grassfoot
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grassfoot

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"GrassfooT"

If all the members of bands that formed in Athens, Georgia held hands, the chain might reach accross the country. All want to rise, but most go down like a tire iron in a swimming pool. The few bands which break out of a town's local gravitational field are very, very few. So what is the formula? Is it promotion? Determination? Is one band really so much better than another?

Although every band's path to obscurity or notoriety is unique, I think personal musical chemistry is an essential element in every success story. In Flemenco music it's called Duende, and refers to contagious, magical quality. In a band, each memeber either contributes and multiples this mysterious element or dilutes it. Everyone agrees the Beatles were individulally talented, but togehther they achieved something none of them could on their own. The world has changed. It's rare for young musicians to share the common roots and experiecnes that four Liverpool lads once knew. Never in history have there been more aspiring bands that don't seem to move listeners on a primal level. When was the last time you were eagerly anticipation a band's new album? The home recording revolutionmay have given all musicians the opportunity to make albums and be heard but there is a downside. The record companies used to do some editing for us. Now, the burden is on the listener. The market is saturated with independent releases, a few excellent (see Two of Five by Mike Martin) some good, but most better left unrecorded. Besides, who has the time to sift through it all? Who wants to? The guy blowing leaves off your parking lot probably has an album.

In Gainesville, Georgia there may be something different brewing with the mixed and matched talents of Ken Hale, Jason Smith, Rhonda Kay and Johnny Massey. Many good musicians have come out of Gainesville and it was only a matter of time before something like GRASSFOOT would happen. The four are individually talented but together strike a compelling chord with their album Gestalt. The songs are interesting, well written, rich in vocal harmony and texture and, best of all, contain memorable, unpredictable melodies. The guitar is a popular instrument because it is so musically accessable. Most anyone can learn a few chords, write some words and put them together into what sounds like a song. The problem with this chords first/mellody and lyrics later approach which most young writers fall into is that the chord changes drag what there is of melody around like a dog on a leash that dosen't want to be walked.

The music of Grassfoot is a refreshing change and what independent music is all about. Listen or better yet, go hear and see them live. They'll reward you for your investment with that increasingly rare feeling of time well spent.

Ed Weir - Ed Weir


Discography

EP released 2005:
Kissing Tattoos- 3 song EP
Blue Skies
My Addiction
Answer Me

Soon to be released:
Gestalt - A full length CD
Blue Skies
Gestalt
Storm
Shade
Analyze
Pretty Pathetic
All My Heart
Doormat Whore
Freeland
Today
My Addiction
Answer Me
Letters to God
Where I Never Should Have Gone
Mexi-Jam

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Bio

Ken Hale, Grassfoot's front man, was born on the banks of the Bloody Mississippi. As a kid he wanted to be John Denver and started playing guitar at age 5. At age 16 he got serious about playing and started playing Blues Bars around Yazoo City, Greenville, Vicksburg, Natchez and Jackson, where he saw classical guitarist Giovanni DeChiaro in concert. He applied for enrollment in classical guitar studies and was accepted where he studied under him for a couple of years to broaden his musical base. From there he went on to do the band scene. After many years and many bands he moved to Gainesville, GA. where he met Johnny Massey working in a beer warehouse.
The starting of Grassfoot.
Johnny Massey, grew up in Tennille, GA. and started playing guitar at age 14, and switched to drums after a couple of garage bands. At age 16 he bought a set of Pearl Export Series drums like Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, who was his favorite drummer. He met up with Ken Hale much later and the chemistry was a perfect match.
Jason "Bootie" Smith, always had a piano and music in the house growing up. He was always noodling on guitar and drums as a kid. He grew up in Tennille, GA. where he and drummer Johnny Massey went to different schools together. Johnny started showing him guitar chords and riffs. Soon he was playing guitar in Johnny's band. Years later he moved to Califorina and took up bass and fell right into it, his obvious instrument. After several bands he hooked back up with Johnny and moved to Gainesville, GA. and the third part of the Grassfoot trio was complete. They played as a trio for 2 or 3 years around Gainesville and the Atlanta area until they met Rhonda K.
Rhonda K, was born and raised in Gainesville, GA. and has been playing guitar since the age of 10 or 11. Music was always in her house. She started writing songs at age 14 and formed her first band. At age 17 she moved to Melbourne, FL. where she formed a female duo "Twice Enchanted" and learned much about singing and perfecting her natural talents. She returned to Gainesville at age 19 to form "Poetic Device". She played for a year and watched her fan base grow. She went to a Grassfoot show and was "Blown away by the talent". Three days later she was invited to jam with the band and the sound was magic. The Complete Grassfoot!
Having signed with independent record label, Black Label Records, in 2005, they released an EP titled Kissing Tattoo, it was accepted by all fans old and new and is still being sought after.
Their debut full length album, Gestalt, is a German word emphasizing that the whole of anything is greater than it's parts, is a beautiful reflection of their intermost thoughts and musical abilities.
Grassfoot has turned many heads and gained loyal fans everywhere they play.
From the album Gestalt, "Blue Skies" is a hopeful true account of four girls riding in a car and all their hopes and dreams of where their lives will take them, where as "Letters to God" is a soul searching lament about the loss of a loved one.
The acoustic "All My Heart" shares all the fears and
emotions we all have when giving our heart and soul to another.
According to an article in the Atlanta Music Agency, March 2005, "Grassfoot has a radio friendly, good feeling sound. They have been compared with bands such as Live, Blind Melon, and some Fleetwood Mac with a harder edge.
During their energetic live show, their musicianship is evident. Although Ken does his part to hype the crowd, it's almost unnecessary. The music does the trick, and the crowd is on their feet and into it. Grassfoot does have an established following, but I'd bet they get new fans with every live show."