Music
Press
by Kim Ruehl May 17 2007
"Seattle is only part of the Northwest old time revival, but if there's any group in town that could be considered leaders of this city's movement, the Tallboys Stringband fits that bill nicely. Certainly one of the hardest working Northwest bands, Tallboys Stringband plays monthly square dances and a weekly old time jam session, not to mention busking and the "normal" calendar of gigs.
Complete with killer banjo player, fiddler, and resident clogger, it's only a matter of time before the Tallboys are bringing down the house at festivals and venues across the country."
- About.com
“…The Tallboys would have you believe that the group's old-timey and traditional music is fiddle-driven and, technically, they would not be wrong, but traditional and old-timey music is more soul-driven than technical at times and these guys toss themselves into each song with proficiency and emotion in equal quantities. …these guys can play!” - Frank Gutch Jr., Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange, Jan 2006
“Seattle's Tallboys create nimble, lively old-time music so authentic you'd be excused for believing Mount Rainier lies somewhere in the Ozarks. While Joe Fulton's ferocious fiddle playing assumes the spotlight on the band's self-released Wild Hog, each of the disc's 11 songs boast the kind of telepathic interplay common to the sibling groups of country music's golden era. Mandolins and guitars weave through the arrangements as if guided by knitting needles, and the ragged-but-right harmonies fit as comfortably an old gingham shirt.” - Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide 2005
“The band is tight and in the groove, supported by nimble clawhammer banjo, unobtrusive mandolin and a sturdy framework of stand-up bass and acoustic guitar... When the vocals come to the forefront, they sound good, as evidenced by the clean duo harmony…You’ll be pleased with the sound of this record – it’s very natural, as if you were sitting just outside the band’s circle at a music party. Any group that performs with a “resident clogger” must be a hoot to catch live. The title of this CD evokes the music well – unpretentious and fun. Yeah buddy.” - Mark Bilyeu, Ozarks Mountaineer, Mar/Apr 2006
“…the Tallboys are famous for their numerous appearances in the Market along with other appearances throughout the Seattle area… The hard driving fiddle played by Joe Fulton in “Cumberland Gap” and “Sally Ann” are a couple of my all time favorites and make you want to jump up and flatfoot dance along with the track… Providing the background for flatfoot and square dancing has been a major part of their passion for this style music…!” - Steve Derebey, WA Bluegrass Assoc. Gazette, Spr 2006
“… With a finesse developed through many hours of playing in the Pike Place Street Market of Seattle, the boys have honed the down home sound of old time music to a fine edge… Their voices intertwine with the instruments and the resulting sound is enticing dance music...” - B. Hough, CA Bluegrass Assoc. Mar 2006
"...the Tallboys have a vivacious style made for dancing...custom made for a Friday night free-for-all..." - Ronnie D. Lankford Jr., Old Time Herald, Apr/May 2006
“… The Tallboys are all much too young to be playing music this old with that much passion and experience… They play together with no once musician overshadowing another. This instrumental harmony gives these mainly traditional tunes a nice polish…making them sound fresh again. They seem to truly enjoy the music, playing together, and that spirit flows through the music and into the listener.” - James Rodgers, The Victory Review, June 2006
“a dynamic collection of traditional tunes that sounds as if it could have been recorded years ago during the so-called golden age of country music… While the production of "Yeah Buddy" is minimal, the music of the Tallboys is first class and reflects the band's enormous talent and potential.” - Bluegrass Unlimited, June 2006
“…They are accomplished, yet unpolished, which is exactly the way old-timey tunes should be delivered--well-schooled and raw… the group performs at the level of well-known revivalists the Old Crow Medicine Show and the Hackensaw Boys… these groups are the closest comparison because there is a punk edge to the Tallboys. Ever time I see them, it stirs something inside my hillbilly soul and I can't sit still… when Charmaine puts down her flat-top guitar to start clogging like Loretta Lynn's mother in Coal Miner's Daughter, it's all over for me. I'm stomping my feet, hooting, and clapping as if Seattle was a by-God coal holler.” - Brian Barr, Seattle Weekly, Dec 2006
Discography
Full Length Albums:
"Rubber Dolly" - 2007
"Yeah Buddy" - 2005
"Wildhog" - 2005
"Hang It On Your Door" - 2003
Our albums "Yeah Buddy" and "Rubber Dolly" recieve regular airplay on radio stations nationwide.
Photos
Bio
Based in Seattle, Washington, The Tallboys are a four piece old time string band well-versed in traditional fiddle tunes and mountain songs. They remain honest to their traditional inspirations, yet charge up their sound with a raw edge of gritty enthusiasm conjured from their years of street performing. The Tallboys consistently deliver exciting stage performances and hard-driving
dance tunes.
Talented vocalists, The Tallboys all share the singing, and their harmonies create a beautifully authentic old time sound. The instrumental line-up begins with Joe Fulton, from Iowa, who has been playing since boyhood. His impressive fiddling leads the melody. Charlie Beck, from Indiana, plays both clawhammer and three-finger style banjo and brings over a decade of musical experience to the band. He is also a talented songwriter, creating several original compositions. Longtime musician
John Hurd, from Oregon, lays down that driving bass foundation essential to The Tallboys’ rhythm. Charmaine Slaven, from Montana, fills out the sound with solid rhythm guitar and is one of the finest buckdancers on the west coast. She also has
the unique ability to dance and play guitar simultaneously. Together, they blend the attributes of each instrument and vocalist, creating a cohesive sound.
Performing since 2003, they have released four albums, with "Rubber Dolly" being the most recent. The Tallboys have received outstanding reviews and press from many well-respected authroties in the music industry. The band has received continuously increasing airplay nationwide, and has recently been featured on Puget Sound Public Radio KUOW 94.9FM and KBCS 91.3FM Community Radio. The Tallboys have been featured at numerous music festivals in the including the NW Folklife Festival, String Summit (winners of the 2004 band contest), Pickathon Roots Music Festival, Portland Old Time Gathering, San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival, Berkeley Old Time Convention, Bainbridge Bluegrass Festival, Fremont Solstice Fair, and many others.
A grassroots independent band, The Tallboys have strong ties to the community, and donate several annual performances for local nonprofit fundraising events. Additionally, they have been instrumental in developing Seattle’s local old time music community by organizing a monthly square dance at the Tractor Tavern, a weekly old-time jam at Conor Byrne Pub, and non-profit community resource website, www.oldtimeseattle.com.
Links
