The Story Of The Harborrats
The Harborrats is the name of a band I started in Kenosha, WI with this guy....
Sean Lambrecht-lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards
Sean and I worked on what was to be the first Harborrats album off-and-on over the next few years (while playing the occasional live show) but, in true Kenosha/slacker-fashion, never finished it. I moved out to Seattle, WA but continued to collaborate with Sean.
The Harborrats name was carried over to be used for the informal grouping of Seattle musicians I've drawn upon over the years to play with me. Put together, they make for a pretty good example of how giving in both time and talent members of the Seattle music community can be This collective of musicians has backed me thus far on six albums in a series of what will eventually be 8 albums, a project overall referred to as The Blue Moon Bible. All musicians involved are all part of at least one other band or project worth seeking out, starting with...
Scott Andrew-lead and backing vocals, electric bass, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
Scott was the first musician I met upon moving to Seattle in 2003 and over the next couple years Scott and I played shared bills of solo gigs in and around the Seattle area.
Through Scott, I was introduced to these guys….
…Seattle-based “grassrock” band Creeping Time,
who were at that time were serving as Scott’s live backing band. Creeping Time agreed to help me record my first album The Katie Sermon and play live with me as well, leading to start of their double life as the core of The Harborrats. These gentlemen are...
Ken Nottingham-upright bass, electric bass, mandolin, guitar, vocals
Michael Spaly-lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, violin, banjo, keyboards, nose flute
Kjell Anderson-violin, backing vocals
Dave Forrestor-drums, percussion, mandolin, backing vocals
In Creeping Time, Ken is the main songwriter with Michael contributing a good chunk of songs as well. Michael almost instantly became my main instrumental foil in The Harborrats, with whatever he chooses to play inevitably boosting the quality of the song at hand. While preparing to record The Katie Sermon with Creeping Time, I began looking for a female singer to duet with on “Train Wreck.” At a songwriter showcase put together by Scott Andrew, I met this lady here….
Kate Noson-lead and backing vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar
Kate, a Seattle native, agreed to record "Train Wreck" and ended up staying to sing on the whole album as well as most of those after. She has in the process become an indispensable and essential part of my music, to the point where I consider her voice in the context of my songs to be a direct extension of my own. It was her initial vocal contribution to my project that gave me the idea to use her and seven other singers as the eight "channelers" of The Blue Moon Bible that would occasionally take over lead vocals and portray characters mentioned in the songs. Despite no longer living in Seattle, Kate continues to record and play live with me when opportunity allows.
While recording The Katie Sermon, Creeping Time were also recording this guy’s debut album…
Nathan Wade -lead and backing vocals, National guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
Like me, Nathan was raised in a religious household and frequently uses his songwriting to address the adult perspective on such circumstances. I recruited Nathan to vocally and instrumentally contribute to The Katie Sermon as well as nearly every release after. After coming up with the idea of eventually using 8 other lead singers than myself over the course of The Blue Moon Bible, I chose Nathan to vocally portray my own brother on The Blue Moon Bible albums.
Over the years, a constant source of inspiration to the communual-like nature of The Harborrats has been David Delmar’s Ocean Tone Collective, of which I sometimes borrow musicians from and share two permanent members with including Michael Spaly and…
Allison Tulloss-lead and backing vocals, flute, piano, organ, accordion, ukulele, guitar, percussion
I met Allison through Michael Spaly and his co-membership with her in David Delmar’s folk-rock Seattle collective Undersea Passage and the associated banner of Ocean Tone Music. Over time, her vocal presence on The Blue Moon Bible albums and live become more and more indispensable as live she covered many of the keyboard parts from the albums. After Michael moved to Boston in 2013, Allison's keyboards became the predominant texture in both the core live and studio band, with this version of the band taking on the name of The Teen Soul Explosion.
