The Felice Brothers

[itrainmonkeys]

The Felice Brothers - this is a can't miss act IMO. I've seen these guys at least a dozen times now and each time has been memorable. They have such a great energy on stage and can seamlessly go from slower songs to faster barn-burners. Just amazing. If you're going to Nateva and skip this act then I feel sorry for you.


A brief bit of history about the band. Originally the band was made up of three brothers and a friend who they have called their "brother". The three brothers from Upstate NY are Ian (lead guitar/vocals), James (piano/organ/accordion) and Simone (drums) and the fourth member was known as "Christmas" for quite some time but recently he's been going by his (supposedly) real name of Josh.

After a short while they added their friend Greg Farley who plays violin and washboard.


Ian and James Felice

They had small success for a few years and just when it seemed like the band was picking up steam, Simone left the group to deal with personal issues and started up his own group called The Duke & The King. When he was in the Felice Brothers band he would sing a few songs (same with James) but it was clear he wanted to be able to record and perform all of his material as the frontman. There seems to be no bad blood and the brothers have joined each other's bands on stage at live shows.

Anyway, The Felice Brothers now have a new drummer named Dave Turbeville and they are still just as great. They don't play some of the Simone-written songs anymore but they have started to have Christmas and Farley sing a few tunes.


Ian Felice


The band have a few full-length albums to pick songs from. Their record label debut "The Felice Brothers" came out in 2008 and was the first of their albums to be sold in "brick and mortar" record stores. The next album "Yonder is the Clock" is amazing and showcases Ian's songwriting skills. He's been compared to Dylan and has a deep love for Townes Van Zandt (and covers some of his tunes). While the band is almost always compared to "The Band" and their sound described as a newer incarnation of The Basement Tapes....the band have stated that they never even listened to that stuff so it's not a direct influence....just coincidence.


So go check this band out. You won't be sorry. Here are a few videos of some pretty awesome songs.



The song/video that turned me on to the Felice Brothers - Her Eyes Dart Round



Classic Felice Brothers song they started playing again recently - Roll on Arte



On stage during the Big Surprise tour playing "Take This Bread" which is a staple of their live shows. Featuring members of Old Crow, Dave Rawlings Machine and Justin Townes Earle



The Big Surprise - the first song off their album Yonder is the Clock



Go see the Felice Brothers

[crixtala]

I have not checked these guys out, but I want to. I'll have to remember to check back on this thread once I'm home and can actually view the youtube videos (stupid work filters).

[Dexxy]

I have yet to catch these guys as well, def. lookin forward to the opportunity. Thanks for the info monkeys, made it real easy for us there!!

[itrainmonkeys]

I cannot recommend these guys enough. Just honestly amazing. They are so down to earth and real. They travel around in a beat up Winnebago and do everything themselves. They have played with bands like Deer Tick, A.A. Bondy, and Willy Mason.

Here's a song that the bass player Christmas/Josh sings called Stepdad. This is my video from their new year's eve show and it also fades into another unrecorded song called "River Jordan" which Ian sings and it discusses ancient egypt and stuff. Be sure to see these guys at Nateva. You won't be sorry, I promise.

[itrainmonkeys]

Trouble Been Hard

[Nizzy]

Thanks for the videos, haven't seen enough of these guys but a good friend of mine strongly recommended checking them out. Looking forward to it for sure.

[itrainmonkeys]

This is an act everyone should check out. They aren't a jam band but they rock the house down. This will be a highlight show of the weekend for me.

[Dexxy]

Mar 25, 2010 12:16:26 GMT -5 itrainmonkeys said:

This is an act everyone should check out. They aren't a jam band but they rock the house down. This will be a highlight show of the weekend for me.

Can't wait to be there rockin with all of you!! Psyched that I will be getting the chance to see them this summer, finally. Friday is gonna be awesommeeee, hoping for RMB -> Greensky -> Felice -> Keller -> Umphreys -> moe. in that order

[itrainmonkeys]

There are lots of links to high-quality downloads of Live shows over at Frankiesgun.com. It's a message board that someone else created and I've helped out a bit......but it's been kinda dead lately. Still.....the links are there and it will give you a good idea of how the band is live and what kinda songs to expect. Should be a spectacular show.

[moondancer]

Wow, after those youtube vids, I'm sold! I really like their sound and can't yet wait to experience yet another new band for me! Have I mentioned that I really can't wait for July??

[terpklein]

yeah i've been listening to these guys and i am thoroughly excited!

[atmosphere]

Iv'e been listening to the Felice brothers the past few days and their style is pretty sick. Def have to catch their set.

[itrainmonkeys]

If you're only listening to studio albums......be prepared to have your mind blown. They are a totally different animal live and hopefully get a decent slot on one of the main stages. Really great live band.

