FREE MP3:LELAND SUNDRIES:ELEGY
(Photo credit: Jennifer McManus)
Leland Sundries is the mostly solo project of New York based Nick Loss-Eaton. He is re-branding Nashville’s original blues Americana with a touch of indie rock sarcasm.
Although he isn’t the first person to use a resonator guitar (see “Bon Iver”), it is a refreshing sound in a landscape of bands utilizing the same 3 piece set over and over. Leland Sundries has also been known to use a 2 string Cigar Box Guitar made in Memphis, giving his New York audiences the chance to experience something that few city kids even realize exists. Loss-Eaton also uses a megaphone-harmonica set up which captures the vintage-recording-scratchy echo that defines the original Americana sound for modern audiences.
For me, the cigar box was a sound that I had heard many times, but could never actually identify. Played with some hefty slide and nice backing guitars by Dan Kaplan, the Cigar Box was definitely my favorite surprise at the show. The stand out Leland Sundries song was “Giving Up Redheads” which according to insider,s might just be Loss-Eaton’s favorite kind of lady. Touching on the classical theme of love-lost man, Leland Sundries takes the twang-y Americana sound and infuses it with a little bit of classic rock styling and extra energy.
Leland Sundries plays both solo and with Dan Kaplan’s back up guitar. I liked a little bit of back up guitar and vocals to both support and define Loss-Eaton’s intended sound. I also saw some of Dan Kaplan’s solo set (with some nice backing by Mr. Nick Loss-Eaton) and was struck by the charming quality to Kaplan’s voice. His acoustic guitar and sweet vocals are certainly a crowd pleaser.
Although I only stayed for a few songs, I felt there was real potential for a bigger collaboration between Loss-Eaton and Kaplan. They have very different sounds and very different strengths. I want some banjo/cigar box twang with Kaplan’s soft strumming and delicate vocals. I want some deep spoken word growls from Loss-Eaton on top of the soft strumming and delicate voice of Kaplan. There is a juxtaposition there that I think could be explored.
Leland Sundries is playing in October, but there are whispers of shows upcoming in the next few weeks, if we hear anything.
-<3 the elephant
