More than a band playing both contemporary and traditional mountain music, Here's to the Long Haul is born of the historic and ongoing movements for justice in Appalachia and beyond. Brandon, Willie and Joe first met up and played music together at the second annual Mountain Justice Training Camp in Southern West Virginia, a gathering of folks working together to fight mountaintop removal coal mining (www.mountainjusticesummer.org). Several months later, Willie and Becky met and jammed at the School of the Americas protest in Columbus Georgia, bonding not only over the music, but over fond feelings towards their mutual friend, Joe. While working down in the deep south as a campus organizer, Willie met Kyle, a North Georgia bluegrass-picker, thus adding the final ingredient to the HTTLH mix.
We are yet another offshoot of the deep and wandering roots of Appalachian music, fed by the waters of modern grassroots resistance to that which is wrong and the creation of that which is good in our mountains. You all are that water. May we all keep each other strong, singing, and moving forever forward.
We'd like to thank everyone for the support that this brand new band of ours has received already. And if you're interested in helping us set up and promote a show in your community please email us at herestothelonghaul(circleA)gmail.com. Bar gigs, coffee shops, house parties, campuses--we're interested in all of the above.
Links to a few things we care about:
www.mountainjusticesummer.org
www.crmw.net
I spent hours playing banjo today. Listen, i'm not a clawhammered one yet. But i'm striking, not picking, and looking forward to jamming someday. On a porch. Or around a fire. Or in the mountains. Or all three and more.
You guys make me cry everytime I play Ink in your skin. Again Willie man, thanks, you don't know how much that means. Can't wait to see you guys live again now that your back in the south! Love y'all always!, -Steph
hey everybody. we're scrambling a little bit to create the album art-work and layout and all. but we've got the recordings done and together and are feeling pretty much on-schedule to release our first full-length c.d. - 'holler if you need anything' this Saturday at our show at the Southeast Student Renewable Energy Conference in Valdosta.
Thank you guys so much for coming to Charleston. I enjoyed the show in Matt's living room, as well as the one at Jono's party. I hope to see you all again soon!
Hey boys and girls, sounds great, I suspect you know our flute player, Gina Sobel, she's pretty active in the VA environmental movement. She's on the road with the Back Porch Energy Initiative right now, you might be interested in checkin them out. Anywho sounds great, and if your travels ever bring you to Williamsburg, give us a yell, we'd love to play some music. -Chris RRGs
hey guys! i miss yall already. theres not many "earth people",as someone called me, in rock hill. it was refreshing to hang out with real people. annnnnnd listen to amazing music. ive been enjoying my cd very much. gracias. come back soon.
I want to give ya'll high-fives for your splendidness, but that would mean the banjo-pickin' would have to cease. Maybe a pick-friendly smile would suffice.