[itrainmonkeys]

Here's an amazing song. It's called "Ballad of Lou the Welterweight" and is a story about a boxer. It's just beautiful. I'm including the lyrics too.



Powder your nose, pull off your pantyhose
Let me love you from behind, my Darling
Powder your nose, pull on your pantyhose
We're going down to my bout, my Darling

Before the bell would ring he had a way like Errol Flynn
As he sauntered to the ring with a sheet on
But the late rounds scared the girl, Heaven knows she thought the world of Lou
It was hard to see him swaying in the neon
Joey was a no-one, just some big dumb kid from Flushing
He had a face like an ugly bull, always pouting
He hit Louie kind of low and he stumbles on the ropes
As the bookies blocked the rows, shouting

Powder your nose, pull off your pantyhose
Let me love you from behind, my Darling
Powder your nose, pull on your pantyhose
We're going down to my bout, my Darling

The blows were hard and loud, he could hardly hear the crowd
In the bleachers where they howled, they were cheering
I remember in the eighth, it was clear that Lou was fading
When something caught his eye by the ceiling
He saw her as she spoke through the shifty yellow smoke
She said, "Louie, you look bad, are you dying?"
But Louie could not answer, his eyes were cast up to the rafters
And then they slowly sealed in silence

Powder your nose, pull off your pantyhose
Let me love you from behind, my Darling
Powder your nose, pull on your pantyhose
We're going down to my bout, my Darling


The way they play it now is a little slower and with a little more stage show (fake boxing each other). It's a great song, to say the least.

[iamwelting]

As an amateur washboard player, I'm excited to see these guys. I have friends that have been telling me I need to see them for years, just never got the chance. Not missing that set!

[itrainmonkeys]

I cannot recommend this band enough. Be sure to see them if you go to Nateva this year. They can do rowdy drinking songs as well as mellow, slow, beautiful tunes. Here are two different types of songs from the same show. One of the best Felice Brothers shows i've seen.

Whiskey in my Whiskey



and a beautiful song that Ian and the bass player Christmas usually play alone on stage:

St. Stephen's End



Please.....don't miss this band. You'll be sorry if you do.

[itrainmonkeys]

This song.....Frankie's Gun......will almost definitely be played at one of the Felice Brothers sets. It's a pretty popular/big song of theirs and I'm pretty sure it's played at almost all shows. I'd get used to it so you can sing along



My car goes
Chicago
Every weekend to pick up some cargo
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie
And turn the god damn radio down, thank you
Pull over
Count the money
But don't count the thirty in the glove box buddy
That's for to buy Lucille some clothes

Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Work zones double fines
Don't pass the double lines
Trailer McDonald's rest stop trailer double wide
I saw a man hit my mom one time, really
I hurt him so damn bad I had to hide in Jersey
Called my mama told her
In the dresser
There's ten or twenty dollars but there ain't no lesser
That's for to take my sister to the picture show

Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...

(Mumbling)

Spit make a fender shine
Frankie you're a friend of mine
Got me off a bender after long legged Brenda died
I thought we might be on a roll this time Frankie
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar
That's for to wear till kingdom come

Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
He shot me down Lucille (x2)
He shot me down (x3)

Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...

[joshuagyoungesq]

Saw them open for Bright Eyes in 2007 and then open up for the Mystic Valley Band almost a year later. Both shows were really great. I definitely plan on catching them again.

[itrainmonkeys]

Jun 4, 2010 14:59:29 GMT -5 @joshuagyoungesq said:

Saw them open for Bright Eyes in 2007 and then open up for the Mystic Valley Band almost a year later. Both shows were really great. I definitely plan on catching them again.

Damn they opened for the Mystic Valley Band? I woulda loved to see that show. I've seen some good videos on youtube of Connor and the Felice Brothers joining each other on stage....must be an awesome show. I'm really looking forward to their late night set. A great chance to get some more fans.

[aintnofreedom]

The fact that these guys are playing a late night set is too f*cking awesome.... Not all late nights have to be lasers and psych outs.
Get ready for some kind of drunken ramble, kids!

[itrainmonkeys]

bump

for all our new members at infoteva.com..........please do not miss this band. they will be awesome and are playing two sets. for a lot more Felice videos you can check out my youtube page at youtube.com/swalmmd.

These guys are awesome.

[itrainmonkeys]

The guy in the video above helping out on cowbell and wearing a blue/black bandana is Simone Felice....the guy who had to be rushed to the hospital and made everyone think the Felice Brothers were cancelled. He's doing better and joined his brothers for a few songs at the Clearwater festival. Really cool stuff. It'd be awesome if he showed up to Nateva.

[itrainmonkeys]

So who's going to the Felice Brothers shows?

[natevanewbie]

Me!

[dandylion]

I'm planning on being there for the latenight show, most assuredly.