Dain Estes

It's Thursday afternoon, and Shaking Tree bassist Keenan Stump is weaving through traffic on a freeway somewhere near New York City.

The band is on its way to Philadelphia to finish up the final leg of a northeastern tour, and suddenly the worst traffic in their hometown of Lawrence, Kan., isn't looking so bad.

"The road hasn't been very solid today," Stump said. "Every stereotype of drivers out here was true today."

Traffic frustrations and other traveling headaches haven't kept Shaking Tree off the road. The band performs about 150 shows a year and prefers the unknown of a live show to the stuffy confines of a recording studio.

Shaking Tree will be in Lincoln Saturday night at Knickerbockers, 901 O St.
The band has found success spreading its sound across the country, thanks to a laid-back pop sound that leans on bluegrass and Latin influences.

Much of the material from their old releases uses varied percussion instruments such as djembe drums. Guitarist Tom Waddington also occasionally uses a mandolin in place of the acoustic guitar.

Though Shaking Tree's live shows might appear to be a free-for-all, Stump said everything is pretty well planned out.

"There's nothing jam about it," he said. "I never feel afraid of getting on stage and thinking people will hate us."

Many in Lincoln most likely have heard Shaking Tree without realizing it. The band's music has shown up on MTV's "Real World" and "Road Rules." It also was the headlining act on the Budweiser World Music Stage at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The band formed in 1996, but the current lineup didn't solidify until March, when drummer Rees Lahman signed on. Lead singer Dain Estes rounds out the roster.

Though Shaking Tree lists Lawrence as its hometown, Stump and Lahman both live in Omaha and commute to shows. Estes and Waddington live in Lawrence.

Stump said they often practice and write new material during sound checks — the three hours between Omaha and Lawrence make scheduled practices nearly impossible.

"I think the last time we had a practice was when we played in Omaha," Stump said. "Most of the time it's just practicing while we tour or warming up before shows."

While they still use the djembe drums during live shows, Stump said their music features fewer percussion breaks.

"The band kind of turned," he said. "We'd be playing to a room full of spinning hippies, but even now when we play those songs, people lose their minds even if we play them bad. It's just us up there beating on things."

Shaking Tree has released just four albums, but touring has allowed them to get their name out to people around the country — a recipe that, so far, has proven rather successful.

Stump said many people come to their shows expecting to hear covers of "Brown Eyed Girl" and "Livin' on a Prayer" but quickly learn Shaking Tree does its own material just fine.

"When they figure out you're not an amateur act, they start to pay attention to the musicianship and say, ‘They can play these instruments well.'"

Reach Michael Bruntz at 473-7254 or mbruntz@journalstar.com.

If you go - Lincoln Journal Star

Since I used to live in Kansas, it was an honor to review this (formerly) local band's work. Writer Dain Estes has put together a diverse group of artists combining soft rock, unique world beats and everyday pop resulting in his own brand of alternative music.



Although they were unfamiliar (har!) to me, Shaking Tree began playing in the Midwest in 1996 and released this CD this year. Estes said it was recorded under no time constraints, and that laid-back approach definitely paid off.



With just a small hint of Celtic, "Everywhere" opens the CD, already establishing the world-music influence on these guys. The stringed instruments take control and it becomes a light airy spirit that carries through the rest of the CD. And if I can connect with the lyrics then the music will immediately follow, and the words here remind me of my state: "To walk upon the cold / Cold earth between the dirt and stone / Trembling like shaking trees waiting on the storm." These words sum up exactly how I feel about Kansas -- somewhere between dirt and stone.



"Familiar" is a love song of repentance and the familiarity of trying to succeed in a relationship but not doing enough to make it work, making it "easier to lock the door than be forgiven." Again, the lyrical writing talents of Estes are dominant on the CD, wafting from folk on "Light in August," a rich, warm performance, to pop on "Didn't Say," a forceful song with a slight reminiscent flavor of John Mellencamp.



"One Night" takes the romantic ideal of love and twists it into a song about a one-night affair -- "Just don't count on me/I'll let you down / 'Cause you're only here / 'Cause I'm bored of this town." "Beautiful" is by far the best on the album and it closes the CD, flowing smoothly and incorporating anger and pain underneath a pop and bluegrass combo.



Familiar remains consistent musically and lyrically. Estes is a superb writer, unafraid of exposing himself through his words, and has said in interviews the songs on the radio lack honesty. His words coupled with the band's clever backdrops make this a rarity in the musical world and a release worth examining.



