The Ragbirds
Encyclopedia
The Ragbirds are a 5-piece, female-led, folk-rock-world fusion band out of Ann Arbor, MI. They describe their own music as "infectious global groove". The musical roots of The Ragbirds sound are complex - with Gypsy, Middle-Eastern, Americana
, rock
, and Latin influences, all stirred with a Celtic
fiddler’s bow. In live performances the band incorporates variations on traditional African drum pieces, each member trading their instrument for a hand drum. The songs carry a positive message and include both pop hooks and improvised solos. It is music that fits stages of many sizes and styles - from the "listening rooms" that folk audiences flock to - to jam-band music festivals - to bars and clubs with a hyped-up dance floor.
The Ragbirds make use of numerous traditional folk instruments, blending them with modern sounds to create an infectious world groove rooted in the traditions of many cultures and eras.
The group has released three full-length studio albums, a live record and one single - all self-produced and independently released.
in 2005 and moved to neighboring Ann Arbor
in 2007. Vocalist and instrumentalist Erin Zindle and drummer Randall Moore began recording Zindle's original songs before they had a band to perform them live and those recordings became The Ragbirds' debut album, "Yes Nearby", which was released in the summer of 2005. The original members included bassist Jeff Stinson, guitarist and vocalist Adam Labeaux, and percussionist Greg White
. After only six months White left the group and was replaced by Tim Dziekan, who had been a student of Moore's.
In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina
the group decided to record one of their popular songs often played live, "Washed Away" (formerly titled "Mangrove"). This recording was released as a single and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross. In 2006 The Ragbirds released a live album called Catching Fire, recorded in January at their hometown bar and the place they got their start - T.C.'s Speakeasy in Ypsilanti, Michigan. That album and the single are both currently discontinued.
In April 2006 the sadness of the death of a good friend of the band and "merch girl" Lisa Radtke was followed by the happiness of Moore's marriage proposal to Zindle, and they were married on September 22, 2006.
In October 2006, the group introduced Matthew Melody as the new guitarist/vocalist to replace Labeaux. In early winter 2007 Dan Hildebrandt replaced Stinson on bass.
The Ragbirds' second full-length studio album, Wanderlove was released in June 2007. It included several songs which previously appeared on Catching Fire. Wanderlove has a world-travel theme with a pop appeal and was the number one selling album on Homegrown Music Network by the Fall of 2008.
T.J. Zindle, founding member of Last Conservative (and Erin's brother) is the Ragbirds current guitarist. He joined the band to replace Melody in January 2009.
and Ohio
as well as New York
and other Midwestern states. In 2007 the Ragbirds began to tour nationally reaching as far West as Colorado and as far South as Florida.
By 2009, The Ragbirds have traveled throughout the country, playing in over 25 states, and even venturing out on their first International tour. Signed to Buffalo Records in Japan in February, 2009, The Ragbirds Wanderlove CD was distributed to Tower Records stores throughout Japan. The band flew to Japan to perform at the Green Room Festival in Yokohama and at Tower Records Shibuya, Tokyo store, as well as an additional gig at Stove's in Yokohama.
In 2009, The Ragbirds worked with producer Tim Carbone (of Railroad Earth
) to record their third studio album, Finally Almost Ready. Mixed and mastered by Grammy-Award-winning producer and engineer Phil Nicolo, the album was self-released in the US and released in Japan by Buffalo Records in August 2009.
Traveling in a van that runs on Recycled Vegetable Oil in order to promote sustainability, The Ragbirds have performed to enthusiastic audiences in over 25 states so far, including major markets such as New York City
, Nashville, Chicago
, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, Indianapolis
and many more. They have been featured at some of the Mid-West’s largest music festivals including Rothbury Music Festival
and 10,000 Lakes and have shared the stage with Railroad Earth, Steve Kimmock, Cornmeal
, Toubab Krewe
, Hot Buttered Rum
, Donna The Buffalo
, Big Leg Emma, Jeff Daniels
, Tea Leaf Green
, Dirty Dozen Brass Band
, Mamadou Diabate
, The Duhks
, Wookiefoot, ekoostik hookah
, and many more.
1 "Low Flying"
2 "Love's Great Joke"
3 "Narcissick"
4 "Picture"
5 "Tipi Baya"
6 "Door in the Wall"
7 "Totem Pole"
8 "Adoration"
9 "Enemy"
10 "Believe It"
11 "Holy Kiss"
12 "Wake the Birds"
2006
1 "Ypsilanti Song"
2 "Narcissick"
3 "Enemy"
4 "Jacky Tar/ The Rights of Man"
5 "Medicine"
6 "Moribayassa"
7 "Door in the Wall"
8 "Tipi Baya"
9 "Tarantella"
10 "Religion"
11 "Harvest Song"
12 "Better"
13 "Onyame Kokroko"
2007
1 "Tarantella"
2 "Good"
3 "How Can I Say?"