Also making his presence known on the various Harborrat releases is…
James Apollo-lead and backing vocals, piano, organ, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
I met James back in 2001 when the original version of The Harborrats shared a bill with James at a bowling alley near Peoria, IL. After stints in Portland (MN), Wichita, KN,, and Porterville, CA, and following a nearly life-ending motorcycle crash in Brooklyn, James moved to Seattle on my and other's urging where James is constantly at work on his own music as well as a documentary on my great-great grandfather, beaver trapper Osbourne Russell. James has played live and recorded with both the Kenosha and Seattle versions of The Harborrats. On record, he portrays the elusive character of “Christopher Moon,” which might or might not be one of James’ aliases. Find more about The Legend of James Apollo at http://www.jamesapollo.com/
As The Harborrats began to play out more and sometimes conflict with Creeping Time's schedule, I out of necessity began incorporating more musicians into the fold and developed the "other" Harborrat rhythm section of …
Schuyler Jones-electric bass, guitar, backing vocals
&
Isaac Chirino-drums, percussion
Isaac started playing with me in 2007 the same time as Schuyler and together they provided the more classic-rock influenced rhythm section of the 2nd album of The Blue Moon Bible series, The Youngest Sister, and were both used in alternation on the 3rd, 4th and 5th albums as well. Over the years, Isaac has alternated with Dave and Schuyler has alternated with Ken (until 2010) as main live and recording drummer and bassist respectively.
In Dec of 2007, I shared a bill for a Bob Dylan tribute night at The Tractor Tavern in Ballard with this gal...
Shelby Earl-lead and backing vocals, percussion
Based solely on her performance that night, I asked her to guest on the third Blue Moon Bible album The Salted Caramel Sinner to be a singer in my vocal cast. Shelby is one of the most respected and active members of the Seattle community I know and never fails to match her enthusiasm with action, diplomacy and talent..
And the most recent addition to the Harborrat colective is..
Aimee Zoe-drums, percussion, vocals
Aimee first sat in with us for a last-minute TV appearance and began regularly playing with the band in January 2013. With the addition to Aimee, the loss of Michael to Boston, MA and the change of focus in sound to Allison's keyboards, I renamed the live band The Teen Soul Explosion after one of our new songs, while still keeping The Harborrats name to describe all the past and present players contributing to the recordings., Aimee also lends her infinite supply of good cheer and hard-hitting to bands Jackrabbit and MoZo.
Many, MANY other musicians have helped me out to varying degrees over the past few years and I have no doubt that many more will before the story of The Harborrats is over.
The Harborrats is the name of a band I started in Kenosha, WI with this guy....
Sean Lambrecht-lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards
Sean and I worked on what was to be the first Harborrats album off-and-on over the next few years (while playing the occasional live show) but, in true Kenosha/slacker-fashion, never finished it. I moved out to Seattle, WA but continued to collaborate with Sean.
The Harborrats name was carried over to be used for the informal grouping of Seattle musicians I've drawn upon over the years to play with me. Put together, they make for a pretty good example of how giving in both time and talent members of the Seattle music community can be This collective of musicians has backed me thus far on six albums in a series of what will eventually be 8 albums, a project overall referred to as The Blue Moon Bible. All musicians involved are all part of at least one other band or project worth seeking out, starting with...
Scott Andrew-lead and backing vocals, electric bass, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
Scott was the first musician I met upon moving to Seattle in 2003 and over the next couple years Scott and I played shared bills of solo gigs in and around the Seattle area.
Through Scott, I was introduced to these guys….
…Seattle-based “grassrock” band Creeping Time,
who were at that time were serving as Scott’s live backing band. Creeping Time agreed to help me record my first album The Katie Sermon and play live with me as well, leading to start of their double life as the core of The Harborrats. These gentlemen are...
Ken Nottingham-upright bass, electric bass, mandolin, guitar, vocals
Michael Spaly-lead and backing vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, mandolin, violin, banjo, keyboards, nose flute
Kjell Anderson-violin, backing vocals
Dave Forrestor-drums, percussion, mandolin, backing vocals
In Creeping Time, Ken is the main songwriter with Michael contributing a good chunk of songs as well. Michael almost instantly became my main instrumental foil in The Harborrats, with whatever he chooses to play inevitably boosting the quality of the song at hand. While preparing to record The Katie Sermon with Creeping Time, I began looking for a female singer to duet with on “Train Wreck.” At a songwriter showcase put together by Scott Andrew, I met this lady here….
