CX-1: The Blackhole Bluegrass Boys
Will be featured as a part of the Asheville Music Jamboree!
Check it out at AmJam.net
Or http://www.myspace.com/ashevillemusicjamboree
"Fans of Bela Fleck should check out 'Andy Pond and the CX-1 Black Hole Bluegrass Boyz," a wild and sometimes wacky collection of Flecktone-like material by a ten-member group all based around the very impressive banjo playing of Andy Pond. CX-1 now consists of FOUR members of two deep-rooted North Carolina family bands: Acoustic Syndicate and the Snake Oil Medicine Show. This slightly giddy record consists of all Pond originals, and continues to explore the possibilities of newgrass reggae as heard on the Snake Oil's 'Bluegrassafari" recording, while also including tunes sounding more jazzy or funky (Fudd Up) or newgrassy or East Indian/klezmer or Classic Banjo meets circus music (Piedmont Squirrel Rag) or even modern hokum (Hoedown in Hades). Sound like fun? For more info go to www.homegrownmusic.net and search for Andy Pond."
Banjo Newsletter, September 2005
CX-1 Is One Of The Best Examples Of Modern Fusion Music.
As a Progressive Roots Power Quartet, the dynamic between Jay Sanders, Andy Pond, George Pond and Billy Seawell is an equal union. Spreading the music and message of universal harmony, these four travelers have been at the epicenter of Western North Carolina's progressive acoustic movement.
Discovering combinations of World Beat, Reggae, Rock-N-Roll and Americana, CX-1's textural compositions and three-part harmony continue to expand musical boundaries.
As a bassist and composer, Jay Sanders was an underlying inflluence in Acoustic Syndicate. He helped propel their ten year career through six award winning albums, including two for roots label Sugar Hill.
A graduate of Appalachian State University, Billy Seawell studied music and spanish before putting to sea. Aboard the ship he was immersed in an intense musical regimen. Snake Oil Medicine Show met Billy at the gang-plank of his ocean liner, loaded him into the band van and toured with him for 5 years! A rhythmic genius, Billy incorporates Latin and Eastern Indian styles into CX-1's unique blend. When not on stage, Billy, a vegetarian, uses a variety of voices and characterizations to stay crispy!Billy Seawell is a life student of music and language. He began playing music at an early age and has found his study of the Spanish language particularly helpful in his instrumental career. After scouring the globe as a vegetarian show band drummer on various cruise lines, he began touring exclusively with the Snake Oil Medicine Show. This took him all over the US and Jamaica thus propelling his passion of American music and fueling his love for Jamaican culture. Being a world music aficionado, Indian Tabla study is also one of Billy’s greatest inspirations. With these various influences, along with the absolute blessing of playing in a group of outstanding individuals, he would like to think he is a unique drummer indeed. .
Banjo Maestro Andy Pond wows audiences across the globe with his innovative banjo techniques. Check him out nightly pickin' on his custom Neckville banjos. From The Grand Old Opery to Carnegie Hall, this tiny, ancient picker is changing the future of the banjo. As a devout Bluegrasstafarian, he believes the goal of World Peace will be achieved through working with chidren. .
Non-Euclidean guitarist and neo-process songwriter, George Pond, is an incarnate reflection of CREATION. He goes by fast, being known as many different "logos". This very infinitesimal JUNIOR has repeatedly appeared in tandem with the Creative Anarchy Programme, A POSITIVE ART PHENOM: the Snake Oil Medicine Show which is a reflection of ONELOVE/OHM. Warpextor Cosmoverse now plays the electric and acoustic guitar and bass for CX-1. His witty lyrics explore everything from the Golden Rule to Quantum Physics. His creative and energetic intellect surprise even his oddest/closest friends! He gets most of his inspiration from eels and sex appeal. When not onstage, George is in Black Rock City wearing a fendoshi and eating dulse. All four musicians approach the project focused on positivity and quality musicianship. Explorations of acoustic electronica CX-1 will take you on a journey through vast soundscapes and musical adventures.
ANDY POND, CX-1 AND THE POROUS BORDERS OF MUSIC
Andy Pond, banjoist extraordinaire for CX-1, has participated in the Carnegie Hall Professional Training Workshop sponsored by Edgar Meyer. Entitled The Porous Borders Of Music, additional instructors include Bela Fleck and Mike Marshall.In a recent interview Andy sat down to discuss The Porous Borders of Music Workshop and his participation.
Q: After being accepted, how were you notified and what was your reaction?
A: I received a call from Carnegie hall while I was subbing (Andy is a substitute teacher in Asheville NC). I checked the message and instantly call back. I was stoked!! I jumped in the air like a Toyota commercial.
Was this a nation search for talent or international?
I believe that it was an international search. The only other Banjoist is a 4-string player from Ireland.
The Edgar Meyer Workshop: Porous Borders of Music
CARNEGIE HALL, NYC,NY
The idea of the Porous Borders Of Music is at the very core of what CX-1 represents. The band could make a mission statement out of the melding of musical and cultural ideas to create a unified vision of humanity. We congratulate Andy on his deserving selection and look forward to see what he brings back to the melting pot!
Andy Pond Debut Release
Andy Pond and the CX-1 Blackhole Bluegrass Boys
Hot Off The Press! Andy Pond and the Cygnus X-1 Blackhole Bluegrass Boys is an amazing album of Andy Pond's original compositions. Focused around Andy's phenomenal banjo skills, all four members of CX-1 are featured in a supporting role, allowing Andy's rhythmic and melodic sense to flourish into a powerhouse presence.
In addition to the members of CX-1, Andy's album features stellar performances by Jeremy Saunders, Jason Krekel, Gaines Post, Jon Price, Sean Foley and Richard Foulk. This album shines as one of the best examples of modern acoustic music to come out of the next generation of acoustic lions.
DEM SAY: ".amazingly tight, infectious, danceable, professional and intelligently accessible sound" Shout Magazine / Boone, NC .HERE IS ANOTHER NICE THING SAID: "The music was all CX-1, and all fascinating. There was no folk-rock. Instead, old-timey and bluegrass music leads to world- and space-music in the CX-1 canon." Outer Banks Onstage. ©2006 Peter Hummers"
VERY LOVELY WORDS!! THANK YOU.
