An acoustic power trio featuring Gabriel Tavares (guitar), A.J. Strauss (bass) and Brian Dudla (drums), the Thins blend full-throated vocal harmonies, unconventional rhythms and innovative lyrics -- spiced up with guitar sounds inspired by Eastern and African influences.
"I love the droning heartbeat guitar styles of Ali Farke Toure and John Lee Hooker," says Tavares, who started exploring the style on "Cipher," his solo CD. " I started experimenting with lots of alternate tunings and collaborated with artists from Nepal and Java, but nothing feels more complete and reflexive than playing with Bri and AJ. Bri is amazing at hearing polyrhythms implied in different finger picking styles, and AJ has an ability to translate this encyclopedic knowlege of rock, jazz and classicical music history into a kind of East meets West approach to improv, which works very well with the idiosyncratic way I hear songs. But the Thins are not trying to play world music; we're just three white guys in upstate NY that put together a rock band that sounds really weird."
The band's debut CD, "Postcard Angels," features nine songs arranged by the band. "If there is a connecting theme to this record, it is one of optimism," says Tavares. "2004 feels like a big year for many people for many different reasons--so full of change and opportunity. It's been deeply inspiring to see close friends and family embrace challenges, and I think many see this year as one of transition into something hopeful and joyful after the past few years of frustration and struggle."
