and, of course, holidays with the family. Uncle Bonsai's acoustic folk-pop songs are almost one-act plays or short stories, resisting strict pop, folk, or singer-songwriter categories. Their songs focus on the passing of time, the passing of genes, and the passing of pets - the truth of everything seemingly buried somewhere under the family tree.
Live Uncle Bonsai Audio Samples |
|
"Wake-Up Day (Dopey)" |
|
"At The Edge of the Water (Chichén Itzá)" |
|
"At the Foot of My Bed (Lust)" |
“No other folk group has a vocal blend comparable to Uncle Bonsai. Uncle Bonsai writes and performs songs that combine folk-oriented melodies with lyrics whose intricate rhymes, ironic knowingness and satirical thrust suggest vintage theater songs filtered through the influence of the Beatles.” - The New York Times
"Pitch-perfect in their delivery of often complex harmonic arrangements. And if there were an Ella Fitzgerald Award for Exquisite Elocution in Song, they would surely get it. The trio officially bills itself as a "folk" outfit, but has none of the naiveté that label might suggest. These are nicely edgy, sour-sweet songs, written for grown-ups." - The Seattle Times
“Uncle Bonsai, a folk-pop trio from Seattle, performs funny original songs whose exquisite musical detail and subtle needling wit attain a level of craft not often seen in pop” - The New York Times
“The group has achieved an almost cult status...their music ranges from irreverent to ironic, from satirical to sad. And despite the folk tag, their music defies categorization as it incorporates elements of jazz, pop, broadway, reggae, and classical.” - Associated Press
“...hilarious and very entertaining, through perfectly meshed voices and acoustic guitar. Every piece is a gem; each has the same kind of quirky sardonic edge that Loudon Wainwright III and the Roches work has.” - Toronto Star
 |
 |
| Uncle Bonsai: Promo #1 Click on photo for high-res version. (Right+Click Large Photo to Save) |
Uncle Bonsai: Promo #2 Click on photo for high-res version. (Right+Click Large Photo to Save) |
concerts/news
The Return To Traditions for the Olympia CD Release Concert. Songs from the new recording and even more "Sevens" songs! New Songs! New Old Songs!
Home for our annual Spring Concert! It's the EVEN MORE UNCLE BONSAI concert! A whole bunch of new songs, and some surprises, all in this beautiful venue. Plus, it's Andrew's birthday weekend so you know what that means . . . chocolate cake!
It's the Bellingham CD Release Concert!
We had such a wonderful time at this theater last year, that we jumped at the chance to return with more songs from the "Sevens" song cycle, along with a whole bunch of new songs! This is a great theater and it's Andrew's birthday; that means cake!
Sold Out!
It's the first Uncle Bonsai show, in Portland, in almost 10 years. And, to make it even more special, we're releasing a new CD, "UNCLE BONSAI LIVE: selections from 7 Sins, 7 Wonders, 7 Dwarfs - a song cycle." The recording features some of the songs from an all-new 25-song show that the group did a couple of years ago. At the Portland show, we'll do some of those songs, some new songs, and some older songs as well . . . all in all, you'll hear a lot of Uncle Bonsai! It's VERY limited seating so make your RESERVATIONS early!
It's been eight years since the last Uncle Bonsai release, and two years since the group debuted the "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" songs. Now, finally, 18 of the songs, along with 2 from the upcoming "Seven Modern Wonders" set, have been released on a live CD. The discs are here, they're on sale at all your favorite places, and you can get them directly from us -- might be cheaper, just sayin' -- by visiting the Yellow Tail Records store. When you buy a copy, you also get a link to the digital files and booklet. (Digital download version is for sale as well!)
