When talent and friendship meet on stage, magic is
bound to happen. And indeed it did. Old School Freight Train left their audience spellbound as they strummed and drummed their way through an energetic and soulful seventy-five minute set at the Cedar last week. For me, the time flew by much too fast. OSFT kept me smiling and tapping my toes through their last measure. Their beaming smiles and playful commentaries, proof that the five band members were truly enjoying themselves, propelled the audience into a good time as well.
Old School Freight Train’s music is deeply felt and skillfully performed, but what kind of music do they actually play? "That’s a good question," said guitarist and lead vocalist Jesse Harper. "I don’t want to say that we’re folk rock. We’re kind of Radiohead meets all things that are good."
For OSFT "all things that are good" include a mix of folk, jazz, soul, pop, bluegrass, Latin, and Celtic music. They have even been known to modify the occasional disco tune into a more acoustic number. They are not bound by a particular style or genre of music and see themselves growing and changing as they continue to play. One major change that the band already underwent was the addition of percussionist Nick Falk six months ago. "It’s been great for the band," said bassist Darrell Muller. "It seems like the music has more of a backbone now."
Old School Freight Train has been going strong for seven years, and most of their success is attributed to the fact that they are self-proclaimed best friends. "You see other bands," said fiddler Nate Leath, "and they don’t even sit at the same table during dinner. We’re not like that at all." It’s a good thing too. The band members, Jesse Harper, Darrell Muller, Nate Leath, Pete Frostic, and Nick Falk, spend hours on the road together while touring all over the country. "It’s always an adventure," says Harper. "The best part of our job is meeting new people."
It was certainly an adventure just getting to the Cedar. The band’s van spun out of control while driving from Chicago to Minneapolis, and they had to wait two hours while a tow truck came to get them out of the ditch. The band, however, seemed unperturbed as they played their upbeat melodies with heart and soul.
It is a shame that more people did not brave the cold to see this spectacular band. Their music was so rich and textured that it had an almost tangible quality. The combination of guitar, drums, fiddle, mandolin, and upright bass was exquisite and seemed effortless. It was the type of captivating music that cannot be produced by talent alone, but by feeling completely comfortable with the other musicians standing on stage with you. Everyone in the band has their own life and their own job, but they all agree that the band comes first. It is something very special in each of their lives, and that kind of commitment to music is obvious when they take the stage.
It is hard for me to sing anything but praises for OSFT, especially when they think so highly of our fair state. "We love Minnesota," said Nate Leath. "Everyone is so friendly and welcoming here. We always have a great time." Unfortunately, the band is still not very well known in this area, but hopefully that will change as more people discover their rich sound.
The band, however, does have one major problem: its name. They are ready for a change, they say, but cannot decide on a new name. While driving to Minneapolis they were discussing different ideas for band names when their van careened into the ditch. "I think it was an omen," said Jesse playfully. "Yeah," chimed in Nate, "the death of our van was like the death of our band’s name. We need to find a new one." The task is potentially up to you, readers. Go to OSFT’s website, listen to their music, and send them your suggestions. Maybe their new name will hail from the state "that hasn’t always been easy to get to, but has always been worth it."
*A special acknowledgment should go to Orange Mighty Trio, the band that opened for OSFT while they were making their way to the Cedar. Orange Mighty Trio had an excellent performance and did a commendable job helping out in a bind.
Leave a Reply