Lo-Fi Breakdown profile picture

Lo-Fi Breakdown

About Me

Lo-Fi Breakdown is a high energy, old-school bluegrass quintet based in Asheville, North Carolina. This is a band that is steeped in tradition while forging new sounds and stories in bluegrass music. With a healthy mix of traditional and original material, the band is constantly striving to break new ground while being true to its roots. The band had its start, strangely enough, in Utah, where Garth, Ian, and John originally met. Everyone in the band at that time had moved there at some point from other places to ski, climb, bike, and work. Everyone was working full time and playing music on the side, but the band still made time to play throughout the intermountain West and even had a highly successful West Coast tour that was documented on DVD. There was a year hiatus when Garth took a long trip around the world and John moved back to his home state of North Carolina. Soon after, the other guys decided to take a chance and move to Asheville to keep the band alive. After a few years and some readjustment, the band is doing better than ever and is establishing itself in the Southeast as a true exponent of the old raucous bluegrass style that is becoming increasingly rare these days. The band loves experimentation and writing new songs, but their sound is definitely rooted in early bluegrass. Lo-Fi has developed a strong following with their soulful vocals, fast picking, innovative original material and passionate live performances. Working around one microphone, dressed in vintage suits, the band’s look and sound sets them apart from so many of the contemporary acts today. Come see for yourself! During the past several years together, Lo-Fi Breakdown has played all across the country from San Francisco to New York City and everywhere in between. They have shared the stage with such acts as the great Del McCoury Band, mandolin master Sam Bush, songster Robert Earl Keen, and fiddle legend Jim Shumate among others.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 7/11/2006
Band Website: www.lofibreakdown.com
Band Members: John Cloyd Miller-mandolin, Garth Henry Schwellenbach-banjo, Ian 'Bean' McNeil-guitar, Natalya Weinstein-fiddle, Bradford Hutchison-bass
Influences: Stanley Brothers, Bill Monroe, John Hartford, Jim Shumate, Doc Watson, Jerry Garcia, Del McCoury Band, Phish, Louvin Brothers, Pig Iron, Flatt & Scruggs, Bob Dylan, Radiohead, Jimmy Martin, Roscoe Holcomb and countless other old-time, bluegrass, roots and rock musicians past and present. If it's good and we've heard it, it's influenced us.
Sounds Like: sometimes old-time, sometimes new grass, mostly original, often bluegrass
Record Label: Squeaky Wheel Records
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Posted Some Live Tracks

Hi all,We just posted 3 live tracks for your listening pleasure. One is a great version of Garth's Man Killer from our first album. Also, a live version of Wedding Shoes from This Piece of Ground, a...
Posted by on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 21:02:00 GMT

This Piece of Ground now on iTunes!

Just wanted to let everyone know that our new album, This Piece of Ground, is now available for download on iTunes.  You can still pick up a hard copy from CD Baby or direct from us via email or ...
Posted by on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 08:28:00 GMT

This Piece of Ground now available for online purchase!

Hey everyone!   Just wanted to let you know that our new album, This Piece of Ground, is now availble for purchase online at CD Baby.  Here is the link:   http://cdbaby.com/cd/lof...
Posted by on Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:47:00 GMT

Thanks Asheville!!

Thanks so much to the Grey Eagle, the Wiretappers and everyone who came out on Friday night for our cd release! We had an amazing turnout and an awesome time was had by all. Thanks everybody! If yo...
Posted by on Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:59:00 GMT

Happy New Year!

Howdy! Just wanted to let everyone know that we posted some tracks from our new album that will be out in a few weeks. We're really looking forward to 2008! Hope to see everyone out and about! If ...
Posted by on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 12:36:00 GMT

Lo-Fi News

Hi Friends!   Just wanted to let everyone know that Lo-Fi Breakdown just finished recording a new album this week and we look forward to having it out in the world in the next couple of mont...
Posted by on Fri, 14 Sep 2007 08:12:00 GMT