By Kate Bartlett
The Grammy Award-winning Infamous Stringdusters will headline the 2nd annual Railrider Jamboree this Saturday, March 23 at Holiday Valley in what’s sure to be a high energy show. This American bluegrass band is known for their innovative sound and dynamic live performances. With a dedicated fan base and a reputation for musical excellence, The Infamous Stringdusters continue to push the boundaries of bluegrass music while remaining rich to it’s heritage.
The band formed in Nashville in 2006 when a group of talented musicians got together with a united passion for bluegrass music. “We all had a deep interest in progressive bluegrass,” recalls band member Andy Hall. “We were all side musicians who were looking for more. We all shared the common goal of starting our own band, writing our own songs and creating original music that was true to our passion.”
The group consists of 5 members: Andy Hall (dobro), Andy Falco (guitar), Chris Pandolfi (banjo), Jeremy Garrett (fiddle) and Travis Book (double bass). Each member brings their unique musical background and style to the band, contributing to their blend of traditional bluegrass, jazz and rock influences. “All of our backgrounds feed into the cohesive sound. Our experiences with jazz, rock and other musical influences shape our music, while keeping traditional bluegrass at the core.”
The group was named by an acquaintance of the band, one of the original band member’s father. He had connections in the music industry, and was a famous Bluegrass musician. “He was a sort of role model to us and we gained inspiration from him. We frequently practiced at his house, and one day he gave us advice on our name, to call ourselves ‘The Stringdusters’ after a famous band that had since dissolved. We agreed on that name, and added ‘Infamous’ to give it our own flair.”
The band first started playing at the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Festival in Louisville, Kentucky in 2006. The festival is an energetic event that serves as a source of inspiration and networking for Bluegrass musicians, and showcases musicians from around the world. “It’s such a great event with an eclectic variety of musicians. It was an honor to play our first shows there.”
Following the IBMA, The Infamous Stringdusters played shows at the Station Inn, a famous Bluegrass Bar in Nashville. The band gained recognition in these early days and formed connections in the music industry the ‘good ‘ol fashion way’. “There was no formula to it. We’d follow basically any lead or connection we’d get. We’d just get in the van and go, traveling across the country, following whatever lead we got next.”
The band writes their own original music, gaining inspiration from traditional American Bluegrass but adding their own backgrounds of jazz, rock, and more. “Bluegrass has a common known repertoire of known songs. We’ll frequently reference these songs, adding our own twist. We love playing the music from our albums, but we have fun playing cover songs too.”
The Infamous Stringdusters have gained many awards and accolades throughout the years, including multiple Grammy nominations. They won a Grammy in 2018 for Best Bluegrass Album and have won several awards at the IBMA. “It’s always a huge honor to win awards like these,” says Andy. “The Grammys are unique in that they recognize such a wide array of music; Bluegrass is included in the wider world of music and we’re fortunate to have been recognized.”
Originally from Binghamton, NY, Andy (Hall) has his musical foundation in Bluegrass, but has been influenced by a variety of musical styles. He plays dobro, which is also known as ‘the original electric guitar’, as it amplifies the sound in a mechanical way. “The dobro is known as the ‘sometimes Y’ of Bluegrass, as it’s not an essential instrument (like the vowels A-E-I-O-U), but it adds a unique sound quality. It’s played face up on the lap, and creates a sliding sound, notes with a songlike quality.”
Their music has evolved throughout the years, as the musicians learn from each others styles and how to compliment each other. “Not only do we evolve as musicians, but we’ve grown as a band. Our music still stays true to our roots, but we’ve changed as individuals, as musicians, and ultimately as a band over the years. The technical abilities have always been there, but our songwriting has evolved over the years as well as we learn how to work together.”