Kate Noson-lead and backing vocals, percussion, acoustic guitar
Kate, a Seattle native, agreed to record "Train Wreck" and ended up staying to sing on the whole album as well as most of those after. She has in the process become an indispensable and essential part of my music, to the point where I consider her voice in the context of my songs to be a direct extension of my own. It was her initial vocal contribution to my project that gave me the idea to use her and seven other singers as the eight "channelers" of The Blue Moon Bible that would occasionally take over lead vocals and portray characters mentioned in the songs. Despite no longer living in Seattle, Kate continues to record and play live with me when opportunity allows.
While recording The Katie Sermon, Creeping Time were also recording this guy’s debut album…
Nathan Wade -lead and backing vocals, National guitar, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
Like me, Nathan was raised in a religious household and frequently uses his songwriting to address the adult perspective on such circumstances. I recruited Nathan to vocally and instrumentally contribute to The Katie Sermon as well as nearly every release after. After coming up with the idea of eventually using 8 other lead singers than myself over the course of The Blue Moon Bible, I chose Nathan to vocally portray my own brother on The Blue Moon Bible albums.
Over the years, a constant source of inspiration to the communual-like nature of The Harborrats has been David Delmar’s Ocean Tone Collective, of which I sometimes borrow musicians from and share two permanent members with including Michael Spaly and…
Allison Tulloss-lead and backing vocals, flute, piano, organ, accordion, ukulele, guitar, percussion
I met Allison through Michael Spaly and his co-membership with her in David Delmar’s folk-rock Seattle collective Undersea Passage and the associated banner of Ocean Tone Music. Over time, her vocal presence on The Blue Moon Bible albums and live become more and more indispensable as live she covered many of the keyboard parts from the albums. After Michael moved to Boston in 2013, Allison's keyboards became the predominant texture in both the core live and studio band, with this version of the band taking on the name of The Teen Soul Explosion.
Also making his presence known on the various Harborrat releases is…
James Apollo-lead and backing vocals, piano, organ, accordion, acoustic and electric guitars, percussion
I met James back in 2001 when the original version of The Harborrats shared a bill with James at a bowling alley near Peoria, IL. After stints in Portland (MN), Wichita, KN,, and Porterville, CA, and following a nearly life-ending motorcycle crash in Brooklyn, James moved to Seattle on my and other's urging where James is constantly at work on his own music as well as a documentary on my great-great grandfather, beaver trapper Osbourne Russell. James has played live and recorded with both the Kenosha and Seattle versions of The Harborrats. On record, he portrays the elusive character of “Christopher Moon,” which might or might not be one of James’ aliases. Find more about The Legend of James Apollo at http://www.jamesapollo.com/
As The Harborrats began to play out more and sometimes conflict with Creeping Time's schedule, I out of necessity began incorporating more musicians into the fold and developed the "other" Harborrat rhythm section of …
Schuyler Jones-electric bass, guitar, backing vocals
&
Isaac Chirino-drums, percussion
Isaac started playing with me in 2007 the same time as Schuyler and together they provided the more classic-rock influenced rhythm section of the 2nd album of The Blue Moon Bible series, The Youngest Sister, and were both used in alternation on the 3rd, 4th and 5th albums as well. Over the years, Isaac has alternated with Dave and Schuyler has alternated with Ken (until 2010) as main live and recording drummer and bassist respectively.
In Dec of 2007, I shared a bill for a Bob Dylan tribute night at The Tractor Tavern in Ballard with this gal...
Shelby Earl-lead and backing vocals, percussion
Based solely on her performance that night, I asked her to guest on the third Blue Moon Bible album The Salted Caramel Sinner to be a singer in my vocal cast. Shelby is one of the most respected and active members of the Seattle community I know and never fails to match her enthusiasm with action, diplomacy and talent..
And the most recent addition to the Harborrat colective is..
Aimee Zoe-drums, percussion, vocals
Aimee first sat in with us for a last-minute TV appearance and began regularly playing with the band in January 2013. With the addition to Aimee, the loss of Michael to Boston, MA and the change of focus in sound to Allison's keyboards, I renamed the live band The Teen Soul Explosion after one of our new songs, while still keeping The Harborrats name to describe all the past and present players contributing to the recordings., Aimee also lends her infinite supply of good cheer and hard-hitting to bands Jackrabbit and MoZo.
Many, MANY other musicians have helped me out to varying degrees over the past few years and I have no doubt that many more will before the story of The Harborrats is over.