The Jon Stickley Trio brings a unique, high-energy show to Visulite
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Photo courtesy of Heather Hambor
Jon Stickley Trio is difficult to define. Coming off of their second album, Lost at Last, guitar player Stickley, violinist Lyndsay Pruett and drummer Patrick Armitage are still finding it tough to nail down exactly how to describe what it is they’re doing on stage night in and night out.
Their experimental sound includes elements of all genres — a musical representation of Asheville, the city they call home. Stickley’s lightning-quick flatpicking comes from fingers brimming with bluegrass experience, ears that enjoy punk rock more than anything these days, and a musical mind that is comfortable floating between intricate leads and driving rhythm lines. The result is an ever-changing fusion of heavy bluegrass groove dance jazz. I think. The sound began shifting a few years back when drums came into the picture.
“We were more bluegrass at the start, with guitar and fiddle, then we started making adjustments and new compositions,” Stickley said.
One of those adjustments is the addition of octave pedals to both the guitar and violin setup, letting both Stickley and Pruett switch back and forth from soaring melodies to grooving bass lines. The alternating bass is especially noticeable on the last album, one that has been huge for the band, both for their confidence and their name. In addition to adding energy and new material to live shows, the album has earned the band mentions in large publications like The New York Times and even landed the trio on World Cafe‘s Sense Of Place during the NPR program’s visit to Asheville.
As the mentions come in and the audience changes, the sound will go wherever the band wants it. After all, it’s the blend of influences and backgrounds that’s helped move the band forward and create something so unique.
Pruett was a member of Béla Fleck and the Flecktones’ percussionist Future Man’s Black Mozart Ensemble before connecting with Stickley. Armitage played drums for the hip-hop duo, Atmosphere. Stickley played bluegrass music for 10 years before working punk, grunge and indie elements into his music. He would say, at times, he’s simply playing punk rock progressions with bluegrass tone and technique. Sure, but he’s also playing with mind-blowing speed and precision.
“My speed comes from years of playing as fast and loud as possible. The guitar has less speed and volume advantages than other instruments, so it’s the hours and hours of playing that has made it muscle memory now,” he said. “I’ll sometimes find myself rewatching a show and wondering how I did it.”
At Thursday’s show at the Visulite Theatre, you’ll wonder the same thing.
“It’s going to be diverse, entertaining, engaging, high-energy, danceable.” Stickley said. “We’re going to leave everything on the stage.”
Jon Stickley Trio with Late Night Special
7/7, Visulite Theatre, 9 p.m., $12
Tickets: here
Cover image courtesy of Heather Hambor