THE STRIPMINERS - FRAIL HOPE RANCH (BalconyTV)

The Stripminers perform 'Frail Hope Ranch' LIVE on BalconyTV

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THE STRIPMINERS - FRAIL HOPE RANCH

PRESENTED BY Xavier Brinkman

"Punk Americana Anti-Folk," or something like that....

The Stripminers are Brett Anderson, vocalist for rock dynamos The Donnas, Paul Stinson from punkers The Radishes, producer/guitarist Scrote (Daniel Johnston, Puscifer), Brett Simons (Brian Wilson, Fiona Apple, Melissa Etheridge) on bass, DJ Bonebrake (X, The Knitters) on drums and Holland Greco (The Peak Show, Anais Mitchell) multi-instrumentalist and singer.

After meeting via the Sugar Knives song/video, "Who's To Blame" (in which both star as quarreling lovers who end up duking it out in a boxing ring), Brett Anderson and Paul Stinson knew they had a musical bond. After talking on video set, the duo decided to write and record more songs with producer Scrote (who also produced the Sugar Knives album). Scrote himself would eventually take the stage beside the band and play on various instruments, producing what ended up being two albums worth of material. Scrote also drew on his deep pool of musical connections in Los Angeles, bringing in Bonebrake and Simons to work on the records, as well as a cast of other experienced LA veterans.

Stinson and Anderson's motto was originally "zero commercial potential" - they were half joking, but it ended up working to their advantage in crafting songs unlike those of their former bands. After a few "experimental" shows in 2011, they found that their songwriting bond extended to a love of performing together. Shortly thereafter, Bonebrake and Simons, as well as multi-instrumentalist and chanteuse Holland Greco, joined the group as full-fledged Stripminers, and that great lineup has persisted to this day.

While The Stripminers' debut release, Movies (2012), proved the band's penchant for an eclectic mix of punk, alternative country, and garage rock with a Pixies-like flair, their second studio album, Frail Hope Ranch, takes on a more cohesive musical theme. Unlike Movies, the album is comprised almost entirely of moody alt-country ballads, conveying the visual behind the album's title. The Stripminers aren't ones to be tied to a single genre, and true to anti-form, they contrast and compliment the organic roots of this batch of songs, with the depth of a full band, including swirling vibraphones and the added dimension of a string quartet.

Interestingly enough, all of the material from the debut and the sophomore release was recorded at around the same time, with the band saving the more atmospheric tracks for Frail Hope Ranch. The album kicks off with "Gothic", an instrumental which begins with guitar and violins and builds to a powerful, pounding conclusion. The cinematic flair of the first tracks colors the entire album.

While the band hinted at an alt-country feel on their debut, their sophomore album, Frail Hope Ranch, takes The Stripminers further in that direction, with standout tracks "Better Than A Song" and the sultry Anderson-sung "Like a Harp". The album is sure to bring in new fans, as it is to satisfy the faithful.

http://thestripminers.com

BalconyTV Los Angeles // Brought to you in association with

Cindi Avnet: Producer / Talent Booker

Lan Nguyen: Cinematographer

Recorded & Mixed By: Jeff Bates

Assistant Audio Engineer: Anabel Correa

Atara Gottschalk: Co-Producer / Talent Booker

Leah Hobbs: Associate Producer

Aleah Wolinsky: Field Producer

Special Thanks to Rick St. George for Balcony Location!

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