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New York City's Fever Train will take a ride up the Thruway to Exit 23 this Friday to play Red Square in Albany. Unless, of course, they take Amtrak.
With its acoustic-driven, jam rock, grunge fare, Fever Train features singer-guitarist Ryan Townsend, drummer Suman Mitra, bass player Ryan Marks, as well as lead guitarist Dan Griffith. The band's influences are easy to hear -- Dave Matthews Band and Phish pop up straightaway -- as Townsend's gruff vocals push and provoke the band's melodic tunes to higher ground.
With one-word song titles like hard-driving "Ride" and anxious "Walk," they drive full speed down the tracks with no brakes. Soon, the band's music will be featured in the upcoming film "Living Will," but see them in real life at Red Square, because you can. - Times Union
"When I first heard Fever Train's debut album, I was floored by the professionalism of such a young band. The songs were catchy and the musicianship was superb. I knew this band was a step above the rest when I found myself humming their music during work. Their concerts feel like an old-time New York City rock show, a little bit dirty and gritty, yet polished and fun. I felt like I was part of something underground, but knew I was taking part in something up and coming." - Versus Television Network
"Combing the rock-solid vocals and songwriting of earthy ‘90s bands like the Spin Doctors and Gov’t Mule with the loose, improvisational abilities of the modern jamband scene, Fever Train is poised for success. The group’s self-titled debut is polished far beyond the band’s young, club life." - Relix Magazine
Discography
Fever Train - 2009
Summer Sampler - 2010
Tomorrow(EP) - 2011
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Bio
Fever Train is a high-energy rock outfit based out of the New York Tri-State area. Their sound invokes a gritty, earthy, grunge-meets-jam-rock feel, with some added fuel and funk to get people moving.
Beginning as a trio, vocalist/guitarist, Ryan Townsend; drummer, Suman Mitra; and bassist, Ryan Marks recorded the band's first full-length, studio album, Fever Train, released in December 2009. Dan Griffith joined the band soon after as the lead guitarist. Griffith's expressive and colorful leads allowed the band to successfully straddle the line between the rock and jam scenes.
Townsend, the band's primary lyricist, has lived a life full of story telling and musicianship. He crafts tales told in a rhythmic, full-throated language reminiscent of the 70s and 90s, yet based in grooves viable in today’s sound.
“There’s a rip in the norm,” a lyric taken from the track, “Listen,” perfectly describes this up-and-coming band's distinguished style and proclivity toward musical fusion.
Marks’ bass, heavily influenced by the likes of Oteil Burbridge and Victor Wooten, combined with Mitra’s hard-hitting rhythms, suggestive of Carter Beuford and John Fishman, provide the life pulse of Fever Train. Griffith's guitar playing toes a line between several musical styles with technical precision, casting a range of melodies over the band's unyielding musical backdrop completed by Townsend's acoustic guitar.
In 2010, the band took their energetic live experience to the people, relentlessly rocking venues throughout New York, New Jersey, and New England. They have shared the stage with artists such as Donna Jean Godchaeux (Grateful Dead), Jeff Mattson (Dark Star Orchestra), The Meters Experience featuring Leo Nocentelli, Questlove (the Roots), Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic), The Heavy Pets, The Breakfast, Kung Fu, UMelt, Dangermuffin, Dopapod, The Brew, and a multitude of others at festivals such as "The Big Up." Their music has been featured on Versus television network, and also in the feature film “Living Will.”
Currently, Fever Train is making preparations towards their next studio project featuring all four members. 2011 promises to be a big year for the band, opening shows all over the Northeast for national acts as well as headlining at clubs and festivals including "A Bear's Picnic."
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