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The Ragbirds

THE DRUM IT CALLS TO DANCE!

About Me

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Band Bio
The Ragbirds began in 2005 with songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Erin Zindle and world percussionist Randall Moore in their search to create fresh, original songs sprouting out of their common love for world music and their desire to weave these distant sounds into more familiar genres. With the addition of guitarist/vocalist Matthew Melody, bassist Dan Hildebrandt, and percussionist Tim Dziekan, who share the vision of creating honest, creative, and original music combining these global and local elements, The Ragbirds fully realized their unique sound. In late 2005 The Ragbirds released their debut CD, Yes Nearby, an independent, full-length album consisting of 12 well-crafted songs. After receiving scores of critical acclaim for Yes Nearby, the band hit the road that summer and has been touring all over the country ever since. In June, 2007 the band released its second studio release, Wanderlove, which has a world travel theme with a pop appeal and was called “Highly Impressive” by USA TODAY.
Led by the energetic and fiery front woman and songwriter Erin Zindle, who skillfully switches between violin, mandolin, banjo, accordion, and percussion, in addition to singing lead vocals (all while dancing!) The Ragbirds musical roots are firmly embedded in the soil of rhythm, ancient and new, incorporating Americana, Gypsy, Celtic, and Latin influences with drums from all over the world, mixing African poly-rhythms and Afro-Cuban tumbao, over sometimes rock, hip-hop or reggae style drum-kit, all designed to get people both listening and up and dancing! In live performances the band incorporates variations on traditional African drum pieces, each member trading their instrument for a nearby hand drums. The band has a strong belief in the lyricism of poetry and positive music, and the power of dance-able rhythm.
Described as “Astounding International Eclecticism!” by Reveal Arts Magazine, The Ragbirds are one of the most touring popular bands in their home state of Michigan, and can also be seen performing all over the mid-west and beyond, growing a loyal fan base in cities and towns all over the country. One of the hardest working bands to come out of Michigan in years, The Ragbirds have averaged well over 200 shows per year for the past two years, and show no signs of slowing down. The Ragbirds have performed to enthusiastic audiences in 13 states, including major markets such as New York City, Nashville, Chicago, Denver, Cleveland, St. Louis, Indianapolis, and many, many, more, and have been featured at some of the mid-west’s largest music festivals. They have shared the stage with George Clinton and P-Funk, Mickey Hart Band (Grateful Dead), Sam Bush, Tony Rice, Railroad Earth, New Monsoon, Jorma Kaukonen (Hot Tuna), Iris Dement, Alvin Youngblood Heart, Ekoostik Hookah, Emmit Nershi, (String Cheese Incident) Lotus, Giovanni Hidalgo, Donna The Buffalo, Jeff Daniels,Tea Leaf Green, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Mamadou Diabate, The Duhks, Jeff Daniels, Wookiefoot, and many, many more
Discography
2007 Wanderlove
2006 Catching Fire (recorded live in Ypsilanti)
2005 Yes Nearby
2005 Washed Away (single, profits donated to Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund)
"Dununba-Encore-Little Things" Hiawatha Music Festival
"Good" from Spring Hookahville '08 WSG TIM CARBONE OF RAILROAD EARTH The Ragbirds @ Hookahville '08 wsg: Tim Carbone (RAILROAD EARTH)
..
"Enemy" from The Ark 2/24/08 w/ Jesse from The Macpodz
The Ragbirds "Enemy" at The Ark wsg: Jesse from Macpodz

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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 3/19/2005
Band Website: theragbirds.com
Band Members: Erin Zindle-

(vocals, violin, mandolin, banjo, accordion, and piano)

Matthew Melody-

(electric and acoustic guitar,vocals, banjo)

Randall Moore-

(drumset, djembe, tabla, percussion)

Tim Dziekan -

(congas, djembe, harmonica, percussion)

Dan Hildebrandt

(bass, percussion, vocals)

Promoters, you can view The Ragbirds's EPK (Electronic Press Kit) by clicking this link

Check out our website at: www.theragbirds.com
for full bios, info, news, photos, music and more!