[For more information, visit www.shakingtree.com]



RATING: B - the daily vault

A good first question about an album entitled “Familiar” is, well, does the music sound familiar? The hints are there: Dain Estes’ raspy croon reminds one of Crooked Fingers’ Eric Bachmann. The alt-country lilt to the songwriting calls the Jayhawks to mind. Yet Shaking Tree takes the influences and creates something unique, something that sounds like Shaking Tree and no one else, despite the familiarity of some of the component parts.

Besides Estes, who plays guitar, mandolin, and banjo in addition to being the lead vocalist and doing most of the songwriting, Shaking Tree comprises Tom Waddington on violin, mandolin, and guitar, Keenan Stump on bass, and Rees Lahman playing drums and contributing sweet backing vocals. While they do come from the Midwest, their success has not been limited to the heartland. Their songs have been featured on MTV, the Disney channel, and in the film Now You Know, by the writer of Clerks and Dogma. And Shaking Tree has shared the stage with acts like The Jerry Garcia Band, The Staples, and The Gin Blossoms, in addition to headlining a show at the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City.

“Familiar” is a pop album that carves itself a unique place in the genre. Estes has a gift for melody, and his throaty growl puts a unique edge into each Shaking Tree song. The instrumental sections—be it a banjo, a mandolin, a violin, or a guitar playing the solo— are wonderfully melodic in their own right. And the songwriting is creative, too— tempos shift, Lahman plays around with different world beats (see Track 8: 1000 years), and the listener isn’t ever left bored or knowing what’s about to happen.

While “Familiar” is not the gift to alternative music that, say, “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” was, it is certainly a great step in the right direction for Shaking Tree. And besides, with Wilco and Uncle Tupelo, Jeff Tweedy released several albums before crafting “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” For fans of new alternative music, “Familiar” makes a great addition to a collection. And for those who enjoy finding bands before everyone else knows about them: Get to know Shaking Tree. While no up-and-coming band can ever be called a ‘sure thing,’ Shaking Tree is certainly a pretty good bet.

ALBUM BREAKDOWN:

Personally, I enjoy the tracks where the beats are a little different; in particular “1000 Years” and “Right Here.” And the chorus on “Right Here” will have you singing along by the second or third listen.

The slower songs “Beautiful,” “Everything,” “Light in August,” and “When the World Ends” each ache and sing in their own way. The more upbeat “Halfway” and “Familiar” will bob your head. And be sure to check out the jam at the end of “Temporary Daze,” it’s killer.

In truth, there isn’t really a weak song on the album. The songs flow into and out of one another as if it had been planned that way… hmmm… But seriously, if “Familiar” isn’t familiar to you yet, go get it. It should be. - hitcooper

In the world of rock, there are nearly as many types of music fans as there are genres of music: casual listeners, snobbish elitists, studious devotees and pretentious critics. But no listener typology would be complete without mentioning The speculator � those for whom the "what ifs" are as intriguing as the "what weres." Shaking Tree's Dain Estes is a speculator.

"Could you imagine if The Backstreet Boys came out with a psychedelic album like The Beatles did?" he asks during a recent interview. "No record label would stand for that, but back in the '60s, The Beatles were a boy band and they helped change music."
Shaking Tree plays a rare show in its Lawrence hometown this week, before heading out on another grueling road trip.

click image for larger view

Shaking Tree plays a rare show in its Lawrence hometown this week, before heading out on another grueling road trip.

One could speculate that Shaking Tree's own goals aren't dissimilar.
Taproots

The original incarnation of Shaking Tree began in Lawrence in 1996 when Estes recruited a motley collection of local musicians for a one-off basement recording project. Those sessions became Shaking Tree's 1997 eponymous debut, though the band hadn't fully gelled yet. Songs like "Darker Days" are fully realized � containing the group's patented pop sensibility, shimmering guitars and gift for harmony � but the lack of cohesiveness is apparent.

"I just wanted to start something, but I didn't have a clear set idea of who to play with," Estes recalls. "I had something like two band's worth of musicians. The guys that are in the band now are basically the best of whom I was playing with, and we got along real well, too."

The solidified lineup (Estes on guitar, mandolin and vocals, drummer Aaron Hetherington, bassist Ian Burns and violinist Tom Waddington) soon found itself in Estes' basement again, recording Shaking Tree's sophomore effort, "Sound of Rain," which more effectively captured the band's sound. Tracks such as "Misunderstandings" find the band expanding its sound, adding subtle instrumental and vocal touches that lend the album an airy, effervescent quality.

After extensive touring, the quartet signed to indie label Knot Known Records and headed off to Memphis, Tenn., to register its first sessions in a real studio. In only 10 days of intensive recording, Shaking Tree had finished its third � and best � record to date, the masterful "Matter of Choice."

