With apologies to Arthur Miller, who wrote the one-act play A View from the Bridge and first produced on Broadway in 1955 about corruption on the Brooklyn docks, Jambands.com offers its own view from The Bridge lead guitarist and vocalist, Cris Jacobs.
Signed to Hyena Records in 2007 with a self-titled release that mixes bluegrass, rock, country, funk, soul and good ole jam into a unique blend, The Bridge finds itself on and off the road after five-plus years and ready to hit The Bunker Recording Studio in Cockeysville, Maryland to record their follow-up album in March.
As Jacobs will explain in this feature, The Bridge is focusing on the art of songwriting after years of blending various influences into their own brand of live improvisational magic. And to be sure, the band has quite a loyal following, especially in their hometown Baltimore area. With that in mind, Jacobs is determined to push the band to the next level. “I feel like the focus of the band is a band that writes good tunes and still improvises in a live setting. I’m starting to realize that first things first—let’s write some good songs.”
The week of January 14, The Bridge will be featured on XM Radio channel 12, X Country, on their 'Wired In' series. 'Wired In' features live performances recorded at XM's own studios and events and clubs around the USA. 'Wired In' airs Wednesday at 7PM and replays Friday at 11AM & Sunday at 1PM ET
November: Back on the East Coast !
OK, lots of news to report, but we’ll keep it tight:
- With the western portion of the fall tour behind us, we’re headed into the holiday home stretch… To round out the year, The Bridge will be returning to some old haunts in mid-Atlantic and the northeast, including shows with Dark Star Orchestra and SOJA. Of course, the traditional Thanksgiving-Eve show is on, at Rams Head Live, with special guests The Codetalkers. And, there’s a New Years Eve blow-out this year at the Baltimore Museum of Industry, with special guests Papa Grows Funk, click here for details!
- Please check out the new Gigs page, as there are new dates in 08, and a new artist ticketing system there. This will be a cheaper alternative for buying tickets online, so when scoping pre-sale tix, just stop in The Bridge’s website. Thanks to the kind folks at InTicketing.com .
- Big ups to everyone at Hyena Records, The Bridge is getting great reviews and radio play from coast to coast, thanks to all their hard work. You can hook up with a copy of the latest CD at their website, hyenarecords.com .
- Happy Holidays, we’ll see you on the road!
The Bridge Signs with Hyena Records
The Bridge is pleased to announce that they have signed with Hyena Records, and will release their self titled CD nationally on October 23.
Request the CD in your local record store if they don't have it this fall, or order online at Amazon.com by clicking here or just copy and paste this link:
THE BRIDGE are the OFFICIAL WINNERS of the Jam Cruise, Vote To The Boat Contest. Thanks to all of those that put forth that extra effort and helped us take home the gold! We couldn't have done it without you. Bon Voyage Hon!
The Bridge took the stage at the 8x10 Club on Friday. In the first show of a two-night stand the crowd was eagerly anticipating the band's return to Baltimore.
In stark contrast to the mercury flirting with single digits outside, the warm reception of the hometown band didn't go unnoticed as the guys of The Bridge took the stage, grinning ear-to-ear as they launched into the opening jam, "Jan Jan." Full Article >
Jambase - All Good Review
Jambase offered up the ABC's of All Good. The Bridge was mentioned under the letter 'N', which stands for "Nasty Weather Bringing the Noblest Music".
"There was an incredible moment before The Bridge took the stage late Friday night. G.R.A.B. was finishing their set, and The Bridge was on the highest of highs, ready to play for more than 15,000 blissful freaks. The "oomph" dripping off the band was fan-fuckin'-tastic...."
The Bridge was recently featured in the Baltimore Sun. They discuss The Bridge's music, the 8-week summer residency and the future of the band.
"The music is rocking. Everybody in the place is dancing, and the floor is literally bouncing. You would think you just walked into a dance club, not a concert at the 8x10. But that's the kind of vibe you can expect from funky groove band the Bridge." Full Article>
The
Bridge: Escaping the Void -
Glide Magazine
Baltimore
has long been a musical vacuum
where many bands
exist in its space but few
are able to escape the void.
The Bridge, a five-piece from
the local area seem poised
to break free of the city limits.
