6/16/17 – Plain Folk Cafe, 10177 OH-132, Pleasant Plain, OH, Free, 7pm
6/17/17 – Southgate House Revival, 111 E 6th St, Newport, KY, Free, 21+, 9:30pm
When Ohio-bred and based brothers Ben and Zach Gage sat down one Sunday afternoon in 2014 to kick around some harmonies and share their love of old folk tunes, the siblings had no idea at the time that this simple starting point would launch a speedy and successful musical path.
Just a year later, the pair would release their debut album, Take it Back, which quickly earned them recognition as one of Northeast Ohio’s most acclaimed local bands. And now, again, just one season later, The Gage Brothers are poised to release their sophomore self-titled follow-up on May 5.
“We have seen a lot of changes since we started, be it in our music, society or relationships — love lost, and heartaches a-plenty,” notes Ben. “So, this album holds songs all about changes, and how they affect who and what you are.”
One of the biggest changes they’ve experienced is right in the lineup. The brothers were able to join forces with two of Cleveland’s superlatively talented locals, whom they also consider close friends and “honorary siblings”: Brendan O’Malley on mandolin, and Chris Volpe on banjo. “It has let us take our sound to the next rung on the ladder,” says Chris of the newly expanded group. “We are loving every minute of the climb.”
The new release also benefitted from a home-based approach, having been recorded in Cleveland and largely self-produced by the band. The end result was a sonic slam-dunk nailing exactly what the band was seeking to achieve: A collection of organic-sounding, sparkling-yet-straightforward roots music.
“This album captures the sound that we are striving for,” explains Zach. “It reflects our passion for what we do and the constant want to get better, go further, and meet people along the way.
While preparing for the release of their latest set, The Gage Brothers also took time to map out an extended regional tour in support of the new music – promising to play “all of the major cities we can hit within a five-hour drive.” So fans, both old and new, can expect to catch the band creeping toward the East Coast starting in June, with plans to tour the Midwest and Southeast later in the summer.
