The Great American Canyon Band

I came across the Great American Canyon Band almost by accident. I was randomly searching music here and there among the vast bits and bytes of the internet.. and I found “Tumbleweed,” a song among many other great songs posted on The Great American Canyon Band’s website.

The band is made up of Paul and Krystal Jean Masson.  Their bio on the official band site states that the band is based around the powerful songwriting and harmonies of a husband and wife team. The Tumbleweed 7” vinyl is the first track in their debut album, which was self-recorded in a gutted out house in Chicago with no running water—just 2 guitars. What came from that gutted out house with just two pieces of musical creation was amazing. 

The song A Song for the Rest was one that caught my attention, along with the headlined Tumbleweed track. There was something very deep about the melody, the quiet beat, and the deep words that accompanied the feeling of the song. The song Wishing Well had a “Kings of Leon” type sound along with a quiet hush that screamed at the same time.

I spoke further with The Great American Canyon Band.

I asked what was the inspiration was for their style. I assumed it was Kings of Leon, Pink Floyd, or U2.  While it’s never safe to assume, I was right on at least one: U2, at least early U2. 

The band told me, “Inspirations musically range from Hank Williams Sr to early U2. But what really impacted us as a band was being left to our own devices. To be able to just sing, play and record in an empty house with no outside influence other than occasionally checking email. It was really a beautiful way to make a record.”

 And perhaps that is why the music sounds different from others.. influences can be great. But emulation sometimes gets someone in trouble. In The Great American Canyon Band’s case, being left to their own devices is exactly what prompts me to love their style. Imagine closing off the world.. just forgetting time.. and writing and singing. Beautiful way to make music.. 

How long have they existed, I asked.
The answer:

We’ve been singing songs together since we met, but The Great American Canyon Band really began finding it’s voice late in the summer of 2011

 And thankfully they did.

If you want to hear more, you can if you’re close to New York City. They will be performing at Pianos in New York City on January 24, 2012 and January 30, 2012. More dates will be announced.. 

If you’re in the NYC area, it’s worth the time.. if you’re not around NYC it may still be worth getting there..Here are directions to Pianos in case you do want to get there.

If you can’t go but want to hear more, start here: This is the song called Tumbleweed, and it’s worth the time you’ll take to listen to it. Enjoy.

Good luck to the Great American Canyon band.. can’t wait to hear more.

If you can’t wait either, you can follow them on Twitter, their site, Tumblr,  or Facebook.