Roy Rieck and the Medley Band is one band, and Strangefolks is another band. They have the same members, but employ different singers and songwriters. They are from Tel Aviv, Israel, and feature some of the most popular indie musicians in Israel. They just came back from supporting Okkervil River in the promised land. I have album downloads from both artists. If you like thoughtful, gorgeous and brooding Americana and dark-pop, you'll like this.
Look:
Roy Rieck & the Medley Band on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
strange folks on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads (Strangefolks)
See:
October 19, MANCHESTER, Holy Trinity Church (Humble Soul Presents)
October 21, LONDON, The Roadtrip
October 22, OXFORD, The Lounge
October 24, LONDON, Camden Barfly (only Strangefolks)
October 26, LONDON, The Bedford in Balham
October 28, LONDON, 229 (Club Fandango)
October 29, LONDON, The Slaughtered Lamb (Electroacousticclub)
Roy Rieck & the Holy Gracious Medley Band
Roy Rieck was born and raised in Tel-Aviv Israel. Roy's musical journey began at a late stage of his life - during his military service, Roy picked up a harmonica, both out of boredom and because of his love for folk music (some might say it was a higher calling, though they are shunned in most social circles), and slowly but steadily (!) discovered a world which he had always felt a part of. Roy spent 2007 in the Mississippi in search of a better understanding of music. Despite spending many cold nights waiting at several different crossroads, Roy failed to sell his soul to the devil in return for musical stardom. He did however play harmonica for several acts around the region, playing everything from the blues to bluegrass, in venues ranging from juke-joints to big festivals (including a warm up act for B.B. King in his Homecoming Festival).
Roy returned to Israel to join a group of childhood friends, young and promising (but never fulfilling) musicians, all independently involved with several music acts. Together they formed the Holy Gracious Medley Band, a proud member of the Collective musical family, playing their own mix of folk, blues, rock and boogie. Roy and the band began performing around Tel-Aviv and Israel during 2008, gathering a loyal fan-base, which continues to grow (we don't know where to store them these days). The band released their first EP in March 2008, titled "The Pinpoint Room" - which was picked up by some of Israel's most respected radio stations. No budget, no PR, no business plan.
In early 2009, after infinite mistakes, numerous let-downs, ongoing displays of betrayal, bigotry, licentiousness and never ending embezzlement, the Medley Band finally released their self-produced debut album: After the album received great reviews, and after the Medley band has played many successive shows all over Israel in various formats (some members disappear for weeks without telling no-one, you can't really control it) and just as you finally felt that a mutual ground of trust is being formed - the natural thing to do was to drop it all and instantly move out to London with the whole Collective family. So, now they are in the UK and yet again, loved ones left behind, future prosperity is in doubt, playing the next street-corner available, up from scratch. It's the Medley Gang philosophy. And it sounds promising.
Strangefolks:
A million miles away from London, in Tel Aviv, Israel, seven young men were thrown together by mandatory military service. The years spent together in the desert led to them forming a musical group based on songs written by frontman Idan Rabinovici. Ultimately, however, the group became much more than a backing band and ‘Strange Folks’ were formed, an energetic musical experience best described as construction yard folk - mixing primitive rootsy influences with rock, jazz, electronica and a Middle Eastern twang. Strange Folks are not easy to categorise and just as difficult to forget.
Word spread and before long this newly formed group were playing to packed out audiences in their home town. Regularly drawing crowds of 500 people or more to their shows, the band decided that the next step was to expand their horizons. In April 2009, the band arrived in London and crammed their seven bodies into a one-bedroom flat, giving up the comfort of home in return for anything but the comfort of home. Just beginning their forays into the world of British music, the band are quickly developing a reputation for show-stopping concerts. Catch them once and you won’t forget the original, beguiling group that is Strange Folks.
Look:
Roy Rieck & the Medley Band on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads
strange folks on MySpace Music - Free Streaming MP3s, Pictures & Music Downloads (Strangefolks)
See:
October 19, MANCHESTER, Holy Trinity Church (Humble Soul Presents)
October 21, LONDON, The Roadtrip
October 22, OXFORD, The Lounge
October 24, LONDON, Camden Barfly (only Strangefolks)
October 26, LONDON, The Bedford in Balham
October 28, LONDON, 229 (Club Fandango)
October 29, LONDON, The Slaughtered Lamb (Electroacousticclub)
Roy Rieck & the Holy Gracious Medley Band
Roy Rieck was born and raised in Tel-Aviv Israel. Roy's musical journey began at a late stage of his life - during his military service, Roy picked up a harmonica, both out of boredom and because of his love for folk music (some might say it was a higher calling, though they are shunned in most social circles), and slowly but steadily (!) discovered a world which he had always felt a part of. Roy spent 2007 in the Mississippi in search of a better understanding of music. Despite spending many cold nights waiting at several different crossroads, Roy failed to sell his soul to the devil in return for musical stardom. He did however play harmonica for several acts around the region, playing everything from the blues to bluegrass, in venues ranging from juke-joints to big festivals (including a warm up act for B.B. King in his Homecoming Festival).
Roy returned to Israel to join a group of childhood friends, young and promising (but never fulfilling) musicians, all independently involved with several music acts. Together they formed the Holy Gracious Medley Band, a proud member of the Collective musical family, playing their own mix of folk, blues, rock and boogie. Roy and the band began performing around Tel-Aviv and Israel during 2008, gathering a loyal fan-base, which continues to grow (we don't know where to store them these days). The band released their first EP in March 2008, titled "The Pinpoint Room" - which was picked up by some of Israel's most respected radio stations. No budget, no PR, no business plan.
In early 2009, after infinite mistakes, numerous let-downs, ongoing displays of betrayal, bigotry, licentiousness and never ending embezzlement, the Medley Band finally released their self-produced debut album: After the album received great reviews, and after the Medley band has played many successive shows all over Israel in various formats (some members disappear for weeks without telling no-one, you can't really control it) and just as you finally felt that a mutual ground of trust is being formed - the natural thing to do was to drop it all and instantly move out to London with the whole Collective family. So, now they are in the UK and yet again, loved ones left behind, future prosperity is in doubt, playing the next street-corner available, up from scratch. It's the Medley Gang philosophy. And it sounds promising.
Strangefolks:
A million miles away from London, in Tel Aviv, Israel, seven young men were thrown together by mandatory military service. The years spent together in the desert led to them forming a musical group based on songs written by frontman Idan Rabinovici. Ultimately, however, the group became much more than a backing band and ‘Strange Folks’ were formed, an energetic musical experience best described as construction yard folk - mixing primitive rootsy influences with rock, jazz, electronica and a Middle Eastern twang. Strange Folks are not easy to categorise and just as difficult to forget.
Word spread and before long this newly formed group were playing to packed out audiences in their home town. Regularly drawing crowds of 500 people or more to their shows, the band decided that the next step was to expand their horizons. In April 2009, the band arrived in London and crammed their seven bodies into a one-bedroom flat, giving up the comfort of home in return for anything but the comfort of home. Just beginning their forays into the world of British music, the band are quickly developing a reputation for show-stopping concerts. Catch them once and you won’t forget the original, beguiling group that is Strange Folks.
