Paper Thick Walls

Paper Thick Walls presents an elegant mix of deep, reflective, and at times haunting music, which captures elements of sound similar to acts like Arcade Fire and Sufjan Stevens. The almost orchestral arrangement of piano, upright bass, guitars, drums, fiddle, mandolin, and other various instruments has a fascinating way of complimenting the profound fictional story lines that Paper Thick Walls portray through their lyrics.

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The Ridges

An orchestral folk rock group from the Appalachian college town of Athens, Ohio. A three-piece acoustic act formed out of the collaboration of longtime musical duo Victor Rasgaitis (Guitar, Vocals) and Johnny Barton (Percussion, Glockenspiel, Vocals) with the classical stylings of Talor Smith (Cello, Vocals), the trio regularly feature a rotating cast of up to six guest musicians adding instruments ranging from additional cellos and vocals to viola, violin, trumpet, dulcimer, mandolin, double bass and even accordion. Combined with layered, introspective songwriting and passionate, high-energy performances, the ensamble brings to life a theme of dark romanticism emphasized by their name. The band name, taken from the famously haunted local victorian landmark building that was formerly the Athens Asylum, speaks to the group's fascination with folklore and classical influences as well as their deep rooted connection to the city of Athens.

In the winter of 2010, The Ridges took to the abandoned asylum that bears their same name to record a self-titled "studio" release among the ancient halls, deteriorating wards and eerie operating rooms. Praised as "a chilling and intriguing journey into the realm of the unknown" (AltOhio.com) that is both "darkly romantic and entrancing" and "complex and intriguing" (ACRN.com, Athens, OH) with "a unique sound, unmatched by many other folk bands" (The Lantern, Columbus, OH) highlighted by "diverse instrumentation, solid songwriting and great vocal arrangements" (The Athens News, Athens, OH), the 5-track short-play album coping with themes of haunted pasts, death, love and awakenings, and backgrounded by the unique natural acoustics and legends of the building, is the band's first formal presentation of their richly layered sound.

The band recorded their first Daytrotter.com session on October 21, 2011. The five song live session was released on December 29, 2011.

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