The tight three-part harmonies, down-home songwriting, and undeniable pedal steel from the newly-formed Americana group Axton Kincaid are quickly getting the attention of music critics and American roots-music fans, not just in the San Francisco bay area, but all over the world. The result of five friends choosing to get back to their roots after a decade of playing indie rock, their debut full-length recording features compelling sounds and stories of everyday people. From the tune about the loss of a good bartender ("Who's Gonna Pour My Whiskey When You're Gone?") to a favorite relative ("Irene, Goodnight") Ñor not so favorite ("Rearview"), these songs undoubtedly come from a group of people who spent their childhoods crawling on barroom floors and running through wide open spaces, who learned to ride before they could walk, and learned to drink before they could talk.
What the critics are saying:
"The lovely harmonies, Howser's catchy tunes, and the overall sense of summery languor make Songs from the Pine Room a most entertaining listen."--All Music Guide
"an honest and versatile sound"--West Coast Performer
"With its dual themes of loss and drinking, [Songs from the Pine Room is] as country as a greased pig (and yeah, that's a compliment)."--San Francisco Bay Guardian
"The whole album is destined to be a favorite of pedal steel fans everywhere as Mac Martine plays Jon Rauhouse to the rest of the band's Neko Case."--SF Weekly
Two parts Midwestern wedding band veterans, one part Oregon ranch girl, one part Nashville native, and one part Orange County girl, Axton Kincaid is the result of five friends deciding it was time to get back to their roots after a decade of playing indie rock.
Bass player Ryan Waggoner and drummer Jon Fojtik grew up best friends in the cornfields of Michigan, playing everything from classic country to polka in Fojtik's father's wedding band. They continued playing together in San Francisco in Fojimoto, a three-part-harmony-driven band that made inspired forays into Uncle Tupelo-ish twang.
While Fojimoto was touring the country, Kate Howser and Jen Daunt's band, Luster, was ending, after Kate decided she wanted to reconnect with the bluegrass and country music of her childhood. After many nights with her guitar, a six-pack, and a mic, she had a set of stripped-down songs with simple melodies and basic themes: family, love, death, alcohol. Jen added mandolin and harmonies, and the two began playing as an acoustic duo. After one of these shows, Ryan and Jon suggested rounding out the songs with a full band and three-part harmonies. Mac Martine, who had played pedal steel with Fojimoto and legendary singer-songwriter Bob Frank, joined in soon after.
After releasing a self-titled EP in spring 2006, AK quickly made their mark with their first radio single, “Who’s Gonna Pour My Whiskey When You’re Gone?” and a moody cover of the Stone Roses’ “I Wanna Be Adored.” The Bay Area’s #1 morning show on Alice 97.3 (Sarah and No Name) invited them to be the house band for their “Hayseed 4th of July” live on-air promotion, which the band followed with packed, rowdy shows around the Bay Area and two West Coast tours.
In the first few months of 2007 Kate was profiled in American Songwriter Magazine, NPR showcased the song “Red Lights” for its All Songs Considered Open Mic program, and the band opened for BR549 at the Nugget casino in Reno, Nevada. On May 8, Free Dirt Records released the band's first full-length CD, Songs from the Pine Room, in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
