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Umbrella Tree

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Location: Nashville, TN

Website: http://www.myspace.com/umbrellatree

Bio: If you’re going to be weird, then it helps to be good. If you’re going to wail and flail, forcing people to either come with ... (more) you or sit ther gawking, then you need to hit all the notes and include moments of exquisite beauty. Local rock trio Umbrella Tree manage all those things. Artsy, quirky, dramatic - maybe even a little spastic - this band’s dynamic balance and emotional intensity remain relatable. Both guitarist Zachary Gresham and keyboardist Jillian Franklin (who pass singing duties back and forth) have expressive, musical voices that prevent their sound from ever veering toward farce. Their songs are atmospheric collections of bizarre images drawing on offbeat themes - Gresham’s "Bat’s in the Belfry" sounds a bit like your crazy old uncle playing an out-of-tune piano in the attic, but in a charming gothic way. That’s the thing about this band: they’re idiosyncratic, at times dissonant and often strange, but never boring-especially onstage, where they perform with the reckless energy of a high-speed chase.
- Nashville SCENE, April 27-May 3, 2006 (less)