.

Read more here: http://inkkc.com/content/cd-review-three-dollar-band/#storylink=cpy - Ink Magazine, Kansas City, MO