4 "Medicine"
5 "Brave New Beat"
6 "This Kind Miracle" **
7 "Religion"
8 "Ypsilanti Song"
9 "Space"
10 "Harvest"
11 "Hiding Place"
12 "Roar, Claw & Bite"
2009
1 "Book Of Matches"
2 "The Frame"
3 "Get In"
4 "Getting Dark"
5 "Finally Almost Ready"
6 "Stuck Inside of Who You Are"
7 "The Limits of Me"
8 "Little Things"
9 "Around The Time"
10 "Anywhere"
11 "Panoramic Camera"
12 "Onyame Kokroko" **
Americana (music)
Americana is an amalgam of roots musics formed by the confluence of the shared and varied traditions that make up the American musical ethos; specifically those sounds that are merged from folk, country, blues, rhythm and blues, rock and roll and other external influential styles...
, rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and Latin influences, all stirred with a Celtic
Celtic music
Celtic music is a term utilised by artists, record companies, music stores and music magazines to describe a broad grouping of musical genres that evolved out of the folk musical traditions of the Celtic people of Western Europe...
fiddler’s bow. In live performances the band incorporates variations on traditional African drum pieces, each member trading their instrument for a hand drum. The songs carry a positive message and include both pop hooks and improvised solos. It is music that fits stages of many sizes and styles - from the "listening rooms" that folk audiences flock to - to jam-band music festivals - to bars and clubs with a hyped-up dance floor.
The Ragbirds make use of numerous traditional folk instruments, blending them with modern sounds to create an infectious world groove rooted in the traditions of many cultures and eras.
The group has released three full-length studio albums, a live record and one single - all self-produced and independently released.
History
The Ragbirds began in Ypsilanti, MichiganYpsilanti, Michigan
Ypsilanti is a city in Washtenaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 22,362. The city is bounded to the north by the Charter Township of Superior and on the west, south, and east by the Charter Township of Ypsilanti...
in 2005 and moved to neighboring Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
in 2007. Vocalist and instrumentalist Erin Zindle and drummer Randall Moore began recording Zindle's original songs before they had a band to perform them live and those recordings became The Ragbirds' debut album, "Yes Nearby", which was released in the summer of 2005. The original members included bassist Jeff Stinson, guitarist and vocalist Adam Labeaux, and percussionist Greg White
Greg White
Stylez G. White is an American football defensive end for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
. After only six months White left the group and was replaced by Tim Dziekan, who had been a student of Moore's.
In 2005, following Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
the group decided to record one of their popular songs often played live, "Washed Away" (formerly titled "Mangrove"). This recording was released as a single and a portion of the proceeds were donated to the Red Cross. In 2006 The Ragbirds released a live album called Catching Fire, recorded in January at their hometown bar and the place they got their start - T.C.'s Speakeasy in Ypsilanti, Michigan. That album and the single are both currently discontinued.
In April 2006 the sadness of the death of a good friend of the band and "merch girl" Lisa Radtke was followed by the happiness of Moore's marriage proposal to Zindle, and they were married on September 22, 2006.
In October 2006, the group introduced Matthew Melody as the new guitarist/vocalist to replace Labeaux. In early winter 2007 Dan Hildebrandt replaced Stinson on bass.
The Ragbirds' second full-length studio album, Wanderlove was released in June 2007. It included several songs which previously appeared on Catching Fire. Wanderlove has a world-travel theme with a pop appeal and was the number one selling album on Homegrown Music Network by the Fall of 2008.
T.J. Zindle, founding member of Last Conservative (and Erin's brother) is the Ragbirds current guitarist. He joined the band to replace Melody in January 2009.
Members
- Erin Zindle - vocals, violin, mandolin, banjo, accordion, percussion
- T.J. Zindle - guitar, vocals
- Randall (The Hitman) Moore - congas, djembe, percussion
- Loren Kranz - Drum set
- Brian Crist - Bass guitar, percussion
On TOUR
Throughout 2006, the Ragbirds toured extensively in MichiganMichigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
as well as New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and other Midwestern states. In 2007 the Ragbirds began to tour nationally reaching as far West as Colorado and as far South as Florida.
By 2009, The Ragbirds have traveled throughout the country, playing in over 25 states, and even venturing out on their first International tour. Signed to Buffalo Records in Japan in February, 2009, The Ragbirds Wanderlove CD was distributed to Tower Records stores throughout Japan. The band flew to Japan to perform at the Green Room Festival in Yokohama and at Tower Records Shibuya, Tokyo store, as well as an additional gig at Stove's in Yokohama.
In 2009, The Ragbirds worked with producer Tim Carbone (of Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth
Railroad Earth is a roots and Americana-based newgrass band from Stillwater, New Jersey. Their name was borrowed from the Jack Kerouac short story "October in the Railroad Earth," to which the band also has a song by the same name...
) to record their third studio album, Finally Almost Ready. Mixed and mastered by Grammy-Award-winning producer and engineer Phil Nicolo, the album was self-released in the US and released in Japan by Buffalo Records in August 2009.
