The Wanton String Band
“Deb’s” - a headbanging instrumental on acoustic instruments.
Thank the gods that there are bands like this. All acoustic. Instrumental. Danceable. Pushing the boundaries of genre. Making people slam dance. Looking at some of their videos, you’d think you’re watching a punk rock band with a mosh pit, then you hear the tones. Take that all you metalheads and punks, this band will give you a run for your money (and probably save your hearing).
This sextet got its start around 2016. They describe it has trance-induced traditional, face-melting fiddle and shamelessly danceable. They’re based in the UK, but you’ll hear traditional Irish, Appalachian folk, Asian scales - among other genres. Not everything they do is instrumental (“Georgia Railroad” and “Chuck Old Hen” feature vocal tracks), but just about everything gets your feet tapping, unless you are devoid of a soul and or heartbeat.
We’re not sure about the inspiration behind the 6:07 jam that is “Deb’s,” but we can only imagine it to be joyous. Track has an ominous start with the low strings before a mandolin comes in with the first head riff. A violin joins in on a secondary riff before they both go back to the head with an added kick. The intensity builds with drum fills and a beautiful cello line that climbs with the head riff before the track explodes into a slam dance of the head riff with the backing of a full kit at 1:53. Cinematic. Sweating. Heart pounding. Huge Smile. All of it.
The head riff is hypnotic and the band does an amazing job of complimenting it with just the right parts from all the other players. It would be so easy for everyone to pile on top of it and weigh it down, but they don’t - they compliment it. When, around 3:30, the cello takes the lead line, what the acoustic and fiddle do to compliment it are perfect beyond reproach. It’s a testament to their ability to compose and arrange.
There’s a great breakdown, or bridge, right around 3:45 to let everyone catch their breathe, but we know what’s coming. They’re about to blow it up again. And that’s exactly what they do at 4:38. Beefy. Ballsy. Headbanging. Slam dancey. Would absolutely love to see this live and watch the crowd explode at the end, despite it's decrescendo and ritardando ending.
The production is absolutely gorgeous, from the mic tones and mic placements, to Gaelic sounding drum kit. If someone would like to send us a mic list for this project, we’ll absolutely add it! Love everything about this track and band, and can’t wait to see what they’ll do next. Hopefully they’ll play some gigs in the states soon - I can’t imagine the damage they’d do to Lower Broadway in Nashville.
Lineup - Nathan Bontrager (fiddle, voice), Stuart Graham (bouzouki, voice), Chris Jones (mandolin), Ewan Macdonald (fiddle), Richard O’Flynn (drums, synth, voice) and Jess Whelligan (cello, voice).