"That was the best experience we've had as a band," Estes remembers. "We just felt like we could play and have fun. I think we were really worried about going into a real studio with an actual producer, we were kind of nervous. After the first day, though, it was totally cool."

The Memphis sessions marked a big step forward for the Lawrence-based band. Not only was the songwriting more mature and thoughtful than previous efforts, but the group had finally captured its sound on tape. From the opening chords to the closing moments, "Matter of Choice" was an immensely satisfying work that was light years beyond the first two records.
What: Shaking Tree
When: 10 p.m. Friday
Where: The Jazzhaus, 926 1/2 Mass.
Ticket information: 749-3320

"I think songwriting-wise, things have gotten a lot better," Estes says. "I don't want to say 'complex,' because that's not really what we're after, but the songs are more involved. As players, we've all gotten better. Basically, it's a much better version of what we did on the first album. I've taken less and less responsibility. On the first album I wrote all the bass lines � I don't do that anymore. So it's more of a group effort."
Radio days

Though Shaking Tree's sound is a radio-friendly mixture of Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows and Matchbox Twenty with a heaping helping of the band's own groove-ready aura, you probably won't hear it on your car stereo anytime soon. Not quite pop enough for mainstream radio and not quite alternative enough for college stations, Shaking Tree has mostly fallen through the cracks of the airwaves.

"Commercial radio won't take a risk on anything, and college radio takes risks less and less," Estes says. "College radio used to make their own rules, and they don't as much anymore. We get the charts back from the stations that are playing us, and we're charting with like The Barenaked Ladies or whatever. It seems like there's no in-between anymore. College radio is either really mainstream or way indie."

As for the local music scene, Shaking Tree � like many area bands � has a fairly devout audience but little in the way of compatible venues. Though the band members are all Kansas University graduates (Estes has a degree in history) who still live in town, they try to maintain a low profile locally and only play here a couple times a year.

"I'm so far removed from it," Estes says of the regional scene. "Lawrence has a lot of really cool ban - the Lawrence Journal world

This is an outstanding album, a near perfect blend of styles that provides a true "alternative" sound. Take a four piece college band from Kansas, make sure the drummer is as influenced by Latin and African rhythms as by Rock. Add a singer/songwriter/guitarist with a beautifully smooth voice, genuine lyric ability and who occasional substitutes a mandolin for the expected guitar. Then just in case the mix isn’t varied enough, instead of a second guitarist or keyboard player, add a seasoned violinist.

Album CoverThe result is such an accomplished eleven track CD that it has already been licensed wholesale to MTV productions for use as background music on both "Road Rules" and "Real World". Their music will also be heard in an upcoming Miramax film "The Albatross" and a Disney kids game show.

A band then already on the edge of greatness, but this is so much more than just background music to the brain dead adventures of annoying spoilt college age rich kids. There are flashes of genuine brilliance here, the influences are widespread, Latin, Bluegrass, African, alternative rock, but all wrapped in a blanket of pop that keeps it accessible at all times. Probably the single strongest aspect of the music is its intoxicating rhythms, invoking images of beautiful Hippie girls in long-flowing blue dresses. It will make even the most male of men want to twirl the one they love.

Dan EstesThose of you scared by the mention of a violin can rest easy, it is used as instrument in a pop rather than a classical sense. At times it plays the lead, carrying the music forward, at other times it is just a part of the band. Singer, and main man, Dain Estes has a voice that floats across the music like a well-skimmed stone over water. Or to evoke a different image, a dollop of whipped cream on a perfect Irish coffee. Certainly there is something of the cocktail to this bands blending of different styles, and even a casual listening could cause a sense of dizziness.

The album has a heavy dose of both slower, moody love songs, and more upbeat danceable tunes. The end result though is always positive, and the song writing is excellent. From opener "Expectations" to end track "Out of Touch", there is no filler, just constantly great music. Shaking Tree are a band who transcend easy classification and who should be moving onto huge things any day now. If you have just a touch of romance in your heart and rhythm in your soul then grab this album before they go onto superstar status. Excellent, excellent, excellent. - indie monkey

Achievements--

1. "Familiar" was added to over 100 independent and college radio stations in the U.S and over 40 stations in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.

2. Dain's Shaking Tree releases have sold over 25,000 copies.

3. Dain's songs "Before We Met I Knew Your Face" and "Everywhere" have been selected by Karnal Productions and Noteborne music, for TV and motion picture licensing.

4. Licensed songs on over 20 cable T.V shows.

5. “Memory of Me” used during end credits in feature film, Now You Know, written & directed by Jeff Anderson (Clerks, Dogma, Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back).