Traveling in a van that runs on Recycled Vegetable Oil in order to promote sustainability, The Ragbirds have performed to enthusiastic audiences in over 25 states so far, including major markets such as New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Nashville, Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Denver, Detroit, Cleveland, St. Louis, Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
and many more. They have been featured at some of the Mid-West’s largest music festivals including Rothbury Music Festival
Rothbury Music Festival
The Rothbury Festival is a four-day jam band music festival in Rothbury, Michigan at the Double JJ Resort. The festival first occurred in 2008 during the Independence Day holiday weekend. In addition to music and arts, the festival is intended to promote sustainability and promote overall...
and 10,000 Lakes and have shared the stage with Railroad Earth, Steve Kimmock, Cornmeal
Cornmeal
Cornmeal is flour ground from dried maize or American corn. It is a common staple food, and is ground to fine, medium, and coarse consistencies. In the United States, the finely ground cornmeal is also referred to as cornflour. However, the word cornflour denotes cornstarch in recipes from the...
, Toubab Krewe
Toubab Krewe
Toubab Krewe is an American instrumental band which fuses the music of Mali with American musical styles . The group's instrumentation includes kora , kamelengoni , soku , two electric guitars, electric bass guitar, drum set, and African percussion...
, Hot Buttered Rum
Hot Buttered Rum (band)
Hot Buttered Rum is an American five-piece progressive bluegrass act based in the San Francisco Bay Area....
, Donna The Buffalo
Donna the Buffalo
Donna the Buffalo is a band from Trumansburg, New York. They play both originals and covers....
, Big Leg Emma, Jeff Daniels
Jeff Daniels
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels is an American actor, musician and playwright. He founded a non-profit theatre company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in his home state of Michigan...
, Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green
Tea Leaf Green is a five-piece jam band from San Francisco Bay Area, comprising Josh Clark , Trevor Garrod , Reed Mathis , Scott Rager , and Cochrane McMillan .-History:Tea Leaf Green began in the fall of 1996, when Scott Rager met Ben Chambers on the...
, Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
The Dirty Dozen Brass Band is a New Orleans, Louisiana, brass band. The ensemble was established in 1977 by Benny Jones together with members of the Tornado Brass Band...
, Mamadou Diabate
Mamadou Diabaté
Mamadou Diabaté is a kora player. He began playing quite early in his life, became known as a musician in the area of Mali in which he lived, and has since moved to the United States, recording several albums.-Life and career:...
, The Duhks
The Duhks
The Duhks is a band from Winnipeg, Canada.The members play a blend of Canadian soul, gospel, North American folk, Brazilian samba, old time country string band, zydeco, and Irish dance music. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, their music draws heavily on all of the North American musical traditions,...
, Wookiefoot, ekoostik hookah
Ekoostik Hookah
əkoostik hookah is a rock band from Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1991, they host a biannual music festival called Hookahville, typically located at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio or at Frontier Ranch in Kirkersville, Ohio. The spring Hookahville happens over Memorial Day weekend, and in fall, over...
, and many more.
Yes Nearby
1 "Low Flying"
2 "Love's Great Joke"
3 "Narcissick"
4 "Picture"
5 "Tipi Baya"
6 "Door in the Wall"
7 "Totem Pole"
8 "Adoration"
9 "Enemy"
10 "Believe It"
11 "Holy Kiss"
12 "Wake the Birds"
2006
Catching Fire
1 "Ypsilanti Song"
2 "Narcissick"
3 "Enemy"
4 "Jacky Tar/ The Rights of Man"
5 "Medicine"
6 "Moribayassa"
7 "Door in the Wall"
8 "Tipi Baya"
9 "Tarantella"
10 "Religion"
11 "Harvest Song"
12 "Better"
13 "Onyame Kokroko"
-
- note: this live album is no longer in print. The song "Better" was written by Adam Labeaux.
2007
Wanderlove
1 "Tarantella"
2 "Good"
3 "How Can I Say?"
4 "Medicine"
5 "Brave New Beat"
6 "This Kind Miracle" **
7 "Religion"
8 "Ypsilanti Song"
9 "Space"
10 "Harvest"
11 "Hiding Place"
12 "Roar, Claw & Bite"
-
- note: the original printing of the album "Wanderlov" included the song "Moon Miss Me", written by Matt Melody. When Matt left the band, he asked them to remove the song from the album, so the band reprinted the album with "This Kind Miracle" (a song Erin had recorded as a Christmas single) in its place.
2009
Finally Almost Ready
1 "Book Of Matches"
2 "The Frame"
3 "Get In"
4 "Getting Dark"
5 "Finally Almost Ready"
6 "Stuck Inside of Who You Are"
7 "The Limits of Me"
8 "Little Things"
9 "Around The Time"
10 "Anywhere"
11 "Panoramic Camera"
12 "Onyame Kokroko" **
-
- note: all songs (on all three studio albums) written by Erin Zindle and copyrighted, all rights reserved. With the exception of "Onyame Kokroko", which is a traditional West African hymn, arranged by Zindle, and recorded because of popular demand.