August Wells is a musical project formed in New York by Dublin native Ken Griffin (formerly of highly underrated cult Irish band Rollerskate Skinny, Kid Silver and Favourite Sons) and New York pianist John Rauchenberger.
Griffin’s lyricism is something to be admired, he has stories to tell veiled in metaphor and eccentricity with Drowned In Sound describing Griffin as an ‘undiscovered genius’ in a recent feature, whilst Glen Hansard introducing August Wells as his guest at a show recently told the audience how in awe of Ken Griffin he is, describing him as “such a presence, such a power”.
With their critically acclaimed debut album ‘A Living & A Dying Game’ and a string of fine singles already under their belts 2016 is shaping up to be another busy year for August Wells as they prepare for the release of their new single ‘She Was A Question’ and album “Madness Is The Mercy” which sees them once again team up with Irish independent label ‘Forever In Financial Arrears’ (FIFA Records).
The album features a selection of top quality psychedelic chamber-pop tracks with strange brass, haunting beautiful piano, and a vocal akin perhaps to something Lou Reed wrote for Sinatra to sing or if Willie Nelson borrowed Johnny Cash's voice for a song. The album follows massive acclaim for August Wells in Ireland including national press acclaim, radio plays and TV appearances.
The Irish independent going as far as to say Griffin " Possesses possibly the most evocative, even beautiful, Irish singing voice ever recorded". Ken Griffin and pianist John Rauchenberger have met in the middle of differing musical pasts to form a band who would sit easily at the same table as Scott Walker or John Cale.
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