‍SESSION AMERICANA is a Boston-based cast of top-shelf players, singers, and writers who tour internationally, taking their own songs plus hundreds more from the American songbook on the road. Whether you catch Session Americana in a rock hall or on a festival stage, you’ll be a part of the intimate, raucous scene these players built years ago with one simple credo—access the joy. And with Eleanor Buckland playing in the band, that joy has never been more apparent.

A rock band in a teacup or a folk band in a whiskey bottle? Take your pick. From a whisper to a roar, the band is constantly swapping instruments, trading off lead vocals, and sharing songwriting credits. Session Americana is constantly exploring new collaborations and touring like a band out of time. Looking back, the group has had a natural, almost inevitable evolution from a loose bunch of friends sitting around swapping songs in a bar, to a hot-ticket weekly residency, to a touring collective. Along the way, the band has made nine records (so far), played clubs and festivals across the U.S. and Europe, and developed deep collaborative bonds with a wide community of musicians. Session Americana's diligent avoidance of music business “shoulds” has led the band down a quirky and joyful path through the music world. The result is evident in the musical prowess the players and singers bring to every show.

“A raucous and holy thing! ... Like, the job is simple— access the joy— and if you can do that, it opens a portal. I’m ever in awe of Session, individually and as a band. They’re so finely in tune with each other, with their audiences. I’m in awe of their bond, their easy laughter, their intuitive musical conversation.” — Anaïs Mitchell

“It's right there in the name for this ultra-gifted, rotating collective of singers and multi-instrumentalists. And sprawl is a good word when it comes to the Boston-based group's raucous live shows, which were initially built around the community concept of traditional Irish seisiúns. The group... expertly blends vintage American roots music styles — from country to jazz to rock — in a rowdy but deft fashion.” — Rolling Stone

“Ultimately, you get what people love the most: sharing deep emotions and joy in connection with each other and the audience, celebrating everything that is good about life. No, I am not exaggerating, Session Americana is an example of what you get if the music comes first.” — Pascal Wilhelm / Bluestown Music Netherlands

“These songs transcend era and genre, mixing the contemporary with musical history. I’ve said it before but you’ll hear evocations of James Taylor, REM, the Band, Kenny Rogers, Rickie Lee Jones, Stevie Nicks, Dolly Parton and much, much more. You get Old World charm and New World grit, performed by a collective of talented musicians giving the music the respect it deserves and putting their own unique twists to it. Respect.” — David Pearson (Roots in March – Spirit Rocks – The Spirit of Progressive Rock)

THE FAUX PAWS

The Faux Paws have a problem. They’re a triangle band in a land of circles. Musically impossible to describe, they don’t even fit into today’s often hyphenated-genre world. No fan, industry expert, nor member of the band can seem to sum up this band’s sound in any kind of marketable way. They continue to remain a singularly unique outfit in the acoustic music community—always on the fringes, always memorable, and with an increasing number of die-hard fans who feel like they’ve uncovered a secret.

Is it bluegrass? Not usually. Old-time? Occasionally. Is it Celtic? Can’t quite say that. Is it Folk? Americana? Jazz? Singer-songwriter? None of the above. But members of the Paws have deep ties to all of these traditions and blend their elements effortlessly to serve whatever musical idea is being presented.

So what can we say? This band takes risks. They’re dynamic, exciting, sincere, irreverent, infectious, and surprising. They move deftly between moods, influences, and instruments, but always maintain a groove that pulses through the music like a heartbeat (you may not always be aware it’s there, but it gives the thing life).

A Faux Paws live show is an explosive roller-coaster ride that brings the audience along. Yes, there’s virtuosity on the fiddle, mandolin, guitar, and saxophone—but also vulnerability, personal lyrics, tight 3-part brother harmonies, playful interplay, intricately arranged details, and soaring improvisations.

According to FolkAlley.com, it’s Trad. Their self-titled 2021 release was named one of the 10 Best Trad Albums of the Year from around the world. With the considerable success and praise the band has seen since coming out of the pandemic, the Paws decided to add long-time friend and collaborator Zoe Guigueno (Fish & Bird, Della Mae) to their touring outfit on upright bass whenever possible. Zoe only deepens the group’s already massive sound while freeing each member up for more creative expression on their various instruments.

Need more? A few things people usually notice: the saxophone that behaves in ways they’ve never heard. An oft-heard ‘compliment’ to Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Chris Miller is: “I thought I was going to hate the saxophone!” Fiddle phenom Noah gets most of the attention on his feet—due to his unique approach to Quebecois-style foot percussion he’s developed. Combined with his jaw-dropping array of percussive chopping elements on the fiddle, he contains the sound of a full band on his own. Except it’s his brother Andrew, carefully executing complimentary chords and riffs on the guitar, that makes Noah’s sound what it is.

But spending too many words talking about this stuff detracts from the fact that it’s the original songs—and heart—that keep folks coming back for more year after year. In the band’s 12th year, they recently headed back to the studio to release an EP showcasing a huge amount of music in a 5-track sampler. The live energy of the newly minted quartet is on full display, with very little added. The Backburner EP was released in April 2023 and reached Billboard’s Top 10 Bluegrass Albums. It’s been fun to watch writers take another stab at describing it.