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The Tallboys

Full bodied Old Time -- Cheers!

About Me


The Tallboys are a four piece old time string band based in Seattle, WA. Well versed in traditional fiddle tunes and mountain songs, The Tallboys perform their music with driving rhythm and soaring melodies. They are honest to their traditional inspirations, yet charge up their sound with a raw edge of gritty enthusiasm conjured from their years of street performing.
Talented vocalists, The Tallboys all share the singing and harmonize to create a beautifully authentic old time sound. The instrumental line-up begins with Joe Fulton, from Iowa, who has been playing since boyhood. His impressive fiddling leads the melody. Charlie Beck, from Indiana, plays both clawhammer and three-finger style banjo and brings over a decade of musical experience to the band. He is also a talented songwriter, creating several original compositions. Longtime musician John Hurd, from Oregon, lays down that driving bass foundation essential to The Tallboys’ rhythm. Charmaine Slaven, from Montana, fills out the sound with solid rhythm guitar and is one of the best clog dancers on the west coast. She has the unique ability to clog and play guitar simultaneously. Together, they blend the attributes of each instrument and vocalist, creating a cohesive sound.
Performing since 2003, they have released three albums and a fourth is expected in early 2007. The Tallboys have received outstanding reviews and press from many well-respected individuals in the music industry. The band has received continuously increasing airplay nationwide, and has recently been featured on Puget Sound Public Radio KUOW 94.9 “The Beat” and Seattle’s country music station KMPS 94.1 “Ichabod and the Waking Crew”. The Tallboys perform at numerous music festivals in the Northwest including Seattle’s Northwest Folklife Festival, Northwest String Summit (winners of the 2004 band contest), Portland’s Pickathon Roots Music Festival, The Portland Old Time Gathering, San Francisco Bluegrass & Old Time Festival, Bainbridge Bluegrass Festival, Fremont Solstice Fair, and many others.
The Tallboys are a grassroots independent band and have strong ties to the community, donating performances for local nonprofit fundraisers and events. Additionally, they have been instrumental in gaining recognition for Seattle’s local old time music scene, and continue to involve young people with old music by hosting a monthly square dance and jam at the Tractor Tavern.
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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 12/22/2005
Band Website: thetallboys.com
Band Members: Joe Fulton, Fiddle
Charlie Beck, Banjo
John Hurd, Bass
Charmaine Slaven, Guitar/Feet

You can get MP3s of all our music and pick the price you pay here:

Influences:

78 Era Musicians:
Uncle Dave, East Texas Serenaders, Carter Family, Grinnell Giggers, Nations Bros, Stripling Bros, Georgia Yellow Hammers, Gid Tanner, Skillet Lickers, Hoyt Ming, Narmour and Smith, Dock Boggs, John Carson, so many more...

Field Recordings:
Tommy Jarrell, Wade Ward, Hobart Smith, John Salyer, Melvin Wine, Bill Bilyeau,...

Records, Tapes, 8-Tracks, my recorder over their shoulder, and other modern sources we listen to:
Mike Seeger, The Old 78s, Foghorn Stringband, Rafe Stefanini, Lee Stripling, Clarke Bueling, W.B. Reid...
Sounds Like: Have a look and a listen for yourself!! Here we are busking at Seattle's Pike Place Market accompanied by legendary Artis the Spoonman...

John (bass), Charlie (banjo), & Charmaine (clogger) at Folklife 2006.

Check out our twice-monthly square dances at the Tractor Tavern in Seattle! Here's a sneak peek:

Type of Label: None

My Blog

Performances this Week

Howdy Tallboys' Supporters! We're excited to be so busy this week!  We're especially excited to welcome former Tallboy, Paul McGowen along with his wife Skye & fiddler Pete Howard with their ...
Posted by The Tallboys on Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:09:00 PST

Sunset Tavern & Tractor Tavern!

Our friend Paul Silveria's coming to town and we've got two great nights of fun planned for you.  Come on out to Ballard for some good old-time entertainment!!Sunday Feb 10th, 9PMThe Tallboys &am...
Posted by The Tallboys on Fri, 08 Feb 2008 01:52:00 PST

Tractor Square Dance, now twice the fun!!

..> Hellacious Square Dance Tonight!! Monday November 12thTractor Tavern Square Dance with music by The Tallboys and calling by Jerry Gallaher5213 Ballard Ave NW, Seattle21+, $5/$8 PairsAnd this m...
Posted by The Tallboys on Mon, 12 Nov 2007 12:50:00 PST

T-shirts are here!

Thanks to everyone who made it to the CD Release in person, and in spirit!  Also, thanks to those who caught us on our road-trip to Berkeley.  The Berkeley Old Time Convention (http://w...
Posted by The Tallboys on Sat, 22 Sep 2007 01:02:00 PST

Check out this event: The Tallboys in Cottage Grove, Davis, & Berkeley!

Hosted By: The Tallboys When: Thursday Sep 13, 2007 at 8:00 PMWhere: Axe and Fiddle657 East Main StreetCottage Grove, OR 97424United StatesDescription:The Tallboys Click Here To View Event...
Posted by The Tallboys on Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:54:00 PST

Check out this event: The Tallboys CD Release Party!

Hosted By: The Tallboys When: Friday Aug 31, 2007 at 9:00 PMWhere: Tractor Tavern5213 Ballard Ave NWSeattle, WA 98107United StatesDescription:The Tallboys Click Here To View Event...
Posted by The Tallboys on Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:13:00 PST

NPR Story

Yeah! The Tallboys and Paul Silveria got interviewed for a lil' story on NPR about square dancing in the Northwest&I heard this may air nationally in the future.  Click on the link below to hear...
Posted by The Tallboys on Tue, 10 Apr 2007 06:14:00 PST

Photo in The Stranger

The Stranger has lovingly plastered our picture on this weeks Live Music Calender - check it out! It's the sweetest Valentine we've gotten :)
Posted by The Tallboys on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 06:56:00 PST

Squaredance on Monday!

Got another great square dance planned for Monday Feb 12th, bring your sweety to the Tractor for some pre-Valentine's dancin'! Square Dancing is about the easiest and funnest way to get your dancing o...
Posted by The Tallboys on Sat, 10 Feb 2007 06:38:00 PST

Upcoming events

Happy November! Hope you can make it out to one of our upcoming shows in this month. Here..s what we..ve got coming up:Friday November 3rdThe Tallboys perform for Snowbash! A Benefit for the NW Weat...
Posted by The Tallboys on Wed, 01 Nov 2006 02:42:00 PST