6. Has opened for the following major artists : Grammy nominee Abra Moore, Pat Green, Journey, Kansas, The Gin Blossoms, Sister Hazel, Stroke 9, Sister 7, The Samples, Marah, and Holly Brooks. Has played on average 150 shows a year since 2001 nationally.

7. "Everywhere" selected for inclusion on the 2006 House of Blues CD sampler.

8. Recipient of corporate sponsorships from Dean Markley, Corona Beer, and Jagermeister.

9. "Today" was licensed by Corona beer for a national radio campaign.

10. "The Broken Whistle Sessions" sold over 500 copies (physical CDs and downloaded CDs) from September 18, 2007 to October 31st, 2007.

11. Several songs from the "Broken Whistle Sessions" have already been added to radio station playlists, in Europe, the United States, and Australia. - for NACA

Shaking Tree
Friday, September 9, at Fatso's in Lawrence.
By Mike Warren
Article Published Sep 8, 2005
Music Details

Shaking Tree's name pops up in "Everywhere," a song from its latest CD, Familiar, as a reference to rustling leaves before a storm (putting the kibosh on rumors that the band is named after the moment in Cool Hand Luke when Paul Newman rattles the shrubbery during his escape). Yet this Lawrence band isn't an approaching storm; it has been around for almost a decade, and its sound has evolved into something new. Leaving behind the early days of reggae on the Rusted Root-Graceland axis (that's Paul Simon, not Elvis), the band's new songs are deeper and more spacious — not quite Americana but not world beat or jam band, either. Singer Dain Estes has one of the best tuneful growls since the Geardaddies' Martin Zellar, and Tom Waddington's violin gives every song a distinct sound — the one that makes it clear that this is still, without a doubt, the same band.
- the pitch weekly

The last time Dain Estes and his band, Shaking Tree, were in Steamboat Springs, he had a dance off with a waitress.
“I killed her, because I can break dance really well,” said Estes, a vocalist, guitarist and mandolin player for the band.
Estes learned to break dance as a young boy, but at 30 years old, he’s now officially retired. He said he had to quit because his body hurt too much the day after he danced and because his wife got tired of him complaining about it.
“I can run three miles a day, but my break-dancing skills are going downhill,” he said. “I can’t spin on my head anymore, and my robot skills aren’t working that well.”
Estes now uses his energy to write songs that blend musical genres including alternative country and cool pop. And he gets his inspiration from old dive bars.
“If it looks like the building has been standing for 70 years and the average age of the patrons is 60, then we’re probably going in,” Estes said. “They always have the same three choices of beer: Miller Light, Budweiser and Schlitz or Blatz.”
Estes and his band members go to those bars to hear stories from the barflies.
“If you drink Blatz, people just open their mouths,” Estes said. “You hear interesting stories from hilarious, really interesting people who might as well drink for a living.”
As a songwriter, Estes writes about whatever is in front of him and whatever is in front of everybody else. He then mixes it all together, he said.
“Not every song can be about you. If we lived that kind of life, we would never get laundry done or have time to write songs.”
Estes shies away from songs that rhyme perfectly and sound almost too contrived.
“I don’t think you have a whole lot of control (over the lyrics),” Estes said. “When you write, you don’t wake up and say, ‘Today I’m going to write about bunnies.’ If you do that, it sounds really forced.”
But Estes and Shaking Tree must be doing something right. Just this week, they began getting airplay in Greece, Australia, Portugal, Germany and Holland.
“We’re not big in Belgium yet,” Estes said. “We’re just starting to get international play, and we are hoping to do some touring over there.” - Steamboat Springs Pilot

