(((Eagle Winged Palace))) are folk as ghost story. Spooky tales of weird edge of the earth California: Spanish ship wrecks slammed into the rocks of Big Sur; moon faced spirits of silent film stars darting through haunted Mediterranean palaces in Hollywood; migrants aching in the ruined farms of Salinas. A shambolic blend of magical realism, campfire legend and encroaching darkness that blot the mind of California folk act (((Eagle Winged Palace))).
Originally the solo project of Cashew, the former lead singer of The Prix, (((Eagle Winged Palace))) was structured around a singular aesthetic: skeletal acoustic folk stories about dead and gone, black and white California. When the Prix parted ways earlier this fall, the project became Cashew's main artistic focus and he soon decided to recruit a full working band to help carry out his vision. Turning to his friends, all Los Angeles natives themselves, he quickly recruited a group of kindred spirits. First came Michelle, a local poster artist, musician, and songwriter blessed with a bluesy voice and skillful finger picking abilities. Next came Mimi, a trapeze high-flyer model with a voice chaneling the Elysian beauty of deep Joshua Tree desolation. Finally, and ironically least predictably, came Cashew's wife, Uncle Rhea, a classically trained musician herself willing to step away from a high-profile scholarship to return to music for this new project. Recently, local photographer who is sometimes referred to as “Shutterface†Sterling Andrews, has worked her way into the permanent lineup after sitting in for Uncle Rhea as she had her and Cashew’s son this fall. Backing up the vocal group on piano and organ is Nathan Van Hala (West Indian Girl) who came into the fold in the fall of 2008, after Cashew’s longtime collaborator Blake Jordan moved out of Los Angeles.
Currently recording their debut LP, "Mansion on a Hill," they've released a three song mini-EP to give a taste of the up-coming full-length. Download it. Stream it. Give it to your girlfriend as a present and tell her you recorded it yourself. The bottom line is keep an ear out for (((Eagle Winged Palace))). For booking and information, reach [email protected].
~Jeff Weiss (LA Weekly, Los Angeles Times, The Passion of the Weiss)
