Enchanted Ape

"The group known to some as the Phish of the Twin Cities just released their debut album, Three Ring Symphony -- a fantastic first offering for the band. But after seeing them perform live, it’s obvious the songs are just a necessary evil to set up the almighty, rocking-out jam. I’ve quickly learned genres are a tricky entity and touchy subject for some musicians, so with a surprisingly wide breadth of songwriting approaches, Enchanted Ape don’t let labels pigeon-hole them.

"And with influences including Allman Bros., Rusted Root, Widespread Panic and String Cheese Incident, Enchanted Ape has quite the musical repertoire, and by recording much of the new studio album material live, the group were able to give their debut an authentic feel that carries through to a live performance." - Greg Swan

Enchanted Ape offers a great show with slick guitar work, great vocals, and songs that you’ll be singing long after you stumble to your car. With roots in acoustic storytelling and blues, the band also has a generous sprinkling of renegade rock, gypsy whine, and amazing layers of tribal percussion.

Their new album is chock full of more laid-back music, relying on blues notes and Southern roots.
It has been my pleasure to watch this band develop from a gathering of players who got together to have a good time and occasionally writer a clever tune to a road-honed band that is producing intelligent songs with tight instrumentation. It is no wonder that they have been repeatedly asked back to the 10,000 Lakes Festival and Milwaukee's Summerfest. - Janie Franz

Minneapolis band Enchanted Ape plays tightly constructed roots-rock, riding lightly on each wave of musical phrasing like seasoned jammers. The quartet says they thrive in a live setting, and the criss-crossed Google tour map on their MySpace page suggests they’re hardy road warriors (at least within the Minnesota-Wisconsin-Iowa tristate area). They’re touring now in support of their second studio album, “Off the Ground.” - Madison, WI

"Musically speaking, the members of Enchanted Ape have both the chops and imagination. The band creates an exciting dynamic that gets people up and dancing." - Robin Shaw

Off The Ground was released this past spring. And, not only is it fine-tuned and professional, but it still has the fire and intensity of when these guys hit the stage for a live gig. The single-mindedness of the members on stage marks this band as a cut above the average rock or jam band.

Enchanted Ape has matured as a band that is centered on its music and delivers live shows with the concentration of classic rock artists of the past. Though they love their audiences, it’s clear they aren’t there for the party or even for their own ego-driven musical touches. They are there to tell their stories through song. - Grateful Web

“Enchanted Ape is a perfectly-tuned rhythmic ensemble, playing their instruments with abandon, feeling the music rather than reciting it.” - Dylan Ohm

Enchanted Ape’s "Three Ring Symphony" is a foot-stomping good time. Two things stand out on this album - the band’s cohesiveness and the lyrics. Enchanted Ape has crafted an impressive album composed of both live takes and studio overdubs.

This is an astonishing feat considering how well the album flows from song to song from extreme happiness to erie sadness without losing it’s “good-times” vibe. This consistency is due largely to Chris O’Brien’s lyrics. He does a fantastic job tackling complex subject matter such as religion, fate, selfishness, and greed.

"Three Ring Symphony" is an album that, because of it’s depth, you can listen to over and over and over again. - Toby Cryns