GHOST TOWN DRIFTERS
Local Artist Spotlight
The Ghost Town Drifters bring their Galactic space-grass to the base of the
mountains as the reddish purple sun sets behind the ridge, and the rings of a
distant moon start to glisten at the last fading light. As a blinding Supernova, a
strong bright presence emanates from front man Oren Paisner, undertaking
mandolin with mastery, strapped side-arm, loosely holding on with a tight savage
grip at the helm. Scott Vincent on upright bass is free from gravity, flying about
the stage lightly somehow, with that juggernaut of bass driving the rhythm
through space. Tom Muller on guitar is like a comet, notes spreading like tracers
into the void, fire floating to meet again somewhere down the line, ever reaching
to new heights. And to bind together the enterprise that is Ghost Town Drifters,
meet the Doctor - Joey Purmort. Keeping a cool head through the firestorm, he
dons his uniform, steps into the domain of stars, and lightly nods rhythmically as
he executes surgery on the vessel that is the Banjo. These boys play songs about
Moonshinin’, Runnin’, Truckin’, Movin’… and most of these roads, it would seem,
lead them into the realm of Space Travel. A feeling of the great unknown sweeps
through the croud and welcomes them. Beautiful harmonies litter throughout the
sky and hold it all together, and they sure do bring with them some Chop Suey! All
of this creates a Grasstime Continuum – these guys sure are a great part of the
jamgrass scene here in Colorado.
Oren Paisner fares from Maryland as a lad, where he and a few friends found a
Mandolin and a Banjo in his family home at about 17, and not long after this,
attended a bluegrass jam at a bar at the Crossroads in a cornfield, so goes the
tale.
That’s all he needed. He was Immersed. Obsessed. He started studying the likes
of Monroe, Flatt, and Scruggs, and honing his craft. In 2012 He met Joey Purmort,
after coming from Exile through Kansas to find the foothills of the Rockies at last.
Through the years their travels brought them to find Scotty and Tom. They have
since continued playing, together and in different groups, until just last year
decided to join forces together, with the help of a fateful Disc floating through the
wind, and so thus was formed GHOST TOWN DRIFTERS
Jeff Austin band with Old Salt Union and Ghost Town Drifters.
Cervante's Other Side 4/18/2019
GHOST TOWN DRIFTERS
These boys started out the night at Cervantes, coming out the gate with a swirling
notion of Galaxy-grass. The band Ghost Town Drifters is a newer name in the
jamgrass scene here in Colorado, with some players that have been at it a good
number of years. A very well put together group of guys, and very fun to watch!
Lead man Oren plays the mandolin loosely strapped over one arm, with great
speed, ferocity, and they all come together to stagger the mind! Precision Banjo,
Fluid intricate guitar and booming energetic bass come together with a big
Planetary sound that will leave your gaze entranced. These guys bring a great
feeling to the stage, like a space western with mad bluegrass gunfights lighting
the sky on fire . Excited to see them continue to grow in the scene here. A great
way to set the scene, and start out the night with Jeff Austin.
Audio from Ghost Town Drifters
OLD SALT UNION
Nitty Gritty Smash-Grass. A Force to Be Reckoned With. Road Worn Warriors.
From the first note of the stand up bass, the band came forth with a shot. Jesse Farrar was breaking IN that thing and getting down, immediately… you knew
you were in for a time with these guys. You could feel The Road emanating from
their every note, that force that little but the evermoving horizon can bring. They
yearned for it, bringing an axe with them to cleave the emptiness, and drink down
its remains. A group of madmen, this lot. Hailing from St Louis, MO on a tour that
brought them to the shores of the western shores of this land and back around to
meet the mountains of Colorado; they got a big start here in the history that they
have written so far, and feel quite at home at their return - reunited with old
faces and glasses full. By the way, these guys absolutely shred!! They know how
to rapidly tear down your situation, and before your realization cast out an
amalgamation. They grasp out and find the pieces and let them fall themselves
into place as the notes fall like winded rain upon the mountainside. If you see
their name on a building, go inside.
JEFF AUSTIN
Jeff Austin needs no introduction. Jeff Austin is the Introduction.
Jeff Austin bends space and time to his will. With eyes focused, Jeff Austin makes
fire appear directly in his open palm, where before there was nothing. He looked
directly into my eyes from a great distance, and locked my gaze, and I was
powerless. His eyes tell a story, and his voice brings it out and beckons you in.
Jeff Austin makes mountains move. Jeff Austin brings the Devil out of the Room.
He had some great players with him on this Thursday night, one of the best banjo
players I have ever seen trading lines with him all night into the realm of madness,
as the Jeff Austin Band brought ebb and flow of wave and wave crashing down on
us all. The young guitar player was absolutely incredible, playing with precision
and speed equal to his counterparts, all rounded together absolutely breathlessly
with skillful and powerfully wrought rhythm of Jean-Luc on bass. A long song of
beautifully wound threads brought with it a moment of clarity, that lifted us all off
the ground, and after a time, we were brought swinging back down with wide
eyes, yes and a smile that just wouldn’t quit. These 4 kept the room more than alive
and well, and we can’t thank them enough for the gift that night. Keep changing
lives out there.
The road never stops and the party never ends –
-Josh Bower, Denver Jamgrass