Newer (2002, 2nd CD in the works), seems fairly local to Tennessee, North Carolina, and George with some jaunts to the central US (Chicago, most notably). Opened for Col. Bruce and not much else. Apparently less than 30 originals. Housing a small, official (run by the band/band\'s website) message board. Certainly in a position to gain new fans, as they probably don\'t have too many... but certainly not in a position to legitimately win a jambands poll. IMO, of course.
Old Union
Hello, I am closely related to the band, and the above is partially correct. Let me direct you to the article on Jambands.com for more info on Old Union. The band has over 60 originals and 40+ covers. Website is done in house by our choice, I run the website. I would rather NOT outsource it untill it is completely too time consuming to keep a close and personal connection of fans to the band. The current forum is small because the past forum was recently scrapped. There is NO bot running for the Jambands poll, we recieve numerous emails that people are are voting, including member of other bands. Many do indeed vote everyday. So good for us I suppose. With that the band as opened for Col Bruce on many occasions aand toured with Karl Denson, also, Bonnaroo 05, High Sierra 04,05, Edmonton Folk Fest 04, Blue Ridge Harvest Fest 04, so forth. Anyhow here is the Jambands article.... Hope to see the Breakfast to continue on the rise!
In a small bar off the radar in Murfreesboro, Tennessee nothing ever seemed to happen. However, those who attended Middle Tennessee State University may have crossed the road to The Boro at some time or another. The legendary Jack Pearson played there every other Wednesday night with his blues outfit The Nationals. And on Sunday nights Jimi Hendrix’s guitar instructor Roland Gresham would always play his amazing jazz and blues guitar. Every other night was filled with locals, R.I.M. students and the occasional touring act. From this underground world of mind-boggling music Old Union found one another.
Off the beaten path of country music, top 40 radio stations and the typical jamband scene, Old Union has created a unique voice that marries blues, gospel, outlaw country and soulful southern rock and roll. Lead vocalist and keyboardist, Chuck Foster has a rough-edged hard-lip style that draws comparisons to Dr. John and Leon Russell. While the dual guitar attack of Johnny Zvolensky and Steve Swertfeger hark back to the vintage sound of early Allman Brothers era with Duane and Dickey at the helm. Not to overlook the rhythm section, drummer David Bryndal and bassists Ben Bridges hold it all down with precision and style, driving Old Union’s sound from the gunslinging rock of Texas, thru the soul of Muscle Shoals and Memphis down to Macon and the back porch blues of the Big House.
When asked about the influences on Old Union’s music, Foster made mention of another historically overlooked band, Janie Grey. “Being around Janie Grey and having the opportunity to play and share experiences with Denny Presley (lead guitarist and songwriter) definitely influenced our sound from the songwriter perspective.” In terms of influences, he also cited the Allman Brothers, Cream, Marshall Tucker Band as well as upbringings whch included the steady presence of gospel. “Our music is a balanced mixture of traditional music like the blues, gospel, country and southern rock and roll. Lyrically at times it has underlying spiritual tones, and musically a respect for the heritage of country and southern rock and roll.”
Cultivating something new is no easy task, especially in the Music City. Nashville is a town that historically has been brutal to up-and-coming bands, and as an industry has tried to stifle most good movements in country music (see outlaw country, see California’s country music movements). However, Old Union has no problem calling Nashville home. In fact they have made some heavy hitting fans around town. Since the band’s inception in 2001 they have been joined on stage by the likes of Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Steve Cropper, Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers Band), Bonnie Bramlet, Jimmy Hall, Bruce Brown (Charlie Daniels Band) and many other legendary musicians. “The exposure to playing with that caliber of musician, helps us as a band understand our potential, and how to take it to that level consistently," Foster explains. "When we were on the road with Bonnie we wanted to step it up every night so the people coming to see her would leave saying Who was that band?” (Old Union toured as Bonnie Bramlett’s backing band on a tour of blues clubs and festivals up and down the east coast, across the Midwest and on into Canada).
Recently their efforts have begun to pay off as yet another legendary Nashvillian is part of the fold. After hearing the band, John Carter Cash really felt that he heard something great in Old Union’s sound. Around his intensely busy schedule of producing Walk the Line, he started to work with them on their next album.
At times, the experience of entering the Cash cabin studio could be overwhelming. “The experience of being in Johnny Cash’s cabin seeing all of the pictures of the Cash family and all of the musical history on the walls consumes you. John also really takes a hands on approach with us, getting in the studio listening and working to find our sound, just doing what a producer does, which was somewhat new to us.”
The band is very excited to finish the album and get it out to the masses. They are continuing the process of recording at the cabin around a busy touring schedule, and hope to have the album out in late spring/early summer.
Along with a bevy of southern dates they will venture across the Midwest this spring with confirmed shows in Chicago, Cincinnati, St Louis and Kansas City. Also playing an exciting hometown showing as part of Vanderbilt’s impressive Right’s of Spring Festival (alongside Gov’t Mule, My Morning Jacket, Blue Merle, Hot Buttered Rum String Band, and Ben Fold’s Five). Along with the new album due out, an exciting DVD project featuring the combined efforts of Old Union and former New Groove of the Month, mile 8’s exciting Halloween show is due out this spring. Two exciting ways to check out a great band, but for even faster results head on over to http://www.oldunion.com.