Band Review:
Shaking Tree
ARTICLE JEFF CHRISTY PHOTOGRAPHY JAY SANTOS
Shaking Tree’s roots are firmly planted in Kansas soil. I try and avoid clichés, but Shaking Tree’s music is original and unclassifiable. The earthy tunes accompanied with violin/mandolin decorations and a rare poetic talent combine to create a relaxing experience people of all ages can enjoy.
Fronted by singer/songwriter/guitarist Dain Estes of Kansas City, the quartet has consistently played more than 200 shows a year, covering nearly 40 states. On violin, mandolin, and guitar is Tom Waddington, also a Kansas native. Providing the rhythm and beats are Keenen Stump on bass and Wichita resident Rees Lahman on drums.
“We love to tour and win over new listeners. It’s great meeting some of our loyal fans and we’re happy that people enjoy our music,” said Estes.
So, what do they sound like? Shaking Tree really can’t be classified under one genre. Take alt/rock; add a dash of country, blend in some folk, tribal, and Celtic influences, and you’ll get an idea of the sound. Add to the combination honest and direct lyrics, and you’ve got Shaking Tree.
Even if you haven’t heard of the band, some of their songs may sound familiar to you. Film director Kevin Smith (Clerks, Mallrats, Dogma) handpicked the song “Memory of Me” for his friend Jeff Anderson’s movie Now You Know in 2003. The song “One More Time” was given a 97 percent “Hit” rating by radio listeners in Kansas City. MTV’s “Real World” and “Road Rules” have used a number of Shaking Tree’s songs, as well as the Discovery Channel and the Disney Channel.
The band recorded and produced their fifth album, “Familiar” last fall. “Familiar is our best CD to date, hands down,” said Estes, “it has done really well and our fans have gone nuts over it.”
As of now, they have airtime on more than 80 radio stations nationally and 40 globally, including; Australia, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Holland, Italy, and Switzerland.
Although the CDs are great, nothing can substitute a live performance. The acoustic guitar/violin combination presents a smooth melody that calms the listener into a serene and relaxed state of mind, yet at the same time the rhythm makes it so easy to dance to. If you like swing dancing, it almost forces you out of your seat and onto the dance floor.
If you haven’t seen them live, don’t worry. Because the group is from Kansas, they make sure they play Wichita, Lawrence, and Kansas City regularly. Within the past month, they have entertained both older and affluent crowds at Botanica Gardens, and younger and livelier crowds at The Brickyard, each with great success.
The band’s website (www.shakingtree.com) lists their tour schedule and booking information, features streamable tracks and photography, and offers merchandise available for purchase.
Their newest single (and a personal favorite of mine), “Coming Down” and three other songs from “Familiar” are also available on the group’s myspace: www.myspace.com/shakingtree. A few other songs are also available through iTunes.
For more information about Shaking Tree, visit their web site or myspace:
www.shakingtree.com
www.myspace.com/shakingtree
- Splurge

With an eclectic sound drawing from Celtic, bluegrass and Latin music, the band Shaking Tree defies anyone trying to put a label on its sound.
Now with three compact discs under its belt, including the latest, "Matter of Choice," the band has created a strong fan following mostly because of its dynamic live show.
Shaking Tree was formed in Lawrence, Kan., in 1997. The four members of the group include Dain Estes on vocals and guitar, Ian Burns on bass, Aaron Hetherington on drums and percussion and Tom Waddington on violin and mandolin.
The most eye-grabbing part of the band's live show is Waddington. The classically trained violin player thrashes around on stage, adding not only his own style to the show but to the overall sound of the band.
"My part in the band is to add a unique, world aspect to the sound," Waddington said. "It's visually unique."
It's this addition of violin and mandolin to the band that draws numerous comparisons to Dave Matthews Band, but Waddington disagrees with that label.
"That kind of bothers me," Waddington said. "We have so many aspects to our music, like bluegrass and Latin influences. It's good to be unique."
The multiple influences the band draws from are apparent when it plays.
The band has a pop-influenced, upbeat sound intertwined with tribal-sounding percussion and the high twang of the mandolin on a couple songs.
The members of Shaking Tree showed off their skills at Knickerbockers Bar & Grill on Wednesday night.
During the title track, "Matter of Choice," from their new CD, the drummer blew a whistle, creating a Mardi Gras feel, and there was a prolonged drum break where everyone in the band played some sort of percussion instrument.
Moments like that drew fans in. Part of the enthusiastic crowd could be seen off in their own world dancing in front of the stage.
One of Shaking Tree's fans is Whitney Maxwell, a student at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. She said she had been a fan of the band since 1998 and had seen it about 15 times.
"The band makes me feel good," Maxwell said. "I like how they're influenced by a variety of music and how the violin adds multiple aspects to their sound."
The influences that add to the sound of the band are varied.
"I draw inspiration from the Police, Paul Simon, Toad the Wet Sprocket and Wilco," said Estes, who is the principle songwriter for the band.
Estes said that he used to go to record stores or join record clubs and buy albums that looked interesting, which provided him with a way to hear different music than he otherwise would have heard on the radio while growing up in Kansas.
"The only bands that came from Kansas when I was growing up were Shooting Star and Kansas," Estes said. "We have a violin in the band because both of those bands do, and I decided you have to have a violin player if you're going to do it well."
The band spends a good portion of the year on the road, playing almost 200 shows last year. Most of these shows are either in large cities or college towns, where the band has most of its fan base.
At the end of the show at Knickerbockers, as Estes announced the last song, the crowd showed a rare negative moment, yelling a raucous "no" at the band.
Shaking Tree played the last song and complacently walked off the stage to greet fans.  
- the Daily Nebraskan