The Shortleaf Band: Making People Want to Dance
Tenley Hansen and Michael Fraser of The Shortleaf Band are featured in an article in the KC Community News by Ray Weikal.
It traces the long path of The Shortleaf Band, from its beginnings in the Ozarks in an earlier age, to its reincarnation in Kansas City following Fraser’s move to KC 15 years ago.
Hansen says her journey to the music of The Shortleaf Band began at High School where her vocal music teacher had a huge influence on her.
Hansen also remembers watching her father play his accordion on their porch in the summer, cigarette in mouth. With her parents’ encouragement, Hansen learned to play piano. Eventually, she added fiddle, mandolin and bodhran drum to her repertoire.
Performing songs that are hundreds of years old, the Celtic, Bluegrass, old-timey outfit aren’t altogether sure why people are drawn to the music they play, but Fraser posits that it draws on some sort of DNA within him.
The Shortleaf Band has a set list with about 300 songs, enough for six hours of music, according to Hansen. Playing at O’Malley’s has sharpened their act, she said, playing songs like “Soldier’s Joy,” “Arkansas Traveler” and “Mississippi Sawyer.” They’ve learned how to get the room moving from the opening hook of a song, dubbed “the four potatoes” by Hansen.
“The minute you hear those four potatoes, then everyone gets excited,” Hansen said. “These are songs that you cannot stay sitting down to.”
The Shortleaf Band plays Liberty’s Corbin Theatre on Monday, June 23, 2008, and I’ve posted it on the KC Events Calendar. The show starts at 7pm. The Corbin Theatre is located at 15 North Water Street in Liberty, Missouri and you can phone 816.581.0045 for more information.
See a list of Celtic & Irish music bands in the Kansas City area
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
And come to the St Patrick’s Parish Irish Fest to hear the Shortleaf band, Early March. Sat. … So much fun…