Saturday Night Preachers
Franksville, Wisconsin, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
If you like country and Americana music, then you can’t really get any better than the Saturday Night Preachers, who are playing at Eagle’s Down at 8:30pm. Their traditional sound and gorgeous vocals will save your soul from the first note. - Mike Huberty
2010 was the Saturday Night Preachers' year. They are a band that started out a couple years ago and now seem to be everywhere. Heck, they were even on CNN in the Fall. OK, the story was actually about the stuck Ferris Wheel at Party on the Pavement but I'm pretty sure that was them in the picture there. The quartet blends bluegrass, folk, country and rootsy pop into its Americana mix. They also love to toss a bit of Johnny Cash and Celtic tunes in there as well. But where other bands of this ilk like to give the impression they grew up playing music on the front porch after a family dinner, the image is accurate with this family band. Brothers Norm Prat III and Jason Pratt have been laying down licks with Papa Pratt for most of their lives. Enter Anneliese Pratt on lead vocals by marriage to Jason and it's definitely a family affair.
- Paddy Fineran
There are certain bands that I am going to continue to beat you over the head with until everyone starts coming out to hear them. In Kenosha it's Ash Can School. In Milwaukee, the Danglers. Here in Racine, that band is the Saturday Night Preachers. They are family entertainment by a family band. Composed of Norm Pratt Jr on guitar, sons Norm III on banjo, mandolin and guitar and Jason on standup bass and sister-in-law/daughter-in-law Anneliese on vocals, the band performs a wonderfully engaging pastiche of Americana, front porch, rootsy post folk music.One look at a Saturday Night Preachers audience is all you should need to become a fan. Feet are tapping. People are singing to songs many of them are hearing for the very first time. Corners of mouths are upturned. It is, quite simply, a breath of fresh air in today's increasingly jaded bottom line, joyless approach to corporate music where cut and paste is the rule and paste is the general output of most acts.The Saturday Night Preachers aren't trying to be anyone else. Do you really think nu-folk is the Billboard quick path to airplay? That approach though is what will continue to make them audience darlings. There's a no bullshit factor with them. You get what you see. You get what you hear. You get an enjoyable evening out.Saturday Night Preachers perform 7-11 p.m. on Saturday, July 24, at Yardarm Bar & Grill, 930 Erie St.
- Paddy Fineran
Opening for The Little River Band on Sunday, The Saturday Night Preachers were more than a pleasant surprise. A local family band brimming with harmonious vocals, toe tapping strings and even an electric mandolin had me bouncin’ in my seat and mesmerizedd by the female lead vocals.
Norm Pratt III, Jason Pratt, Anneliese Pratt, and Norm Pratt Jr. make up this spectacular band who classify themselves as Bluegrass/Folk/Americana. My husband preferred them to The Little River Band…and to be honest, so did I. don;t get me wrong. I do really like TLRB…but on a different level. They are familiar..I know all the words…fun to dance to…remind me of childhood. But these guys…great talent who deserve much recognition. When they opened at Memorial Hall it was just the father and son who preformed. The other brother and daughter-in-law/wife/sister-in-law…lol…are also a part of the band whom we watched play later that night at Ivanhoe’s Pub.
The Saturday Night Preachers won their chance to open for The Little River Band in a contest put on by Ivanhoe’s the previous week. I did not hear the other contestants…but I don’t think I need to in order to be certain the best gained victory. The contest only allowed for only 2acousticcperformerss per entry. I wondered how they decided who would enter and who would step back. I think it would have been great regardless of the choices made…I just wonder how this family went about making the decision and why. Gesh, I am so over analytical!!
I strongly recommend seeing this band when you get the chance.
- Heather Rayne
Discography
If We Leave Here Tonight
Take Me Back
Lonely Boy
I Don't Want to Be Alone
Whiskey!
Photos
Bio
The Saturday Night Preachers is a non-typical family band with instrumentation that seemingly lends itself to be a bluegrass band, yet the Saturday Night Preachers have managed to keep their music from being categorized as bluegrass alone. While understanding the tradition in bluegrass, the band has infused other styles bringing them a sound that can be defined in multiple genres. Having been referred to as Alt Country/Folk/Americana, the bands original songs commonly fit into any or all of those categories.
This four piece group is comprised of Norm Pratt, Jr. (Papa Pratt), Norm Pratt III, Jason Pratt and Anneliese Pratt.
Papa Pratt played for 37 years in his living room until his two sons dragged him on stage on St. Patrick's Day 2009. Since then he's become an integral part of the song writing and live performance of the Saturday Night Preachers.
Anneliese Pratt's singing started early in her life as a member of the Kinderchor singing group in Chicago, which would lead to a lifetime of singing including a degree in vocal performance from UW Parkside. Honing her performing skills with multiple open jams, dinner theater at Apple Hollar and the occasional karaoke night, she was a natural choice for the boys when they were looking to expand their front porch experiment.
Brothers Norm and Jason started playing music together in grade school and have continued in a myriad of musical experiences together ever since. They started together in a classic setting; Norm on the viola and Jason on the upright bass and continued throughout their journey to play together including The Golden Stings Strolling Orchestra, several small chamber groups, and even the occasional duet. They maintained playing together in a blues band called the Soulbullets with Norm on guitar and Jason on electric bass. After serving four years in the Marine Corp stationed at MCAS Beaufort, S.C., Jason and Anneliese returned to Wisconsin and the brothers reunited once again in a weekly front porch jam session that inspired the idea to put together the current band.
Several years later, the Saturday Night Preachers have found themselves at festivals, pubs and even weddings throughout the Midwest, always looking for the next crowd to bring home to the front porch.
Band Members
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