The Toasted Roosters are a hard working, hard driving, rough and rowdy group of musicians based out of the North Country of Minnesota. Combining influences as diverse as ragtime, blues, jug-band, bluegrass, jazz, country, and rock n' roll, The Toasted Roosters create a highly energetic form of music that can best be described as "foot stompin".
Formed in the summer of 2008, The Toasted Roosters have exploded on the scene in the Twin Ports area, have been drawing good crowds, and are beginning to establish themselves as a “must see†group of musicians. But there is a little more to The Toasted Roosters then just rowdy foot stompin’ music.
The Toasted Roosters draw their influence from old-time American music and are interested in putting their stamp on these old time tunes, bringing them into the modern era. Band member Matt Ray states, “Our goal is to help bring old time roots music to the modern listener. We do this by putting our style into these songs, which seems to always create an interesting sound. We are not interested in reproducing these songs perfectly; we are interested in taking them to a new level.†But The Toasted Roosters are not a cover band, as a typical set-list is littered with original songs.
The individual band members’ influences are as diverse as their musical tastes. Zack Kerola (guitar, mandolin, vocals) has been a staple in the Duluth area for several years and is a well respected singer-songwriter in his own right. A classically trained musician, Ellen Thomes (vocals, fiddle) takes on the bands fiddle duties. With the voice of an angel, Thomes also sings backup. Singing most of songs, Matt Ray (guitar, banjo, harmonica, kazoo) has been a performing musician for over 15 years throughout the country. From old time jug band music, to straight up rock and roll, Ray is an accomplished and well respected singer-songwriter. Providing an element of percussion is Joey Flynn (scratchboard, vocals). Always entertaining, Flynn has shared the stage with everyone from local favorites the White Iron Band, Big Tasty, and Trampled by Turtles to international acts such as The Radiators. Rounding out the band, and holding out the bottom end, is Blind Boy Ian “Tub-thumper†Koistvo. Playing a homemade washtub bass, Koistvo applies his training in music theory to create a driving and rhythmic force.
The Toasted Roosters are not your typical band, and people seem to be responding to that. In their short time together the band has played all over the state of Minnesota, from Ely to the Twin Cities. With plans to head into the studio very soon, their growing fan base is already eagerly anticipating their debut release... -- HTML Codes by Code-Generator.net --
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