Galen Kipar Project recently released their 4th album, the Scenic Route. It has been receiving some great reviews as well as airplay on WNCW, 98.1 The River, Davis Gan’s “Dead to the World” on KFPA in Berkely, Wildman Steve Radio, The Wrecking Ball Radio Hour, Penn State’s The Lion, to name a few. www.galenkipar.com
This short review was just posted for Asheville’s Bold Life:
Their fourth album in five years, GKP’s The Scenic Route is simply a cool, refreshing sonic treat just in time for summer. Of course, those familiar with this prolific local favorite won’t be surprised at the detailed orchestration, intuitive structure and obscure but fascinating lyrics of their latest offering. But they continue to push themselves in new directions and I like that. The album opens with two upbeatish tunes of very different stripes, “October Snow” and “Rushing Over My Bones.” While the tunes are great, they don’t seem to fit with the rest of the album – which almost has the pacing and emotion of one of those epic 70s rock albums. Indeed, even the plaintive guitar in “Why” reached out to remind me of Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter”, while “Riverside” conjures wonderful feelings of the first time I heard Sandy Denny guest on Zep’s “Battle of Evermore.” There are also a few magic moments on this recording when Kipar seems to channel such brilliant singer/songwriters as Rufus Wainwright and Paul Simon (not that he needs to). Kipar is also blessed with a number of collaborating musicians, one of the stand-outs for me being Camellia Delk, who provides some really moving and haunting violin work. As a final note, I think the band would be pleased to know that out of the hundreds and hundreds of albums in my iTunes library, this album is the only one listed under the “unclassifiable” genre category. And I own Disco Volante! ~ Brent Fleury
And from Orgivation Magazine in PA:
From the first track, The Galen Kipar Project’s fourth album, The Scenic Route, will have you tapping your feet. This is folk and blues done so well, with bits of jazz and funk thrown in, making it that much more enjoyable. Track 3 sounds positively serene, and track 8, “Words”, proves how this album is perfect to play while driving along a quiet open road.~ Jessica Selby
and here is what WNC Magazine has to say:
Like countless artists in Western North Carolina, singer-songwriter Galen Kipar finds inspiration in this region’s compelling landscape. The force of a rushing river, the solitude of the wilderness, and the surprise of an October snowfall turn up in lyrics on the latest CD from Asheville’s Galen Kipar Project. Titled The Scenic Route, the eight-song album continues the band’s fusion of folk, jazz, and classical elements, creating a sound that’s intricate and memorable, sophisticated and relaxed. “Headed on down to the waterside, going to find a place to rest my mind,” Kipar sings in “Riversong,” which adds viola and electric guitar to the band’s acoustic core. Guitarist Kipar, eight-string guitar/bass player Jon Morrow, and drummer Jeremy Young all studied music at area colleges, and Kipar’s arrangements draw on his background in classical composition. The band’s fourth album in five years includes ace Asheville musicians contributing on flute, strings, lap steel, and piano. “It comes from an honest place,” Kipar says about the album. No matter where you’re headed, The Scenic Route is a trip well worth taking. ~ Michael Flynn
| UPCOMING SHOWS for Galen Kipar Project |
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| MPAC’s July 4th Block Party | Weaverville, NC | Sun Jul 04 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| Pritchard Park | Asheville, NC | Thu Jul 08 10 | 11:30 AM | |
| Sky City | Augusta, GA | Thu Jul 08 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| Square Root | Brevard, NC | Fri Jul 09 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| Fletcher Concert in the Park | Fletcher, NC | Sat Jul 10 10 | 06:00 PM | |
| Awendaw Green | AWENDAW, SC | Wed Jul 14 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| Kudu Coffee | Charleston, SC | Thu Jul 15 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| the mill | Charleston, SC | Fri Jul 16 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| FloydFest | Floyd, VA | Thu Jul 22 10 | 04:00 PM | |
| Awful Arthur’s – Towers | Roanoke, VA | Thu Jul 22 10 | 10:00 PM | |
| The Grey Eagle Tavern & Music Hall | Asheville, NC | Thu Aug 12 10 | 08:00 PM | |
| Bar Four | Brooklyn, NY | Sat Aug 14 10 | 08:00 PM | |
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