Deadwood Revival is a string band comprised of four extraordinarily talented musicians from four completely different backgrounds coming together to create some of the most unassuming, honest "feel good" music filled with the spirit of old-time Appalachia, soulful American roots, jam-band improvisation and a whole lotta hootenanny!
Deadwood Revival came onto the scene as a duo in early 2005 when Kim Trenerry and Jason Mogi, after years of co-fronting their own folk rock jam band, found a new love...that of old-time Appalachian music. Combining their rock background with old-time gave Kim and Jason their reputation as "one of the hottest duos around" and became one of the first duos to ever win the Northwest String Summit Band Competition (2005). Hundreds of concerts and festivals, four west coast tours, and two cd's later...Kim and Jason reconnected with long time friend, bassist Ches Ferguson in June 2007 and the duo became a trio. In late 2007, former "Looking Glass" fiddler, Julie Campbell, came onboard and completed the DwR sound with her fierce fiddling. And so, from duo to trio to quartet, DwR has evolved from a simple banjo/guitar duo to a full, rich sound which is best described as "Old-time String Band meets Acoustic Grateful Dead".
THE MUSIC...
Jason's clean, percussive clawhammer banjo or soulful acoustic guitar work coupled with his homemade "stomp board", Julie's energetic and engaging fiddling along with Kim's driving rhythm on acoustic guitar and Ches's thumping bass ukelele (yes, you read that right!) is the musical backdrop for Kim and Jason's powerhouse vocal harmonies that give Deadwood Revival its unique and unmistakable sound. Frank Gutch of the Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange says of DwR..."You can tell from the first note that they are crowd-pleasers. They're fun, adventurous and yet true to their roots."
In the DwR duo days, Kim and Jason released two cd's: their self-titled debut "Deadwood Revival" and shortly thereafter..."This Old World". Guest artists appear on both cd's which are comprised of mostly original tunes, some traditionals and few covers with Kim and Jason playing many of the additional instruments. Both of these cd's received rave reviews and radio airplay across the US and Canada and "This Old World" was nominated for Album of the Year in 2009 by the Independent Music Award organization, Just Plain Folks. In May of 2009, DwR released their first cd since becoming a 4-piece titled "Sat 7:30". The cd is 14 "all live" tracks recorded at several of their favorite watering holes across the Pacific Northwest. This high energy cd captures the true essence of DwR...skilled musicians who enjoy playing together and sharing their music with others. "Sat 7:30" is also receiving rave reviews and radio airplay and has been opening ears (and doors!) to the new, improved and highly adventurous Deadwood Revival!
Whether a rockin' hoe-down or a tasty ballad, their original tunes have been described as "old timey with smokin' hooks". Their songs are uplifting, sometimes poignant, and often sound like they could have been written a hundred years ago. DwR also breathes new life into a variety of old-time fiddle tunes, folk tunes, bluegrass tunes, rock tunes and of course a few Grateful Dead tunes. Whether it's one of their own, a traditional or a cover...DwR's clever arrangements, kick ass harmonies and many an extended jam have won praise in both old-time/bluegrass circles as well as the jam band scene.
As if the music itself weren't enough, the positive energy they exude...that unknown dimension...is a large part of what draws people in and keeps them coming back again and again. The joy they put into their music reflects back to the fans who take with them feelings of happiness, positivism, and inspiration.
So, come check out Deadwood Revival for a foot stompin', banjo pickin', harmony singin', spirit liftin' "spin on traditional bluegrass that even a rock apostle shall dig".