Fiasco Bluegrass

To see a video of FIASCO in concert go to this link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhmYsChMW7c
to see more photos of the band click on multimedia tab above
I have posted a new song that I wrote for my daughters wedding. Its called Summer Wind and you can find it by clicking on the "music" tab.

“FIASCO”
This is a dynamic, upbeat, bluegrass band that consistantly pleases crowds of all ages. An entertaining, captivating and seriously talented group of four musicians hailing from the Shuswap Lake district of British Columbia Canada that put it all out there all the time.

The band is Joan Robertson on stand up bass, Gord Milne on vocals, guitar, banjo and pennywhistle, Leon Power on guitar, vocals and percussion and Jacob Verburg on mandolin, guitar and vocals.

One of the first things that strike you is the obvious age difference in the group. Joan and Gord have been life partners for as long as Jacob and Leon have been around, however, as far apart as the years are the musical mix is dynamite and this band plays like they have been together for twenty years. Gord and Leon put together tight, solid vocal harmonies behind favourites like “Shady Grove” and the ease with which they trade off instrumental leads is nothing short of brilliant. Jacob Verburg has an intense picking style on the mandolin, is very fast and continually brings innovative, exciting leads into his play. Joan Robertson holds it all down with her steady bass and is the ever smiling straight-man for Gords absolutely hilarious anecdotes and stage quips.

Playing standard bluegrass covers, gospels, some blues and exciting original material such as Milne’s’ intense, hard driving “Maxine” or Power and Verburg’s lively “Buskers Ferment”, “FIASCO” is a bluegrass band I would hire again and again and recommend to any Festival Promoters, Bars, Restaurants or anyone who hires live music. Solid, professional players that are easy to listen to and hard to forget long after you have left the venue. William Gaw / Yonderton Productions

FIASCO I own a recording studio in Kamloops, BC which specializes in acoustic musicians and bands. Over the past two years I’ve had the pleasure of laying down several tracks with the band Fiasco. Normally after a full day of recording I’m ready to call it quits and shut things down, but not with this group of musicians. Their enthusiasm is truly infectious. They keep me either on the edge of my seat with their unique arrangements of traditional songs or their incredibly clever originals, or keep me in stitches with their between song banter.

The members of the band Fiasco have an intimacy with each other I have never experienced with other musicians. They seem to be able to sense the space for an improvised phrase before it even happens. A mere glance or raising of an eyebrow can change the dynamic of a song. It really is amazing to watch.

Gord Milne is an extremely talented multi-instrumentalist who can effortlessly switch between guitar, mandolin, and banjo in any of their wide ranging styles which includes bluegrass, folk, country, pop, and his clever and sometimes hilarious original material.

The beautiful and talented Joan Robertson, a native of New Zealand and Gord’s life partner, is as solid a bass player as I’ve ever heard. Either while recording, jamming or on stage, if Joany is behind her upright, you can count on the tempo being dead on.

Leon Power, Gord and Joan’s neighbor, is a drummer by profession, but a guitar whiz kid by nature. Although he doesn’t play drums in Fiasco, his lightning-fast fast picking and unwavering rhythm never ceases to amaze me.

Last but not least, Jacob Verburg, is a genius of stringed instruments. Although a virtuoso guitar player, his mandolin playing with Fiasco is some of the tastiest and innovative I have ever heard.

Don’t let the name fool you, this group is anything but haphazard. Brilliant as individuals and phenomenal as an ensemble, I can honestly say that it’s the most fun I have had in the studio, and at the end of a session I feel like I should be paying them. I catch their live shows whenever they play and I’d advise you to do the same.