Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
“Next, despite electrical difficulties that delayed and then halted mid-stream their second song, local band Dirtnap took the stage and their stylized blend of blues and other influences picked up right where Mississippi John Doude left off. At times a listener may be reminded of such diverse bands as Mudhoney all the way to Pink Floyd in just a few bars of music, and the crowd was enchanted with the musical adventure unfolding in the Alabama night.” - The Corner News, Auburn, Al
Discography
Singles available for listening on www.myspace.com/wearedirtnap
1. Melancholy Madness
2. Subterranean Tombstone Blues
3. Don't Cry After Me
4. Deep Down in the Depths
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Dirtnap is a 3-piece band led by the powerful, driving, percussive acoustic guitar of lead singer and songwriter Mark Sweat and the searing, soulful electric guitar work of Josh McKenzie. These two best friends are the core of a band playing original music incorporating influences from decades of listening to all types of music. The third member is drummer Alex Hoefer who is formally trained in jazz, rock, and other genres and plays in a truly original style and manages to sound like two percussionists playing at once.
Together, these three make music that will seem familiar to you and may remind one of anyone from Pink Floyd to Bob Dylan, to Neil Young to The Drive-By Truckers. You may hear a hint of ol’ Merle Haggard as well.
Dirtnap does not use a bass player live and either Mark, Josh, or friends play bass if needed in studios. The rhythm section of percussive acoustic guitar and a full onslaught of drums create a unique sound with no place to hide weak music! Josh switches from in-your-face twin humbucker guitar riffs to beautiful telecaster pickin’ all in the same song!
Powerful, energetic stage shows are the hallmark of their performances. Nothing is left on the stage at the end of the show! The audience knows they have seen three souls give all they had to make for a memorable experience.
Dirtnap plays original songs written by Mark that come from somewhere deep in his sometimes-troubled soul. His stories come from events and places as diverse as Baghdad and Birmingham. Stories of life and death stem from his time in the military and as a paramedic. Topical, serious poetry sung by a southern bred man not afraid to let his deepest feelings show.
The cover songs performed by Dirtnap tend to be somewhat more obscure than the mainstream. For instance, they perform “Coming into Los Angeles” by Arlo Guthrie that gets turned into a major improvisational jam before returning to the song structure. Several of their covers serve as vehicles for extended jams. All in all, a great mixture of selected cover songs that Dirtnap makes sound like Dirtnap.
If you want to hear some refreshing songs presented in a different format, I urge you to give Dirtnap a listen. Their demo CD is just a teaser for the all originals album they will be working on soon.
Links
