Member Since: 11/05/2006
Band Website: www.sonicbids.com/BlackSquirrels
Band Members: KAT Smith:vocals/guitar
KATE Williams: accordion/vocals/keyboard/rhythm instruments
TRAVIS L. Sing: doghouse bass/vocals
TIM Cich: guitar/mandolin
Black Squirrels perform at The Holland Center
Videos by Kyle B.
Influences: Numerous artists from many periods and genres, but our prime influence is the rich tradition of American country music, whether it is hillbilly, folk, white blues, bluegrass, western swing, honky tonk or even rockabilly.
Sounds Like: . . . we know what we're doing?
Here are some kind words about us:
“Sunday afternoon, rural folks donned their finest and gathered in an austere, clapboard farmhouse for good fellowship and to hear what the four dirtroad pickers had picked up in the big city. Banjo, mandolin, and guitars ambled without airs. Faded flowery wallpaper peeled. Milk-sweet harmonies and homey storytelling broke open the blue August sky.†[3/6 records] – Rockabilly Magazine; Issue 45 (Spring 2009)
“The main talk at the after party at Nomad was that a lot of bands that deserved to win did... The Black Squirrels winning the best Bluegrass/Folk/Americana award seemed to be a rallying point for many post-awards show as the hard-working band really paid their dues this year.†- Marq Manner “Local Tunes,†Omaha City Weekly, 1.14-20.09
"Well they do make a strong first impression. The sleeve is lovingly tooled and illustrated. The first song '30 Miles' instantly reminds me of the Walkabouts and the Handsome Family with its dark compelling folky sound. It’s a good start, a very favourable first impression.... The harmony, melody and structure of the country lament 'I Took Your Name in Vain' is straight down the line. It is beautifully constructed and equally well performed." – David Cowling, AmericanaUK.com, 12.4.08
" 'Pleasure' is a delight, wound together tightly with perfect pitch and a musicianship as sturdy as the grassroots in which this take on Americana are held. . . .As such, these stories are crisp and interesting, humorous and downright sad. They successfully run the gamut of human frailty, and if for nothing more than that, the band is to be commended. 3.5/5 stars" – Brady Vredenburg The [Omaha] Reader, 10.23-29.08
“The Waiting Room was the scene Friday, Oct. 3rd for The Black Squirrels CD release show. 'Paying For Your Pleasure' is the second offering from the Squirrels. It showcases the country side of Omaha's music scene….The Black Squirrels played to a standing-room only crowd and showcased songs from the new record …The Squirrels played an amazing set that blended their style of traditional country with a touch of bluegrass. Beautiful harmonies and the extended band [that night] showed the true potential of the Black Squirrels as a band that is helping cut new facets of traditional country influenced original music into the local scene — one upright at a time.†— Mark LaPointe, The [Omaha] Reader, 10.10.08
"Forget about the sophomore slump. It's more like a sophomore surge....'Paying For Your Pleasure,' finds the band with another batch of well-crafted material, from playful country stompers to tear-in-your-beer ballads."– Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, 10.2.08
"...but I HAD to see The Black Squirrels [at Burke's Pub for MAMF showcase] … and wow! ... These guys have tremendous talent." – Damon "Bosby" Marvin, killbosby.com, 9.5.08
“… Black Squirrels seamlessly merge the sadistic with the sublime....The songs are short and sweet – if not a tinge sardonic ...†– Will Simons, The Omaha City Weekly, 4.9-15.08
"They're pretty good." – Lee Rocker (solo artist and Stray Cat), 1.25.08
"The quartet's performance was among the highlights of Thursday's [OEA] show." – Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, 12.28.07
"The 11 tracks tell twisted tales of desertion, debauchery and regret in jovial, yet serious ways." – Will Simons, The City Weekly, 5.16-22.07
"The harmonizing of Kat and Kate is nothing short of goose-bump material . . . A great album from a great live band." – Jesse Stanek, The [Omaha] Reader, 5.10-16.07
“[Black Squirrels] pair their reverence for the past with a cool, contemporary energy." – Niz Proskocil, Omaha World-Herald, GO! Entertainment, 10.26.06
"Highly recommended!†– Pentagore Webzine, 9.29.06
“Big crowd last night at The Dubliner for the debut of Black Squirrels . . . [who] played a nice, laid-back set of bluegrass-flavored torch songs . . . [with] lyrics that were timely, local and pretty funny (in the right way).†– Lazy-i.com, 9.14.06
Record Label: Nectar & Venom
Type of Label: Indie