Music
Press
A performance by The Tree is a lot like a primeval force of nature – more or less unstoppable when occurring, loud, and prone to inducing rapture. And nowhere is this raw awe-inspiring live experience better seen than at their home-venue, Kirby’s.
Kirby’s Irish Pub is a small bar in New Bedford, located at 818 Kempton Street. It’s a dive bar, meaning it’s teeming with locals looking for some good ol’ alcohol fueled socializing. In the back corner, there is an arcade game with a speed bag that rates the strength of one’s punches in points. Guinness and Irish Car Bombs are patron favorites. Needless to say, these people know how to throw down.
As The Tree’s home venue, Kirby’s has played an integral part in both the beginnings, and the local success of the band. MC Brandon Cabral referred to it as “Kirby’s, the birthplace of The Tree.” New Bedford native’s know and love this band. So every few weeks when they play there, the place gets packed, it gets wild. The entire September 17th show is available to view on UStream. Also, a clip of the one on October 7th can be found on youtube.
Much of the band’s appealing live experience can be attributed to their highly interactive stage presence. The vocalists get right into the thick of the crowd, sometimes inches from faces, and dance, jump, and shout with their fans. A lot of time, the mic even gets handed over to to someone in the audience. In the past, guest MCs have included Bryce Da SixOne and Nick Be. Most shows the both lyrically and literally mammoth KyE Nathaniel will spit on songs like Five Dollar Penny.
The next gig at Kirby’s is already scheduled, it’s a Halloween party on the 29th. The band invites all to “wear their best costumes” and “ come have a blast.” They definitely will play some of the new material they have been working on. Bassist Jacob O’Brian said the band has about 5 or 6 songs that are either finished or in the works, three of which, have the titles Psychodelic, Funken, and The City.
As for the highly anticipated EP? Fans be thankful, the recording process is finally complete and will be reaching public ears shortly. The collection of songs dubbed The Groton Sessions was “just finished last Tuesday”, said guitarist Riley Stockwell. He went on to specify that New Bedford based record label, Croon Recordings, should be “done mixing it in the next couple of days.”
For all those who have missed out on seeing the Tree at Kirby’s, don’t fret. As stated before, The Tree will be playing at Kirby’s on the 29th. Come to the show to see the infectious rock driven hip-hop that has fans going wild. Come to the show to see the energetic stage presence. Come to the show and learn why the band and everyone around them can’t stop saying, “it just feels right.”
It just feels right. - Christian Arthur
Discography
The Groton Sessions (5 song EP)
Photos
Bio
At their shows, one must be prepared for music that has the potential to branch out at any moment. Jazz inflected reggae grows into a World percussion jam. Some melancholic noise rock shifts occasionally into a minor-key funk, only to lay still in low drones. Delta blues antics just might crescendo into psychedelic storms and flurries of guitar virtuosity. Things always get crazy.
They play as proficiently as any weathered veterans, but the members of The Tree are all in their early to mid twenties. Music extends to an academic level for these musicians. Almost all of them are currently attending or have attended The University Of Massachusetts in Dartmouth for music degrees.
Scott Lyman, the pianist, navigates his keys with a fervor. Matt “Rico” Cavanaugh obliterates his drums while always staying locked in the pocket. Completing the other half of an impeccable rhythm section is Jacob O’Brien’s rock solid bass skills. And through all of it, Riley Stockwell coaxes things out his guitar that are downright unholy.
But here is kicker: Take any of the aforementioned jams, and add hip-hop to it. The Tree has two MCs, Christian Garris and Brandon Cabral. During improvisations, the duo take turns freestyling and getting the crowd crazy.
Accompanying them is the final member of The Tree, Michelle Oliveri, a vocalist who is two parts soulful singer, and one part quick-lipped scatwoman.
The Tree‘s ability to span the genre spectrum is truly shocking. Not only that, but they flawlessly find the perfect balance between originality and accessibility, resulting in a delectable serving of sounds all their own. Save the descriptive phrase “ear candy” for lesser bands, The Tree is a feast.
Links
