Bonding With The Busted String Band

A long, long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the Busted String Band was born. Okay, so maybe it wasn’t that long ago, and while Kirksville is in the middle of nowhere, it’s not technically in another galaxy. The Busted String Band is well-known in these parts, as well as areas in Iowa and Illinois. Walking into the band’s practice space, I was greeted with firm handshakes, an array of stringed instruments and the mouth-watering aroma of Taco Bell.

“You need some ‘dilla?” stated one of the guys, handing his buddy a warm quesadilla.

The Busted String Band consists of members Matt Kennedy, who does the band’s lead vocals in addition to playing the guitar and harmonica; Max Robinson, who plays the mandolin, guitar and cajon in addition to doing vocals; Mike Kosiek, who plays lead guitar, cajon, bass and also vocals; Ethan Hopkins, who plays bass as well as vocals, and sound guy Jared Young. In addition to these fine gentlemen are members Annie Crites, who plays the fiddle, and Paul Hadwiger, who plays the drums. At its fullest, the band includes a whopping twelve members. The band came together in March of 2011 and initially wanted to call themselves “Skitch Pickins and the Busted String Band.” However, the name got shortened to “The Busted String Band” after much confusion over the identity of the illusive Skitch Pickins.

Each of the guys has cultivated an interest in music from a young age. The boys participated in choir, jazz, metal, punk and marching bands throughout the years. Their influences comprise genres from all across the board, including classic rock, blues, southern rock and country. The Busted String Band draws their inspiration from a plethora of inspirational artists, ranging from Willie Nelson to The Allman Brothers Band. The Busted String Band describes their sound as “country-folky-rock” and Americana. But their sound is so much more than the genre of their music.

When I asked about the band’s pure, raw sound, Max — flashing an irresistible grin — replied, “We’re pretty pure, raw people.”

What is this sound I’m referring to? Could it be the beautiful, melodious concoction of stringed instruments — the twang of the mandolin, the low thumping bass, the gentle but startling improvised notes of the electric guitar? Is it the ecstasy of carefully woven male harmonies, which easily melt the ears off of all unsuspecting females in Adair County?  Alas, I conclude it is all of these and more. It’s a musical casserole of Matt Kennedy’s better-than-chocolate vocal tone, the boys’ carefully rehearsed original songs and the ease of their underlying friendship, which seems to make their music even more enjoyable. For the guys, playing is about having a good time.

Max stated this perfectly saying, “It’s our Zen.”

The band has somewhere between six and eight originals written by Kennedy. I was lucky enough to get a sample of one called, “Lonely Together,” and another tune, “Voodoo.” But perhaps the Busted String Band are most famous for their, “Hip Hop Medley,” in which the boys string together well-known rap and hip hop songs and play them to country sounding riffs. The medley is a hit on Truman’s campus, and never fails to surprise an audience.

You can keep up with the Busted String Band by checking out their facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Busted-String-Band/113630138721057?sk=wall