photos by Georgia Bowder-Newton
THE BAGBOYS!
For over 25 years Boston's Bagboys have been dazzling music-loving audiences from festival, concert, and nightclub stages all throughout New England with their irresistible, from-the-heart acoustic string music. Founder Harvey Bag anchors the Bagboys with his bass and occasional guitar, and sings with the dusty soul of a cowboy fresh off the cattle drive. Frank Drake, singing and variously displaying his prowess on guitar, mandolin, and bass, is a longtime, well-known Boston music scene stalwart. Both Frank and Harvey keep the band well stocked with their original compositions, all of which are bonafide brand-new-old-time songs and future americana classics. Gretchen Bowder sings and is a respected practitioner of the five-string banjo, and takes her turn on guitar too. Gretchen shares with the Bagboys her love and appreciation of a variety of classic and lesser-known material, ranging from Appalachian melodies to favorites of the great American songbook and bossa nova.Jon Ross brings to the Bagboys his lifetime of wide musical experience, played all around the world. A typical performance keeps Jon busy switching from mandolin to dobro to guitar to bass, and singing, too. Singing, swinging, or taking it down to the old home place, the Bagboys bring warmth, humor, honesty, and musical excellence to each and every show!
"Local legends the Bagboys were creating Americana long before the genre had a website and an army of preened publicists." - Nashville songwriter Paul Burch
"The Bagboys have infectious energy, friendly voices, consistently pleasing picking, and a nice way with presenting popular but not overdone favorites.
But what is especially appealing about this ensemble is that they can write great original material, and by Elsie, they do! - Bluegrass Unllimited
"I love this band. They are somewhat reminiscent of the Austin Lounge Lizards, Riders in the Sky or the Red Clay Ramblers.
But don't let their over-the-top humor fool you; this is a band of serious, talented, and historically knowledgeable musicians.
While they are capable of some pretty convincing genre hopping - moving easily from solid driving bluegrass to bouncy Western swing
to contemporary folk - they're not content with merely aping these traditions but inhabit them as living, contemporary forms." - Freight Train Boogie
For over 25 years Boston's Bagboys have been dazzling music-loving audiences from festival, concert, and nightclub stages all throughout New England with their irresistible, from-the-heart acoustic string music. Founder Harvey Bag anchors the Bagboys with his bass and occasional guitar, and sings with the dusty soul of a cowboy fresh off the cattle drive. Frank Drake, singing and variously displaying his prowess on guitar, mandolin, and bass, is a longtime, well-known Boston music scene stalwart. Both Frank and Harvey keep the band well stocked with their original compositions, all of which are bonafide brand-new-old-time songs and future americana classics. Gretchen Bowder sings and is a respected practitioner of the five-string banjo, and takes her turn on guitar too. Gretchen shares with the Bagboys her love and appreciation of a variety of classic and lesser-known material, ranging from Appalachian melodies to favorites of the great American songbook and bossa nova.Jon Ross brings to the Bagboys his lifetime of wide musical experience, played all around the world. A typical performance keeps Jon busy switching from mandolin to dobro to guitar to bass, and singing, too. Singing, swinging, or taking it down to the old home place, the Bagboys bring warmth, humor, honesty, and musical excellence to each and every show!
"Local legends the Bagboys were creating Americana long before the genre had a website and an army of preened publicists." - Nashville songwriter Paul Burch
"The Bagboys have infectious energy, friendly voices, consistently pleasing picking, and a nice way with presenting popular but not overdone favorites.
But what is especially appealing about this ensemble is that they can write great original material, and by Elsie, they do! - Bluegrass Unllimited
"I love this band. They are somewhat reminiscent of the Austin Lounge Lizards, Riders in the Sky or the Red Clay Ramblers.
But don't let their over-the-top humor fool you; this is a band of serious, talented, and historically knowledgeable musicians.
While they are capable of some pretty convincing genre hopping - moving easily from solid driving bluegrass to bouncy Western swing
to contemporary folk - they're not content with merely aping these traditions but inhabit them as living, contemporary forms." - Freight Train Boogie
Many superb players have worked with the Bagboys.
We don't have room to list everyone who has sat in with us over the years (although we'd like to!)
but some past members and frequent past collaborators have included:
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Guitar
Dobro
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Fiddle
Banjo
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