Greetings!
Now is the time to recruit the mighty Rootstand to your cause. The grassroot determination of our crew has sailed us through high seas and heavy weather, to green fields and higher ground. Not for lust of gold, nor pirate booty, have we endured these troubled waters for over ten years. It is to prove to ourselves and our children that we are men of substance, and to reassure the faith of the thousands that have rallied to our side..
This is not a pitch to hire us. This is not the whimperings of the inexperienced, nor the dilusions of a band of misfits. It is an invitation, it is a gift, it is a pirate’s map. It is the whimsical dregs of adventure thrown from the decks of our ship in an extra stout bottle. Perhaps you may find it washed upon your doorstep, and take the time to consider what we offer..
Fair Seas,
The Rootstand Crew.
The trials, tribulations, and grassroot determination of our team has exposed us as one of the most upcoming and notorious roots bands on the scene. Few other bands dig as deep in to the God-given mojo and animusical magnetism afforded to Michigans favorite acoustic ghetto rebel sons.
Rootstand successfully marries the sounds of traditional forms of Roots musics, like Irish reels, and old world polkas, Caribbean ska to American blues and bluegrass to the cutting edge sounds of experimental blues and groove, urban hip-hop, dancehall reggae, and electronica. Our music is very diverse, yet completely logical: Ska and Polka, bluegrass and reggae, hip-hop and country blues, dancehall and Irish reels. What we do is not a token conglomeration of popular forms, it is altogether something new, a new sound, built upon the foundations of traditional music but never intending to replicate it.
Rootstand had the opportunity to jam with a host of great musicians in the past couple years, including John Sinclair, Donna the Buffalo, Lotus, The Brothers Past, Sam Bush, George Clinton and the 420 Funk Mob, Victor Wooten, The Zen Tricksters, Melvin Seals and Rob Wasserman, Tony Furtado, Vince Welnick Band, Mr. Blotto, Derek Trucks Band, Benevento and Russo Duo, Railroad Earth, Jorma Kaukonen and Hot Tuna, Ekoostik Hookah, Tim O'Brian, Chris Smither, Tony Rice and Peter Rowan, Jerry Garcia Band, Henry Butler, Mamadou Diabate, Cornmeal, Grada, Jazz is Dead, Leftover Salmon, Great American Taxi, Rusted Root, and seriously many more. We are honored to have shared the stage with these, and all our brother and sister musicians.
All of our press info is available at our web home, www.rootstand.com. This is where you can check up on our calendar, read tons of press and feedback, and check out pictures and free music. We are currently finishing our box set, from which the Grassroot Ghetto and Roots and Branches selections have been made.
From Will Stewart's article in the Ann Arbor News Spotlight, May 26th, 2005
"...listen closely and elements as diverse as Irish reels and dancehall reggae mingle comfortably alongside country blues and bluegrass, murder ballads and high-lonesome harmonies."
