Press Materials

ABOUT THE PINES
Founded by Iowa natives David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, indie-roots band The Pines surprisingly actually met in Arizona, where they both lived in a Mexican barrio and first began playing together. Forming The Pines, they returned to the Midwest, moving to Minneapolis, a city that has launched many folk and rock acts from Bob Dylan to The Replacements to The Jayhawks. Like these Twin Cities legends, The Pines weave together many musical styles to create their own unique sound that is hip and haunting. The son of Greg Brown’s producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and those influences continue to shine through, even on louder electric songs. David shares Benson’s deep love for traditional music, and together the two craft songs that evoke the ancient, while incorporating newer rock and pop grooves. Both strong writers, singers and instrumentalists, David and Benson have distinct voices that complement each other, causing audiences and critics alike to tout them as a powerful young force in American roots music.

QUOTES

“simply and eloquently stated sonic poetry…the real deal.” Acoustic Guitar

“richly resonant indie-folk in the vein of Bon Iver, Calexico and Mason Jennings” The Onion A.V. Club

“a hushed mix of acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards creates a kind of haunted landscape…an affecting portrait capturing an American journey” All Music

“a soundtrack of American gothic intensity…a stunner of an album.” Vintage Guitar

“a dusty and often ghostly take on Americana” CBS Minnesota

“quietly gripping” Rolling Stone

“starkly poetic, buzzed-about Americana” Minneapolis Star Tribune

“haunting yet comfortable” Rift Magazine

“Music at once so fragile, so gravid and, ultimately, beautiful” Penguin Eggs

“The sparse and haunting mood of the album washes over you like an early morning fog… poetic lyrics also gently insinuate themselves with every spin” Exclaim!

“…understated melodies, atmospheric arrangements and restrained guitar licks…these guys speak for themselves.” Winnipeg Free Press

“Quiet, serene, romantic, mysterious — The Pines are all these things and more” Goldmine

“The Pines can make you feel happy and sad almost simultaneously.” No Depression

OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO – http://youtu.be/3ZbcWxWCGqE

LIVE FOOTAGE – http://youtu.be/EyGpkSsEOyg

FULL BIO
Rising out of the prairies of the Midwest, The Pines are one of the most distinct and powerful indie-rock/Americana groups to hit thenational scene in years. Emerging from the same Minneapolis music world that spawned such notable acts as The Jayhawks, TheReplacements and Bob Dylan, The Pines have gathered a stunning line-up of musical talent, in both their live shows and on record, that has gained them a faithful and growing following. Frontmen Benson Ramsey and David Huckfelt share a common musical language rooted in the songs and songwriters of their native Iowa, while each bringing a distinct voice and sensibility to the sound that Rolling Stone senior writer David Fricke called “quietly gripping” stark-country. The mysterious sound of The Pines fuses Benson’s ethereal, otherworldly, heart-piercing songs with David’s earthy, darkly romantic and rough-hewn visionary tales. With masterful guitar work, beautiful vocals and the graceful keyboard and vocal additions of Benson’s brother Alex Ramsey, the core of The Pines’ sound captivates and elevates with rare intimacy.

Surprisingly, David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey actually began their musical partnership in Arizona, where they both lived in a Mexican barrio and first began playing together. The son of Greg Brown’s producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and continues to let those influences shine, even on louder electric songs. David also had a deep love for traditional music, and together the two of them started crafting songs that evoke the ancient, while incorporating newer rock and pop sounds.

Committing to a musical career together, Benson and David returned to their Midwestern roots and moved to Minneapolis, where they slowly grew their band to include banjo player Michael Rossetto (Spaghetti Western String Co.), drummer J.T. Bates (Michel Portal, John Gorka), bassist James Buckley (Ed Harcourt, Daniel Johnston, Dosh) and Benson’s brother Alex Ramsey on keyboards.

Creating quite a buzz around the Twin Cities and across the Upper Midwest, The Pines caught the attention of acclaimed indie label Red House Records and signed with them in 2007, releasing their breakout album Sparrows in the Bell, named one of the top roots releases of the year by Q Magazine. The Pines wowed audiences at the 2008 South By Southwest (SXSW) and were named one of themusical highlights by CMT.com. They followed up this success with Tremolo, an album that garnered rave reviews in magazines like Rolling Stone and got airplay on tastemaker stations such as KCRW and The Current. It landed them coveted performances on Daytrotter.com and Bob Harris’ popular BBC show, winning them new fans across North America and Europe. A great live act whether performing as a stripped-down trio (David Huckfelt, Benson Ramsey and Alex Ramsey) or as a full rock band, The Pines’ devoted cult following and has led them to share the stage with such diverse acts as Bon Iver, Mavis Staples, The Arcade Fire, Iris DeMent, Mason Jennings and Spider John Koerner. The Pines just finished a North American tour with Mason Jennings in twenty-five cities, opening for him and playing in his band.

MORE LIVE FOOTAGE & INTERVIEW – http://youtu.be/NULvqk8vKd0