Oneside...'First, to Last'

  
Ned Debary - Guitar, Vocals
Chris Hersch - Banjo, Acc. Guitar
Grafton Pease - Bass
Jake Brooks - Drums 

Reviews of 'First, To Last':

Saturday, November 15, 2008
Review: Oneside - First, To Last

Oneside - First, To Last
2008, BOS Music

Oneside dares to be different. The Boston-based quartet plays from a love of Traditional American music, and this plays out throughout their full-length debut, First, To Last. While reveling in traditional country/folk styles, Oneside isn’t above updating their sound in the veins of jazz, rock, blues, funk, etc. The results are melodic, artful rock songs (with banjo!) that will soothe and challenge listeners as they wend their way through your consciousness to that deeper level that craves good, honest music.

The Letter opens First, To Last on a jaunty banjo-laden note. The Letter will have your toes tapping - you won't be able to resist its charm. Oh Sun continues in the energetic country/newgrass vein. Lisa slows things down a bit with a more traditional country sound. Vocalist Ned DeBary has a pleasant sound that is very easy on the ears, and eases the songs to the listener like a spoonful of sugar. Josephine has a CSNY feel to its haunting melody. Oneside finds themselves back in a country dance party groove on Got To Go; a highly commercial country/pop with traditional leanings and may well be the best song on First, To Last. Be sure also to check out Our Song, a peppy country tune that has Blue Rodeo leanings to it. Other highlights include Four Corners, Out Of My Tree, Into The Night, Last Radio and All Over Now.

Oneside has its roots firmly in country/newgrass but retains a certain pop/rock sensibility. Gorgeous melodies and strong instrumental arrangements make for a highly pleasant listen. First, To Last is a keeper that will satisfy fans of all styles of music. Country, folk and Americana fans will not be able to put this disc down.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Oneside at http://www.onesidemusic.com/, where you can purchase a copy of First, To Last as well as two other EPs from Oneside.
Posted by Wildy at 5:05 AM
Labels: Americana, Banjo, Blue Rodeo, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Neil Young, Oneside, Oneside Paperboys Banjo Americana Blue Rodeo CSNY Crosby, Paperboys, Stephen Stills 

Dutch Review:
http://www.altcountry.nl/recensiesnov08.html#ones

De banjo is de baas bij Oneside. Constant eist het instrument de hoofdrol, maar nooit door al te uitbundig de aandacht op te eisen. Chris Hersch plukt de melodie uit de vijf snaren van zijn instrument. Hersch verliest zich niet in al te technisch machtsvertoon, het is eerder dat zijn banjo via kleine omweggetjes het pad begaanbaar maakt voor de andere instrumenten. First, To Last (own management?) is het opvallende debuut van Oneside. Het originele geluid van deze band uit Boston wordt mede bepaald door de roffelende drums van Jake Brooks. Leadzanger Ned deBary gooit af en toe wat jazzy gitaarnoten door de nummers en bassist Grafton Pease voegt met zijn ukelele ook het een en ander toe, maar de banjo neemt het steeds weer over. Het is geen bluegrass, hooguit een afgeleide, en met de aanpak van groepen als Hackensaw Boys heeft het al helemaal niets te maken. Oneside begeeft zich op intelligente wijze op een rootsy pad dat leidt naar beschaafde pop en
rock, ergens te situeren tussen Nickel Creek en Counting Crows. (John Gjaltema)

The banjo is boss at Oneside. The instrument keeps taking the lead role without demanding excessive attention. CH plucks the melody out of the five strings of his instrument. Hersch doesn’t lose himself in technical prowess, but rather, via small detours, his banjo lays the path for the other instruments. First, to Last (own management) is the striking debut from Oneside. This band from Boston’s original sound is also defined by JB’s percussive drums. Lead singer NdB occasionally throws some jazzy guitar notes through the songs and bassist GP adds a thing or two with his ukelele, but the banjo keeps taking over. It’s not bluegrass, at the most it’s a derivation, and has nothing to do with the approach of groups like Hackensaw Boys. Oneside sets out in an intelligent way on a roots-y path that leads to refined pop and rock, situating itself between Nickel Creek and Counting Crows.

Valley Advocate, Northampton MA:

 Oneside
> First, To Last
> It’s the classic love story of straight forward northeastern
> college rock guy meets the beautiful and easy going southern belle
> known as bluegrass. They go out for a drink and end up having a
> passionate evening of dirty love. In the morning they go their
> separate ways; but after a few days they can’t stop thinking about
> each other. College rock boy places a personal add in the de ja vu
> column of the local arts newspaper. They reconnect and get hitched
> at a lovely shotgun wedding. Nine months later the band is born;
> their album sets a new course for Americana that bridges the gap
> between two distinct genres.
> -Levon Kinney
>


Three Tall Pines...'Short While Ago'



Dan Bourdeau - Guitar, Vocals
Joe Lurgio - Guitar, Vocals
Gian Panharo - Guitar, Vocals
Emily Rideout - Viola, Fiddle, Vocals
Chris Hersch - Banjo (tracks 1, 6, and 10)

Carter Creek Revival...(self titled)



Chris Hersch - banjo, vocals
Jonah Kraut - guitar, vocals
Scott Sandvick - 12 string guitar, vocals

Daniel Bennett Group...'A Nation of Bears'



Daniel Bennett - Sax, flute
Chris Hersch - Acc. Guitar
John Servo - Bass

Laurel Grove...(self titled)



Andy Anderson - guitar, vocals
Matt Anderson - bass, vocals
Kelly Alford - lead vocals
Robin Jesson - fiddle
Chris Hersch - banjo

The Patrons...'Smoke After Smoke'



Jonah Kraut, Ryan Barret, Matthew Borushko,
Chris Johansen, Matthew Riley
Chris Hersch - banjo (tracks 3 and 4)