Dust Bowl Faeries are Americana by way of pagan cabaret

A faerie-tale fusion of dark cabaret, gothic polka and post-punk music, Dust Bowl Faeries is a dark-carnival band from the New York Hudson Valley. The band's eclectic repertoire of songs draw inspiration from circus songs, murder ballads and Eastern European folk tunes. Accordion, singing saw, acoustic guitar, lap-steel, bass and percussion combine to create the Dust Bowl Faeries otherworldly sound. The band was founded by Ryder Cooley (faerie queen) and her taxidermy spirit animal, Hazel the Ram.

Ryder and Hazel are joined by Jon B. Woodin (rocket faerie), Liz LoGiudice (river faerie), Andrew Stein (time faerie) & Rubie LaRue (feisty faerie). Dust Bowl Faeries released their second album, The Plague Garden, in 2020. They previously released two EP's with producer Floyd Fisher, and a self titled album, produced by music critic Seth Rogovoy, featuring Tommy Stinson (Replacements) & Melora Creager (Rasputina). Their forthcoming 2022 EP features harpist Mikaela Davis.

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The Dirt Whisperers are Eric Simons on guitar and vocals and Bradford Reed on pencilina and drums. Simons has played with Ladybug Mecca of Digable Planets, Brian Jackson of Gil Scott Heron, The Dukes of Brooklyn, Tractor Supply and Revel in Dimes. A Kansas native, Eric is heavily influenced by his home state’s blues, country, gospel and early jazz, but his style can sound as rooted in the Mississippi Delta as anywhere else.

Bradford Reed’s pencilina, his own invention, is an electric ten-stringed collision of the hammer dulcimer, slide guitar, koto and fretless bass. Reed, born in NYC, played with King Missile III (and produced 4 of their records) and in the original band of The Blue Man Group as well as Satellite and the Harpoonist. Reed has also scored numerous films and TV shows, including Superjail! on Adult Swim and Ugly Americans on Comedy Central.

The music of The Dirt Whisperers is grounded in traditional blues and classic soul, but it traverses many genres, adding in touches of gospel and Americana, while never losing track of good old American rock and roll. Eric’s guitar can growl or whisper or even call on the steely sounds of a National Resonator. Both drums and bass are simultaneously covered by Bradford on a minimal drum kit and the pencilina which constantly adds in unexpected tones and textures that are often difficult to explain. There might be a bow tantalizing the strings or harmonics ringing from the sticks, which act as movable bridges, riding the strings like a ship on the high seas. While the collaboration of Simons and Reed may seem experimental (and it can be!), The Dirt Whisperers pride themselves on singing and playing melodies that will hook your eardrums while their beats get your ass shaking.

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Dance party after by the Disappointer Sisters