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Sign up for THE FLOCK, The Ragbirds Street Team here! for only $14 Click here to order a copy of our debut album, "Yes Nearby" for only $14 All transactions are conducted through Paypal, and are 100% secure!
ALL RAGBIRDS CDS ARE AVAILABLE AT CDBABY, i-Tunes, Napster, Amazon, and many more!
Influences: Paul Simon, Mad Sheer Khan, U2, Ani DiFranco, Indigo Girls, Rusted Root, REM, Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart's Planet Drum, Ali Farka Toure, Nickel Creek - Ireland, Africa, South America, Gypsy songs from all four directions. . . . . Rumi, Hafiz, Rilke, songs are poems after all. . .
Sounds Like: hopefully none of the above, and not like anyone else either. . .
We sound like new.
We sound like us. PRESS QUOTES

"The most engaging new band I've heard this year is The Ragbirds....eclectic, restlessly creative, poetic, and delivered with confidence, it grows on you with every listen." -Jeffery Overstreet, Looking Closer (Seattle)

"This is evidence of the very best of what independent contemporary pop music has to offer" -Thom Jurek, All Music (AMG)

"The Ragbirds have gestated a sound and experience so unlike anything you've seen in these parts, you may begin to wonder if you've teleported to another land" -Cheryl Wilson, The Uncommon Sense Magazine

"I feel like I've stumbled across a band that's destined to achieve the same level of cult-greatness as The Innocence Mission, Bruce Cockburn, Ron Sexsmith, Sufjan Stevens, and yes, even Over the Rhine.... The Ragbirds debut album, Yes Nearby, is a work of astounding international eclecticism, mixing everything from reggae to Celtic to blues music along with plenty of world music into a unified, enchanting whole" -Josh Hurst, Revealarts

"In an era of catchy but ultimately unsatisfying pop tunes, this is a welcome treat!" -Roger Lelievre, The Ann Arbor News

"The first time I heard them play I was stunned....I heard their music and literally stopped in my tracks. Their music is not only inspiring and powerful, but a successful experiment in teleportation as well" -Jamie Bradish, The Ypsilanti Courier

"Like a well-worn suitcase covered with travel stickers of world-music styles" -Alan Goldsmith, The Ann Arbor Observer READ MORE PRESS ON WWW.THERAGBIRDS.COM
Record Label: none yet
Type of Label: None

My Blog

Help The Ragbirds save the planet! New diesel tour bus to run on Waste Vegetable Oil

Dear friends, very soon now The Ragbirds are going to be taking a large step to lessen our carbon footprint and environmental impact on this beautiful earth. We have already been working hard to be c...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:25:00 PST

This Kind Miracle

My dad has told me every year of my life,tongue in cheek,  that to make it in themusic business you have to write a Christmassong and get it on the radio.  That's not thereason our new singl...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Fri, 30 Nov 2007 08:32:00 PST

the spirit of Hoxeyville

"Around and around and around we spin with feet of lead and wings of tin." - Kurt VonnegutLet me just stop to say that the music community represented at Hoxeyville Music Fest is something amazing - a...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:07:00 PST

Busy busy busy!!

We've had a busy couple of months here around the Ragbirds camp! We've relocated to Ann Arbor, and have spent the last month putting the final touches on our new studio album, Wanderlove, and planning...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Tue, 29 May 2007 09:25:00 PST

Takin' it easy till St. Pattys

Hey friends, So, as many of you have noticed, our schedule is empty between now and our big St. Patties Day Bash at TC's Speakeasy in Ypsilanti March 17th. That's because we're taking a bit of time o...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Tue, 20 Feb 2007 07:35:00 PST

We're glad to be alive today

Hey friends,Well, we had a crazy weekend. We started out last week with two great shows in Marquette Wednesday and Thursday, left the UP on Friday morning, and headed down to Bellaire for two nights a...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Mon, 15 Jan 2007 07:19:00 PST

she said 'yes'. . .

Big news: On Easter Sunday Randall asked and Erin said "yes"  (read the whole romantic proposal story on E's blog: www.myspace.com/ebirdlove)  So throughout this crazy, fully-booked summer t...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 07:12:00 PST

In memory of Lisa Radtke. . .

So sad to say - our dear friend and fabulous "merch" girl, Lisa Radtke was killed last night - how can I express this deep loss in a blog?  Lisa was my friend for seven years now - God, it just h...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Sat, 08 Apr 2006 12:57:00 PST

Mangrove takes on new meaning (and a new name)

The night that news hit about the tragic destruction of Hurricane Katrina, we had band practice at Jeff's parents house.  His mom said to me matter-of-factly, "Well, your song Mangrove takes on a...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Tue, 06 Sep 2005 10:22:00 PST

ONYAME KOKROKO

As for the African piece that we play at many of our shows called Onyame Kokroko, it is a South African hymn over a West African traditional rhythm (from Mali) called Danza.  (though I wrote the...
Posted by The Ragbirds on Mon, 01 Jan 1900 12:00:00 PST