< "Musical styles come and go, but occasionally the good ones come back sounding fresh and new. Bluegrass is just one of those genres that are sprouting through the cracks of our concrete jungle and it feels great! In this proud new progressive blend, there is an excitability that is extremely refreshing. Leading the pack in (Chicago) is the Leadfoot String Band. " Lumino Magazine Feb. 2008
Leadfoot is a 4 piece hot-pickin' Chicago based band featuring Steve Haberichter on mandolin, Mike Vanier on acoustic guitar, Garrett Degnan on bass (upright and electric), and Mike Holtz on the cut-down Leadfoot mini drum kit playing 'Chicago-style post-bluegrass city stomp.' What is that you say? It's hard drivin', hot pickin', sometimes soulful, sometimes acoustically experimental, sometimes lonesome, rooted in a progressive acoustic setting, As Chicago musician Jaik Willis puts it, Leadfoot is "Chicago's freshest post-bluegrass with tasty.grooves served up spicey how you like it with lightening fast delivery." Known for their high energy shows, the music consists of stompin' originals, as well as their own versions of popular songs and traditional bluegrass tunes. Jammin' instrumentals and 3 part harmony vocals and fiery solos cement their sound. It is an organic acoustic sound that pleases the ear and gets the feet stompin'. Simply put, "GOOD MUSIC."
Leadfoot has played all around the Midwest and Chicago playing with such bands as Railroad Earth, Drew Emmitt Band, Darol Anger, Sarah Watkins from Nickel Creek, Acoustic Hot Tuna, Bill Nershi and Honkeytonk Homeslice from the String Cheese Incident, Hot Buttered Rum, Particle, Split Lip Rayfield, Jeff Austin and Dave Johnson from Yonder Mt. String Band, Vince Welnick Band, Vince Herman from Leftover Salmon, The Special Consensus, and The Iguanas to name a few.
