Madisen Ward And The Mama Bear - Skeleton Crew

180-gram vinyl includes album download

At home, Madisen and Ruth Ward are mother and son. Onstage, they're the leading members of Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear, a soulful folk band whose sound is anchored by twin guitars and two big, booming voices.

The music started in Kansas City, where Madisen grew up watching his mom perform cover songs at local coffeeshops. Before long, he was writing his own tunes, mixing the old-world influence of his family's folk records with the unchained, energetic stomp of modern-day rock & roll. The two began playing entire shows together, ditching the cover songs in favor of Madisen's original material. Both sang, both played guitar, and both watched as their band's audience slowly grew.

For years, though, they kept a low profile. This was honest music, performed by a band of blood relatives with no record label, no manager, no budget. Still, it was hard not to notice Madisen Ward & the Mama Bear. Onstage, they were solemn one minute and electrifying the next, able to command an audience's attention with little more than two acoustic guitars and Madisen's super-sized baritone vocals.

"Most of the musicians I've really loved have very unique and slightly awkward voices," he says. "Voices that stand out among the rest. When we were playing those early shows, I'd think, 'Belt out something that makes people set their coffee down and really pay attention. Do something to make them stop in their tracks.'"

Already receiving widespread notice, the acclaimed mother-son duo recently made their network television debut on the "Late Show with David Letterman" performing their debut LP Skelton Crew's first single, "Silent Movies." Additionally, in advance of SXSW, NPR Music featured the band in their "Austin 100" playlist, asserting, "Timeless, mother-son roots-folk, on the brink of ubiquity."

Produced by Jim Abbiss (Adele, Artic Monkeys), the 12-song album was recorded in Nashville during
the winter of 2014-15.

1. Live By The Water

2. Silent Movies

3. Modern Day Mystery

4. Dead Daffodils

5. Whole Lotta Problems

6. Fight On

7. Big Yellow Taxi

8. Daisy Jane

9. Been in a Ditch

10. Undertaker and Juniper

11. Down in Mississippi

12. Sorrows and Woes

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