Caspar, CA (Top40 Charts/ Green Light Go) Gwyneth & Monko will continue their extensive tour with more stops out west, including one in Gwyneth Moreland's hometown of Mendocino, Calif. The duo, whose sound lies somewhere between folky acoustic and indie rock, has been playing dates all along the west coast throughout the spring in support of their new self-titled album that was released Feb. 15.
The new record, which was recorded at Old School Studio in Caspar, Calif., will more accurately reflect what the duo sounds like live, which is somewhere between folky acoustic and indie rock. And it's no wonder their new work sounds this way, as they've been on the road for most of 2010, taking weekends here and there to record. Guest artists Scott Southard on bass, Jimmy Gallagher on drums and Matt Cooper Borkenhagen on pedal steel and dobro, join Gwyneth & Monko on their self-titled album.
This record exists in part because of a month of creative exploration. In July, Gwyneth Moreland and Michael Monko spent time honing new songs in a home recording studio. Those sketches came to life in Old School Studio and are filled with new elements: Moreland on banjo, Monko on fiddle and guest artists adding drums and bass. These additions allow Gwyneth & Monko to explore a different dynamic while still keeping the old-timey and Americana influences, songwriting style, Moreland's vocal style and Monko's intricate instrumentation.
Gwyneth & Monko Tour Dates
6/3/11 The Carter Ranch Music Festival, Mariposa, CA
6/4/11 The Plough and Star, San Francisco, CA
6/18/11 Mendocino Hotel, Mendocino, CA
6/23/11 Six Rivers Brewery, McKinleyville, CA
6/30/11 Di Luna's Cafe, Sandpoint, ID
Praise for Gwyneth & Monko
"An album full of dark and beautiful songs that radiate with the fever
of Appalachian folk tunes yet have the easy going attitude of West
Coast rock. .... Together, the two present a real no-nonsense approach
to playing Folk inspired music that strikes the right balance between
rural roots and urban attitude."
- Tuneraker.com | February 11, 2011
"Gwyneth & Monko ... kinda reminds me sometimes of Nanci Griffith's
wonderful work of the late '80s - if Nanci had been hanging out a lot
with Lucinda Williams. Or maybe I should just say it's as if Lucinda
Williams had Nanci Griffith's voice. Or something highly
complimentary. Aw, hell. What I'm trying to say is this is good stuff."
- Revolution 21's Blog for the People, The Mighty Favog | February 15,
2011
"These days, indie country music is referred to as "Americana," rather
than "country." And that's what Gwyneth and Monko serve up, good ol'
timey country-folk music, full of fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo,
etc. The lyrics on some of the tracks are pretty bleak, such as the
second track, "Consumption," about how tuberculosis devastated a
family. Gwyneth's vocals are so beautiful and evocative, more like an
indie band singer than a country band singer. A very cool idea that
they did is on the last track, recording the song, "Pine Box Sailor,"
to a wax cylinder, giving it a really authentic old sound, full of
hissing and scratchiness. If you're an Americana fan, try this out. I
think you'll enjoy it."
-Paul Silver | Jersey Beat | March 14, 2011
"...a singer with a moving voice and an amazing musician in Michael Monko." -Kevin Gustafson, Blogcritics
"The latter song 'Lexington Ballad', which recently received honourable mention at the Woody Guthrie Songwriting competition, showcases Monko's musicianship, as well as Moreland's flair for folk-style storytelling." -Nereida Fernandes, Exclaim
"Being a sucker for traditional-style storytelling, and vocal harmonies, I found myself weak at the knees listening for the first time to the lovely song Pine Box Sailor. It's awash with imagery and longing, driven by it's waltz-like tempo and folksy, universal melody. Gwyneth's vocals and lyrics combine wonderfully in this sad lament. This song is from her solo album, but the killer harmony vocals are from Michael Monko. Lexington Ballad in the standout from the new EP. Great vocals from Moreland, with stellar mandolin lines from Monko. This is very good songwriting from a duo with lots of talent, and, we hope, at least a few more albums to come." -Call It Folk
"'Lexington Ballad' is probably the EP's finest song - a ballad dressed up with flamenco-like guitar and a soaring acoustic melody - where Moreland shines as the song's especially tremendous instrument. It's her voice that serves as that extra instrument on Good Old Horse that calmly raises all of the release's quality; and right now, it looks like a winning combination." -Bryan Sanchez, Delusions of Adequacy
Read Gwyneth Moreland's responses to the NPR "Hey Ladies" questionnaire
"The folky pair's charming five-song EP (due July 20) is sensitive and sparse, with the youthful-sounding Gwyneth Moreland leading the way as both singer and songwriter." -Chris M. Junior, Medleyville
"From out of the Northern California redwoods on the beautiful Mendocino Coast comes a talent so unique, it makes me want to shout it from the hilltops to the world-wide airwaves."
- DJ Larry Hacken, KZYX
"Steady acoustic guitar, trickling mandolin and pure vocals contribute to a scaled back and earthy folk sound."-The Mad Mackerel Saturday Round-up
"What strikes me about Gwyneth's music is the breadth of styles, and the refreshing straightforwardness of her writing. She speaks her mind in her poetry, and is not afraid to set up a musical expectation that shifts gears in unexpected ways. She evokes the lurch of the tavern and the comfort of home with a playful and poignant lyricism wrapped in clear musical arrangements."
-David Remedios, Sound Designer and Composer, Boston MA
"As an accomplished songwriter, it was inevitable that Gwyneth would seek to showcase her beautifully written songs. After 3 years of painstaking work, Gwyneth's vision has finally come to fruition. Her long awaited solo album, 'Wishbone', is a masterpiece that proves it was worth the wait. While most of her work with Foxglove would be classified as 'Americana' and 'Folk'Music, it becomes more of a challenge to categorize this new album. While there are definitely Americana and Folk influences throughout the album, the wide variety of songs and styles included shows that Gwyneth is a real artist. I believe a true artist is always searching for the next inspiration and is never satisfied repeating what has already been tried. Rather than completely relying on a comfortable style that she has known and has already mastered, she is unabashedly exploring new sounds and other genres."
-Larry Hacken, KZYX/Z (Wishbone, 2009 review)
"Acoustic guitarist Moreland has a voice with warm power like Neko Case or Jenny Lewis and a writing style reminiscent of Gillian Welch, which is further complemented by Monko's multi-instrumentalist lead skills on mandolin, guitar and fiddle. "
-Blake Hannon, News-Press Now
--The-Book-Of-Timbuk.JPG)
