2008 Woodie Awards
The Pines tone down 'MNL' with folk roots
Jason Schueppert
Issue date: 10/11/07 Section: Intermission
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Minneapolis folk duo The Pines played a set of quiet and rootsy Dylan-esque songs this past Monday for KVSC's "Monday Night Live" (MNL).
The Iowa natives appeared to have strolled right out of a photograph from the depression era great plains of yesteryear.
Benson Ramsey, singer and guitarist, was clad in what appeared to be a train conductor's uniform, complete with suspenders and a hat.
He was joined by David Huckfelt, who looked to be a 40s hobo or at least street tough, with a jean jacket and trilby hat (with a feather slipped into the side of it).
The two of them each worked their guitars, with Ramsey controlling the microphone in sunglasses, occasionally working his harmonica, and Huckfelt providing backup vocals and strumming right along with him.
The outfits fit the sound perfectly, helping to cement the wandering songwriter image the two of them convey.
They swung through SCSU during their ongoing tour behind their second album "Sparrows in the Bell," the first major release for the group.
"It's our first national release on Red House, a new label. It's doing really well and getting airplay all over the country as well as overseas," Ramsey said.
The "Sparrows in the Bell" long play (LP) came out in June on Minneapolis label Red House Records, and has been garnering them a bit of attention from folk enthusiasts since. Huckfelt said the reviews have been really positive.
Throughout their hour on "MNL," The Pines leisurely made their way through some material from their first self-titled release off Trailer Records.
The song is a newer release that has yet to be recorded along with six tracks from "Sparrows," including a version of "Careless Love," an old traditional song that's been passed through a variety of genres over the years, and their version was a folk-y, dark ditty.
Throughout the entire program they managed to create an engrossing show, even though it was just two guys, two guitars and a harmonica.
The Iowa natives appeared to have strolled right out of a photograph from the depression era great plains of yesteryear.
Benson Ramsey, singer and guitarist, was clad in what appeared to be a train conductor's uniform, complete with suspenders and a hat.
He was joined by David Huckfelt, who looked to be a 40s hobo or at least street tough, with a jean jacket and trilby hat (with a feather slipped into the side of it).
The two of them each worked their guitars, with Ramsey controlling the microphone in sunglasses, occasionally working his harmonica, and Huckfelt providing backup vocals and strumming right along with him.
The outfits fit the sound perfectly, helping to cement the wandering songwriter image the two of them convey.
They swung through SCSU during their ongoing tour behind their second album "Sparrows in the Bell," the first major release for the group.
"It's our first national release on Red House, a new label. It's doing really well and getting airplay all over the country as well as overseas," Ramsey said.
The "Sparrows in the Bell" long play (LP) came out in June on Minneapolis label Red House Records, and has been garnering them a bit of attention from folk enthusiasts since. Huckfelt said the reviews have been really positive.
Throughout their hour on "MNL," The Pines leisurely made their way through some material from their first self-titled release off Trailer Records.
The song is a newer release that has yet to be recorded along with six tracks from "Sparrows," including a version of "Careless Love," an old traditional song that's been passed through a variety of genres over the years, and their version was a folk-y, dark ditty.
Throughout the entire program they managed to create an engrossing show, even though it was just two guys, two guitars and a harmonica.