The Trisha Mason Band is a home grown Ellsworth, Maine ensemble that draws its strength from the snowy forests, the rockbound coasts of downeast. Trisha has forged her songcraft, delicately tuneful and staunchly demotic, in the crucible of the fan-driven hometown music scene here in the small town capital of Hancock County.
With the release of her 2012 debut album Worse or Better, it was clear that a major talent had arisen, destined to break the boundaries of the small town scene and beguile the larger world...
Critics have rushed to embrace this phenomenon, and their words ring like poetry:
“The chords roll into waves of arpeggios. It’s like a sermon on the sea, the wind and waves crashing on a hapless sailor as the sound cascades down the keys, returning each time to the midway and then crashing down again. She sings of a lover swept away by the sea...”
“ I am struck, then and now, by the contradictory strands of her personality – a little skittish, but eager to dive in and show her stuff. When performing, she has a tendency to turn her feet in girlishly. That, her open face, her soft wave of abundant, black hair, and her elfin glances off to the side are attractive qualities made all the more appealing by the contrast she plays up with her stage clothes – knee-high, black leather boots with buckles down the calf as though to say how tough she is, tank top with a black vest that sparkles with sequins. Her onstage nerves get passed off as little frissons of energy, strengthening her performance. “
Although she stands behind her recorded work, Worse or Better, and the nearly completed sophomore effort Redsky, the live performances showcase Trisha and her band in their element, as Bangor Daily News reporter Emily Burnham duly noted:
“ There’s no pretense with Mason, who clearly plays from her gut – direct and honest, with a lot of musical talent. It’s not about looking cool – even though, with her curly dark hair and infectious smile, she’s a striking performer, with an energetic stage presence. For Mason, it’s clearly about the love of playing, and about having fun on stage. “
That “fun on stage” is only a product of the fun the band has together in practice, on the road or just hanging out together in the basement recording studio of Mason's Ellsworth home. “We play these parties where everyone's just there to have a good time and at some point we realize that we're having a better time than any of the guests!” So says “Fiddle” Doug Empie (fiddle, mandolin & vocals,) a stalwart in the group since its inception in 2011.
Four years ago, having arrived in Elllsworth's music scene with no expectations, Mason stumbled upon the open mic at Chummies, hosted by Empie and Chris Ross, veterans of the area's premier local band Stiff Whisker and the Driftwood Kids, and she quickly recruited Empie to her nascent band. Jasper's Restaurant, and its open mic, provided her with keystone, drummer Steve Peer.
Meanwhile, Trisha had noticed every time that she went to her friend Tasha's house in Surry, this decrepit old dude was lying on the couch playing guitar all day long... “What's his story?” she asked. “Dunno, guess he needs something to do...” Bingo! Bass player.
AMERICANA ROOTS FUNK FOLK ALTERNATIVE IRISH BACKWOODS HEAVY METAL Call it what you will, when you wish... come and see it, then you can describe it...
For bookings, interviews, copies of Worse or Better and more information on the soon to be released Sophomore Album "Red Sky"
contact:
[email protected]
With the release of her 2012 debut album Worse or Better, it was clear that a major talent had arisen, destined to break the boundaries of the small town scene and beguile the larger world...
Critics have rushed to embrace this phenomenon, and their words ring like poetry:
“The chords roll into waves of arpeggios. It’s like a sermon on the sea, the wind and waves crashing on a hapless sailor as the sound cascades down the keys, returning each time to the midway and then crashing down again. She sings of a lover swept away by the sea...”
“ I am struck, then and now, by the contradictory strands of her personality – a little skittish, but eager to dive in and show her stuff. When performing, she has a tendency to turn her feet in girlishly. That, her open face, her soft wave of abundant, black hair, and her elfin glances off to the side are attractive qualities made all the more appealing by the contrast she plays up with her stage clothes – knee-high, black leather boots with buckles down the calf as though to say how tough she is, tank top with a black vest that sparkles with sequins. Her onstage nerves get passed off as little frissons of energy, strengthening her performance. “
Although she stands behind her recorded work, Worse or Better, and the nearly completed sophomore effort Redsky, the live performances showcase Trisha and her band in their element, as Bangor Daily News reporter Emily Burnham duly noted:
“ There’s no pretense with Mason, who clearly plays from her gut – direct and honest, with a lot of musical talent. It’s not about looking cool – even though, with her curly dark hair and infectious smile, she’s a striking performer, with an energetic stage presence. For Mason, it’s clearly about the love of playing, and about having fun on stage. “
That “fun on stage” is only a product of the fun the band has together in practice, on the road or just hanging out together in the basement recording studio of Mason's Ellsworth home. “We play these parties where everyone's just there to have a good time and at some point we realize that we're having a better time than any of the guests!” So says “Fiddle” Doug Empie (fiddle, mandolin & vocals,) a stalwart in the group since its inception in 2011.
Four years ago, having arrived in Elllsworth's music scene with no expectations, Mason stumbled upon the open mic at Chummies, hosted by Empie and Chris Ross, veterans of the area's premier local band Stiff Whisker and the Driftwood Kids, and she quickly recruited Empie to her nascent band. Jasper's Restaurant, and its open mic, provided her with keystone, drummer Steve Peer.
Meanwhile, Trisha had noticed every time that she went to her friend Tasha's house in Surry, this decrepit old dude was lying on the couch playing guitar all day long... “What's his story?” she asked. “Dunno, guess he needs something to do...” Bingo! Bass player.
AMERICANA ROOTS FUNK FOLK ALTERNATIVE IRISH BACKWOODS HEAVY METAL Call it what you will, when you wish... come and see it, then you can describe it...
For bookings, interviews, copies of Worse or Better and more information on the soon to be released Sophomore Album "Red Sky"
contact:
[email protected]
