Sad Daddy

Description

Formed in 2010, Arkansas outfit Sad Daddy has traveled down many a road – both together and separately – at times focusing on solo projects – and then reuniting for a band project.

Each of its members sings lead and writes original tunes, and the sound is truly a mix of American Roots music. From early blues, jazz, and jug bands to country, folk, and bluegrass, to soul and funk, they combine many influences to create an indefinable genre they like to call Sad Daddy.

Joe Sundell on banjo and harmonica developed a unique banjo-picking style from studying Mississippi John Hurt’s fingerpicking. On jug-band style tunes, Joe brings his unmistakable ragtime jazz feel.

Brian Martin on guitar, kazoo, mouth horns, and harmonica also emulates Mississippi John Hurt’s style on guitar and seems to be in a league of his own with his masterful kazoo and mouth horn. His gravelly vocal tone is reminiscent of Leon Redbone or Tom Waits.

Melissa Carper, with her booming upright bass, makes sure the whole room is on the right groove. Carper has been called, "one of this generation’s greatest singers and songwriters," by Saving Country Music and her voice has been likened to a "Hill-Billy Holiday" by her peers.

Rebecca Patek gets rowdy on fiddle, sliding between all the styles with her effortless delivery and down-home funky rhythms. Her distinctive voice adds yet another unique piece to the Sad Daddy pie.

The four members conspired and united in the sudden spare time of 2020 to create their third album, Way Up in the Hills. Convening at Brian’s cabin in Greers Ferry to write and record the album together, the collective decided on a down-home, back-to-the-country theme – a reflection on the state of the world and the desire to go back to simpler ways and self-sufficiency – goin’ way up in the hills and letting the chaos settle.

Recording engineer Jordan Trotter brought his equipment into the cabin and the band recorded the 14 original tunes live and in a circle. Half of the tracks were only a week old, and the other half had become Sad Daddy standards since the band’s last album. The feeling of being in a lakeside “home” studio in the serene Arkansas woods was distilled into sound as Sad Daddy explored the use of porch stomps, ham boning, the sounds of insects buzzing, and bacon sizzling, to fashion a picking-on-the-porch vibe into the fun and refreshing creation of Way Up in the Hills.

Doors Open 6:30 PM

Show Starts 7:30 PM

* Please confirm directly with the promoter or box office to ensure event details have not changed.