CARRIE NATION & THE SPEAKEASY (CNS) is a high-energy quintet from Wichita, KS, USA. The band, whose sound has been described as “...a stagecoach in overdrive”, has performed their signature blend of strings and horns across 49 states and 9 countries since 2007.
CNS has built a solid grassroots following with their energetic live show and ability to fit on bills ranging from bluegrass to punk; rockabilly to ska. Thoughtful songwriting is delivered through dynamic arrangements and unconventional instrumentation. Throaty vocals glide over percussive guitar. Mandolin solos melt into blaring trombone lines at breakneck speed, while the upright bass and rock-solid drums churn out aggressive rhythms that carry the force of a Kansas freight train. Psychedelic soundscapes are punctuated by downright amphetaminic tempos and controlled cacophony. Anything but derivitive, CNS has developed a singular style that continues to bemuse newcomers and delight loyal fans.
The band’s DIY approach is evident in their self-recorded albums, self-published music, self-booked tours, and collaborations with local and regional visual artists. A live CNS performance is a loud, fast, sweeping journey to a brand new destination.
File under: thrashgrass/ experimental acoustic/ folkpunk for people who hate folkpunk.
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