True North™: Press

Live at the Cafe
True North holding two CD release parties in St. Joseph
http://www.sjnp.net/news/2008/jan/18/live-cafe/?diem

by Sylvia Anderson
Friday, January 18, 2008

When True North first performed at Cafe Acoustic three years ago, they were an immediate success, recalls the cafe’s co-owner Lisa Hancock. “Cafe Acoustic absolutely loves True North,” she says. “It’s been overwhelming since day one. They already had a quite a following, but it just blossomed from there with people in this area getting to know them.”

The good feelings escalated last April when True North picked Cafe Acoustic as the place to record its third CD and first live project, “Live at the Cafe.” “The cafe, though be it small, is a fantastic acoustic music room,” says Will Gladhart, a True North band member. “We’ve played at a variety of venues in multiple states, and the sound quality you get in that room is unparalleled. It is a jewel.”

So this Saturday, Jan. 19, should be quite a celebration when True North returns to Cafe Acoustic for a “Live at the Cafe” CD release party starting at 9 p.m. The band will debut five new songs since its last performance at the cafe, along with favorites from the “Dashboard Believer” CD such as “Ancient History” and “Dashboard Believer.”
“It’s a real eclectic mix of ballads and dance tunes,” Gladhart says.

For those new to the True North sound, the Midwestern country, roots rock band performs original music appealing to fans of roots rock, alternative country and bluegrass “with a little funk thrown in.” You’ll hear a wide range of instruments, including guitar, piano, organ, mandolin, lap steel, accordion, fiddle, drums and percussion. And you can expect a great show.

“For many reasons,” Hancock says. “They have extraordinary talent, great stage presence, humor, original music and the fact they are just darn fine musicians.” And if you can’t make it Saturday or the bar scene isn’t for you, True North also will be at Border’s Bookstore from 1 to 3 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3. The “Live at the Cafe” CD will be available at both locations for $15.

What: True North CD release party of “Live at the Cafe”
Where: Cafe Acoustic, 2605 Frederick
When: 9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19
Cost: no cover
Also: 1 to 3 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 3, at Borders in St. Joseph

True North to Release CD, Band Features Local Artists Soden, Rake & Gladhart
Hiawatha World, JOEY MAY, joeymay@npgco.com

True North will release the new “Live at the Café” CD with a celebration at Café Acoustic in St. Joseph, Mo. at 9 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19.
True North is a local band that features the talents of Hiawatha native Brian Soden, Horton native Garrett Rake, Highland native Will Gladhart, Keith Broxterman of Topeka, Gary McKnight of Valley Falls and his brother Rick McKnight of Savannah, Mo.
True North Live at the Café is a dynamic, high-energy recording featuring powerful lyrics and harmonies, impressive instrumentals, dialogue about the music and professional supporting musicianship.
In a phone interview Monday afternoon, Gladhart, fiddle player and band spokesman said the Cafe Acoustic is a small sound and acoustic room “that is great for live music” and is where they recorded this last album.
Gladhart said the band composes and writes all original music and performs a type of country-roots-rock-bluegrass with some songs that are a takeoff of “John Cougar Mellancamp or the Beatles.” He said they perform a catchy blend of rock, Americana and country music that would appeal to wide audiences.
Gladhart said in addition to the Cafe Acoustic performance the band will be at the Jazzhaus in Lawrence at 9 p.m., Jan. 26 and has two performances scheduled for bookstores.
“This will be a good time for families, people with kids to listen to some music for the afternoon and have some fun,” Gladhart said. “We’ll have a blend from slower to faster songs.”
The bookstore performances are Sunday, Feb. 3 from 1 to 3 p.m., at Borders Bookstores in St. Joseph, Mo., and Sunday, Feb. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Borders’ in Kansas City, Mo.
This third CD is a True North original, recorded live at the Café Acoustic, April 2007, mixed and produced by the “do it yourself” True North band.
Song selections include from the Dashboard Believer CD (2006) “Ancient History” and “Dashboard Believer” as well as experience new tunes on the Live CD such as “Old Martin” and “For a Woman.” The Live at the Café compilation sets high expectations for the next True North studio album slated for Spring 2009.
Gladhart said the band is influenced from a variety of artists including Lyle Lovett, Ryan Adams, Wilco, and a multitude of modern, classic rock and country performers.
According to a press release, True North band members all have professional careers, yet are passionate as musicians about composing, writing and creating new original music. Strong vocals and harmonies are supported by professional musicianship on guitars, bass, piano, organ, mandolin, lap steel, accordion, fiddle, drums and percussion.
For more information about the event contact Will Gladhart at 562-881-4484 or will.gladhart@gmail.com. Visit the True North website for further event details and directions. www.true-northmusic.com.

True North Countrifies Cafe Acoustic
So, I went down to Nashville Saturday night. Ok, I was actually down at the Cafe Acoustic, but it felt very much like a Tennessee evening at a honkey tonk thanks to Kansas-country sextet True North.
The group once again packed the small cafe with local and regional followers as they busted through two sets of country rock polished with a Music City sheen.
The band crammed onto the Cafe's small stage and fiddle player William Gladhart nearly poked Garrett Rake's eye out behind his keyboards. Gladhart said that he felt rusty since the band hadn't performed in eight weeks. If that's the case, they sound better rusty than most local bands after weeks of shows.
Considering the modest size of the Cafe and the numerous instruments, they were mixed surprisingly well at a good volume, which gave their songs off of "Dashboard Believer" the representation they deserved.
Frontman Gary McKnight stuck to his everyman mid-range vocals looking like the high school dad who throws a kegger for his son while whipping out the acoustic after a few Buds. His lyrics mixed popular country romanticism with his tongue firmly in his cheek on lines like "D.U.I. on Y-O-U," further solidfying the marriage between country pop ditties and spelling bees.
Special mention goes to their lead guitarist Brian Soden, who seemed to always play the perfect solo for each song. It would take a bat's hearing to find a bad note come out of this guy's guitar.
It's interesting that most of these guys have day jobs (a few of them very well paying) and can still sound like they could be your favorite band on Music Row.
Sure, it wasn't spontaneous, but it's not meant to be. It's just the type of country that's fun, sharp and relatable to make anyone a "Dashboard Believer."

Have I mentioned my true love for True North™? As usual, the crowd gathered for True North™ on Saturday night nearly packed Cafe Acoustic. The turnout varied from tattooed rock dudes, to middle-aged country fans to a pocket of visiting Shaft regulars.

True North™ elicits a response from even non-country fans through the solid musicianship country players are known for. Lyrically, frontman Gary McKnight gets a bit soft on the slower songs. But when the band lets loose, you can't help but bob your head, tap your toe, sing along. If the band wasn't in it for the glory, I'd recommend they peddle their genius to Nashville. The radio country club would be crazy not to snap up the nostalgia of "Deep Roots" or the burning "South of Memphis."

"...True North™, the Kansas country band I've pegged to save Nashville, if only a record exec with any brains could convince singer/songwriter/doctor Gary McKnight to commit to music full time."

True North™ is awesome to work with! The music is great and the fans really enjoyed the concert at Huff-n-Puff this year. We had dancing, singing and more…. They delivered a five star performance to Topeka and Northeast Kansas with music & entertainment!