What a nice surprise, catching some fresh rounds with band Koriander during CMA Week in June 2014. The streets were packed, the partying went on all hours EVERY day and night, and every club in downtown Nashville was full and jamming out. I decided to take a few days during this week to hear "new and heard" music, Koriander being a group I had reviewed before.
The event was at Tequila Cowboy, a two-level, open-air bar/club on June 5, and there wasn't enough air-conditioning to control the humid, hot air as the club stayed full during the entire visit. I was fortunate to get a seat upfront. The thing is, most people do NOT go to CMA Week to catch specific tunes and sounds from specific bands; they go to party, drink, meet people, drink, dance, party and drink. :)
A very big part of my surprise in Koriander was how many new tunes they performed.......opening the show was MY new favorite, "Suh-Weet," (Ashleigh, P. Sikes, T. Stout). Now, this song is an upbeat, fun, wake-upper for an opener. It has a kind of flirty element with the whistling at the beginning. What band leader/keyboardist/multi-talent E. J. Ford did, was talk to individuals from the stage, singling out partyers to help get the whole place involved. It was actually a nice change and touch for them! Second number - ALSO new and quite possibly a radio hit, "Oklahome" (Ashleigh, P. Sikes), rich in country blend and overall element. Paul Sikes, a solo artist, has cowritten quite a few of Koriander's music, who Ashleigh refers to as "one of the best."
This band has become a wanted band around mid-US.......their shows range from weddings to private events to club bookings. As vocalist Erin Ashleigh stated, "We are now having to sometimes turn down bookings." Not bad for a Nashville band.............with hundreds of others crying for work. They feel that their performing 110% at each and every show accounts for their full schedule. Taking time to write new music has been something they have not slowed down doing. Their next EP is forecasted to be done before the end of '14. New music to listen for also includes "Break It Down," "Lock It Up" and "Unbeatable."
During this particular show they then sprinkled in a few covers, which always appeals to the dancing crowd. What I DID notice as the big surprise this particular night was lead guitarist A.J. Gonzalez, who not only upped his guitar runs and trills, but also stepped up on vocals more since I had last seen them. Gonzalez, who has a gigantic vocal range, adds a certain sound different than the others. His voice is unique with definite hints of having fun in singing. It's almost impossible to describe.......you would have to hear yourself. I found myself awed at how much more he stepped up to the mic. When asking Ashleigh about his increased singing she said, "He is starting to get real strong.....a real vocal presence." When I later asked E.J. Ford about Gonzalez he stated, "A.J. is definitely starting to open up. with his beginnings coming from lots of blues jams. He brings in a whole new flavor..... almost a different genre." And he's always been an excellent guitar player, bringing his blues into the Nashville-and-Koriander-type of sound. The one thing that stood out to me was his comical sound at times, almost as if he was the band comedian on stage.
Ford, who has the gift of bringing soul/gospel/blues/country organ together with the band's own flair, is magical on his keyboard/organ performances. There is rarely a time that the sound he produces is the final "ink" to a song, giving it a definite original sound.
A week after this show I caught up with band members over the phone en route to "Battle of the Bands" 2014 Georgia, produced by Outlaw Nation and a Macon, GA radio station. This started off with an audition through O. Nation. 800 bands competed to make it to Finals (20 bands). Koriander came out of those 800 to be one of those finalists!
Who does Koriander appeal to? I gazed the crowd as I usually do, and this CMA Week night the normal 21 - 30 age group was in high number. But they also bring in many in older age groups. There are a few followers who fly in to see them at many of their shows from across the US! Erin (Ashleigh) told me they are amazed at how many fans they have internationally. Ford also told me about once in an out-of-town show. When they went outside to load a much older couple was dancing in the street to the taping of "Break It Down." They appeal to everyone!
Andy Lewis is a great bass guitarist who manages to take all these different sounds, as a whole, and give each song a different bass background, which is a definite sign of talent and band chemistry. Percussion is always the right beat for the right sound, as Daniel Osborne always seems to carry.
As usual, this show was amazing, again not leaving disappointed by their music. I will keep my blog updated on their upcoming EP release. Please keep an eye on Koriander's Facebook page for shows coming up.
