Folking around with style
Trevor Flynn
Issue date: 3/5/10 Section: Viva
If you didn't grab a cushion, a latte, or a beer and fill in a little of your last Friday night with some live acoustic sweetness at Olmos Perk, you might want to check out the next gig featuring Jasper's Cast, a vivacious band of four Trinity students.
Though listed on My Space as bluegrass/folk, that genre does not adequately describe the groups' unique sound. The mountain dulcimer played by Sophomore Eric Elliott and mandolin played by Sophomore Scott Riggle are the heartstrings of rhythms ranging from relaxing jigs to rockin' ballads. Junior Jackson Floyd powers the sound with guitar/bass and Junior Zach Brush with the Congo drum. The result is an energetic acoustic blend of bluegrass, folk and Nashville twang that the band members refer to as "Newgrass."
With a two-hour time slot at Olmos Perk, Jasper's Cast opened with the original tune "Steel Crazy," a light-hearted love song featuring the smooth tones of main vocalist Elliott and sustaining harmonies sung by Floyd. Riggle later plucked the traditional "Arkansas Traveler" on the mandolin as the rest of the band struck up a clap-stomping rhythm and encouraged the crowd to join, demonstrating the dynamic spirit of folk friendliness that is so essential to the group.
"We like having fun, we hope that fun spirit comes across to the audience," said Riggle, describing an attitude further demonstrated when the band played a cover of The Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" and Elliot asked an audience member for a quick dance.
After the additional covers of "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin and "Hey Yah!" by Outkast, the group had exhausted its repertoire and began to improvise rather than repeat songs. As each of the musicians present could play the guitar in addition to at least one other instrument, it was both easy and entertaining for the guys to mess around on a blues scale and throw in some whistling or harmonies here and there.
While Jasper's Cast has yet to release an album, several of the current performance favorites were released on the first and last album by the bands' predecessor, King Minty Philosophers. Elliott and Riggle each fulfilled their current roles in this trio, with Sophomore Adan Gonzalez playing guitar and harmonizing.
Though listed on My Space as bluegrass/folk, that genre does not adequately describe the groups' unique sound. The mountain dulcimer played by Sophomore Eric Elliott and mandolin played by Sophomore Scott Riggle are the heartstrings of rhythms ranging from relaxing jigs to rockin' ballads. Junior Jackson Floyd powers the sound with guitar/bass and Junior Zach Brush with the Congo drum. The result is an energetic acoustic blend of bluegrass, folk and Nashville twang that the band members refer to as "Newgrass."
With a two-hour time slot at Olmos Perk, Jasper's Cast opened with the original tune "Steel Crazy," a light-hearted love song featuring the smooth tones of main vocalist Elliott and sustaining harmonies sung by Floyd. Riggle later plucked the traditional "Arkansas Traveler" on the mandolin as the rest of the band struck up a clap-stomping rhythm and encouraged the crowd to join, demonstrating the dynamic spirit of folk friendliness that is so essential to the group.
"We like having fun, we hope that fun spirit comes across to the audience," said Riggle, describing an attitude further demonstrated when the band played a cover of The Beatles' "Do You Want to Know a Secret?" and Elliot asked an audience member for a quick dance.
After the additional covers of "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin and "Hey Yah!" by Outkast, the group had exhausted its repertoire and began to improvise rather than repeat songs. As each of the musicians present could play the guitar in addition to at least one other instrument, it was both easy and entertaining for the guys to mess around on a blues scale and throw in some whistling or harmonies here and there.
While Jasper's Cast has yet to release an album, several of the current performance favorites were released on the first and last album by the bands' predecessor, King Minty Philosophers. Elliott and Riggle each fulfilled their current roles in this trio, with Sophomore Adan Gonzalez playing guitar and harmonizing.
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