PUTNEY — Next Stage Arts Project and Twilight Music present an evening of acoustic/electric Americana music from Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., by The Slambovian Circus of Dreams (a.k.a., The Grand Slambovians) at Next Stage on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 7:30 p.m.
A rootsy psychedelica that Maverick Magazine calls “mightily impressive and hugely original rock from the cool end of Americana,” the quartet's melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal (accordion, cello, mandolin, theremin) in addition to standard rock regalia, and a palette of styles ranging from dusty Americana ballads to huge Pink Floydesque cinematic anthems.
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams is Joziah Longo (lead vocals, guitars, harmonica), Tink Lloyd (accordion, cello, uke, theremin, melodica), Sharkey McEwen (guitars, mandolin, backing vocals), Felipe Torres (drums, percussion) and Bob Torsello (bass).
Bandleader and songwriter Longo, (known for tall tales and philosophizing) has written two musicals with Broadway legend Theodore Mann, headlined at Carnegie Hall, and was the first American musician invited to perform in mainland China in the early '90s, ending a decade-long ban on Western music.
Longo, Lloyd, and McEwen have toured nationally and abroad since forming Gandalf Murphy & The Slambovian Circus of Dreams in Sleepy Hollow in 1998 and winning fans with live performances of moody but upbeat original, alt-roots rock music.
The band has released five critically-acclaimed studio albums - A Box of Everything (2014), The Grand Slambovians (2012), The Great Unravel (2008), 2004's double-disc Flapjacks from the Sky, and A Good Thief Tips His Hat (1998).