This Thursday, Colorado’s quirky Boulder Acoustic Society makes a stop in Salisbury during a tour of the Southeast.
Don’t let the name fool you. This isn’t some sort of music preservation club. Instead they’re…um, well…different. In a good way.
Old school but never old, Boulder Acoustic Society is part of the new wave of American roots music. It’s what happens when four songwriters get together to mash up blues, folk, gospel, indie and world music to soothe their musical curiosity. They deliver musical diversity throughout their set as if it’s normal.
B.A.S.’s unique lineup of violin, accordion, bass and percussion support sharp vocal hooks and powerful grooves. All of this comes from four guys who wear vintage clothes and rock the ukulele.
Band members are:
Kailin Yong ó violin, ukulele, vocals. Kailin is from Singapore via Vienna, New York, San Francisco and Denver. He ventured beyond the classical world to play music for world peace. He can play a Bach partita, rock a Brazilian Choro, sing in Mandarin Chinese and play in 1/4 tone scales. He remembers everyone’s name. Test him!
Aaron Keim ó bass, ukulele, banjo, vocals. Aaron collects obscure folk songs and builds his own instruments. He plays Appalachian music on the banjo, ragtime on the ukulele and blues on steel guitar. And, oh yeah, he slaps the bass like it owes him money.
Scott McCormick ó accordion, ukulele, piano, vocals. Scott found music in the gospel churches and the punk clubs of Chicago. He plays modern jazz on the piano, gritty folk punk on the guitar and he sings in Gaelic, too. He is also the band’s photographer and graphic designer.
Scott Aller ó percussion, vocals. Scott left behind his drum kit to play a wooden box, a washboard and scrap metal with B.A.S. He’s also a music business visionary who holds the band together with his unique drum style. The mohawk makes him look tough, but he’s a softie.
Simply stated, B.A.S. is unforgettable.
Here’s what some others are saying:
“One must admit that BAS stays true to themselves in the sense that they continue to play exclusively acoustic music that gets people moving and shaking just as effectively as a club DJ playing the latest dance grooves!”
ó Paul Lemmon, Colorado Music Buzz
“Experimental, but not pretentious. Fun and serious in all the right places. Weird, but not in a ‘look at how weird I am’ way.” ó Dale Bridges, Boulder Weekly”Here, for us, is the future of String Band Music on a silver platter (assuming you buy the CD!). A multi-national, multicultural, symphonic, swingin’ band of young monsters that will bring you to the rocky mountain where they live and show you around the place… and you will like this place.”
ó Darol Anger
You can see and hear Boulder Acoustic Society at www.myspace.com/boulderacousticsociety.
Boulder Acoustic Society will be appearing at the Looking Glass Artist Collective Black Box Theater on Thursday, April 16.
Doors open 8 p.m., and the show starts 9 p.m.
Opening will be the band You Tonight.
Concessions will be available and the shop will be open. Admission is $7 at the door.
For more information, contact salisburyartists@gmail.com or call 704-245-2302.

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