Full Article >
Best
in Baltimore - Best
Band & Best Album
Readers
of Baltimore's own City
Paper sent in their votes
for Best of Baltimore
2005. The masses have
spoken and the Bridge
has walked away with
two awards - Best Band
and Best Album (Cross
Street Market). Full
Article >
Funk
Box Farewell Show
Review
On
August 31, The Bridge helped
say goodbye to the Funk Box
and welcome back to the 8x10.
On the final night of their
summer residency, The Bridge
brought the funk and blew
away the crowd. Check out
the full review by Greg Peeler
on Homegrownmusic.net. Full
Article >
The
Jewish Times - The Bridge
Cover Story
The
Bridge was featured as an
up and coming band in the
Jewish community. They talk
about how The Bridge is uniting
fans of various religion
and faith with the best music
in town. Full
Article >
The
Bridge DVD - Live at the
Funk Box
The
Bridge's first DVD, Live
at the Funk Box, is now available.
You can pick up your copy
of the DVD online right now
at FarmersTan.com for
$16 plus $2 shipping. It
is also currently available
on the Homegrown
Music Network.
Check
out the great reviews of
The Bridge's first DVD Live
at the Funk Box from
the top sources in the jamband
community.
If
you would like to pick the
DVD up in person, it is available
at all Record & Tape
Trader locations, Barnes & Noble
in Towson and Pikesville,
the Other Side in Towson
and The
Sound Garden in Fells
Point.
Click
here to check out the
the DVD trailer right now!
Note:
You must have high-speed
internet connection to view
the trailer. Also, the actual
quality of the DVD is much
better than the sample.
"Happy,
dirty, and fun all at once.
The Bridge is a jam band
with an urban soul." Robbie
Whelan of the City Paper
talks about The Bridge's
appearance on WTMD, the
upcoming residency at the
Funk Box and their musical
style. Full
Article
The
Johns Hopkins University
newsletter has a great
article about The Bridge
written by Marissa Lowman.
She talks about how the band
came to be, what they are
all about, and where they
are going next.
The Bridge is honored to have
been named the Groove
of the Month by
Jambands.com.
Check
out this article about The
Bridge
in the Washington
Post
From
Jambands.com:
The
Bridge’s
Kenny Liner
Jams with
Galactic
on "Root
Down"
Kenny Liner,
mandolin
player and
human beatboxer
of The Bridge,
took thestage
with Galactic
last night
at the Recher
Theatre in
Towson, MD.
Liner joined
the
group for “Root Down,” adding beatbox and vocal scratching. The jam included
an extended drum break featuring Galactic’s Stanton Moore and Liner trading rhythmic
phrases.
The
Bridge was #7
on Bill Wrights
top
30 Albums of
2002! Thanks Again
Bill.
Check out RoadTrippin.net to
see who else
was picked. We
were
also chosen by
Music Monthly
as one of the "Best
in Baltimore" for
2002.
The
Bridge is being featured
on Kazaa.com and Cornerband.com,
for their "30 Best Bands" promotion.
Be sure to go to those
sites and vote for us!
And be sure to check all
of the other great bands
as well.
Article
from Music Monthly Magazine
Ahh---crispalicious
funktastic overtures
are what
is cruisin' under The
Bridge's self-titled release.
Good
stuff indeed. They
have the touch
and they hit the notes
most righteously. Cris Jacobs
plays the guitar and
the
dobro and
sings. Chris Bentley
is on the alto saxamaphone.
Kenny
Liner is on the mandolin.
Paul Weinberg is on
the drums and
the percussion. Ryan
Porter is on the bass. Shizzle
my
whizzle nizzle if this
ain't damn good chugglin'
music I have no idea what
the
hell
is anymore. Holy shinzakke
they smoke! The conglomeration
of instrumentality
is judicious and prime.
I dig
it and anyone
with half a soul would
be so
moved. They need to
get signed, and I know
just the
label
to hit up. Catch these
cats when
you can, for I feel
they will be on the
road for
years to
come, garnering a following
that will seal their
collective future as one
of the greatest
jambands on the guilded
path. This CD is not goin'
down
the river and all I
have to say
is that I am grateful
for crossin' The Bridge.
