“From raging fiddle tunes, to saxophone solos and unrequited love songs, the music of The Faux Paws would be hard to pin down with standard genre descriptions. The trio’s contagious groove, and feel-good melting pot folk music has been honed over ten years of playing together, and is the sound of three close friends (two of which happen to be brothers), who feel a musical kinship that transcends any stylistic limitations. Now, after nearly a decade of music making, the bi-coastal trio are releasing their self-titled debut album The Faux Paws.”

I could have just gone and said “you had me at raging fiddle tunes”, but in digging deeper to the trios catalogue there truly is so much more to the ebb and flow and chemistry between the three artists. Bridging gaps between folk and traditional roots with Celtic and sprinklings of what each brings from their own musical journeys, these tunes are equally as inviting as they are exciting. This one video is particular for me rings echoes of early Nickelcreek (sans vocals) with heavy The Band vibes in the flow and rhythm. A truly unique ensemble with such style, flair and soul that it’ll make you do a double take.

You Camber-ville folks can catch them at Club Passim on August 30th…that’s Monday (plus Jenna Moynihan & Owen Marshall round out the bill). Get your tickets now.

Oh, and they also have a new record out TODAY. Get it wherever you consume your musical ear candy.

More about The Faux Paws: Brothers Andrew and Noah VanNorstrand grew up playing contra dance music with their musician mother in the band Great Bear. Chris Miller grew up in Florida, and he was enamored with bluegrass, and studied jazz before going on to play with GRAMMY nominated Cajun-country band The Revelers.  

Since meeting in 2012, the trio have toured across North America several times, sometimes under the name The Faux Paws, sometimes as part of other larger ensembles. But due to their commitments to other bands and musical projects, the timing was never right to focus on making The Faux Paws a priority. Instead, they took their time learning about different styles of music from one another, and finding where their interests and skills could create unexpected and exciting new sounds. 

It may have taken The Faux Paws ten years to make their debut album, but those years have clearly not gone to waste. Now, with an experimental but cohesive vision, the trio brings together seemingly unrelated musical elements into one joyful and distinctive collection, deeply rooted in the raw humanity of folk dance and music traditions

photo by Louise Bichan