Packway Handle Band

Packway Handle Band

On pedestrian mall in Boulder, CO
July 27, 2006
Background information
Origin Athens, Georgia, United States
Genres Bluegrass
Years active 2001–present
Website Official site
Members Josh Erwin, Tom Baker, Andrew Heaton, Michael Paynter, Zach McCoy

The Packway Handle Band is an American bluegrass quintet, originating as a part of Music of Athens, Georgia in 2001. The band is known for tight three- and four-part vocal harmonies, extensive and progressive original material, off-the-wall covers, and energetic performance dynamics around two tightly-spaced condenser mics. Fans of the band include bluegrass traditionalists and those who say they don’t usually like bluegrass.

History

Over the course of the band's twelve-year history, they have been recognized both regionally and nationally. In 2003, they won the Athens hosting of the Miller Lite “Locals Only” Battle of the Bands, besting 72 rock bands with an energetic, single-mic performance. They were finalists three consecutive years in the prestigious Telluride Bluegrass Festival Band Competition and have been voted Athens’ Best Bluegrass Band three years running in the readers’ choice Flagpole Magazine Music Awards.

In January 2004, PHB released their debut album Chaff Harvest, which features some of the band’s creative, early songwriting. According to the SouthEastern Bluegrass Association, “this is not a recording for those who would like bluegrass to remain frozen in 1953 . . ‘Chaff Harvest' is a welcome breath of fresh air from an innovative band that shows even more promise for the future.” September 2005 witnessed the release of PHB most recent album, (Sinner) You Better Get Ready - a collection of traditional gospel tunes, some haunting tunes about the end of the world, and an arrangement of Madonna’s "Like a Prayer." Sinner was voted one of the Top Ten Albums to come out of Athens, GA in 2005 by the readers of Flagpole Magazine.

In 2008, they released a self-titled album and "What Are We Gonna Do Now?" in 2010. The band continues to play frequently in the Southeastern United States. In 2015, the band teamed-up with Athens-based, singer-songwriter Jim White to release the collaborative record Take It Like a Man via Yep Roc Records.


Michael Paynter on mandolin and Tom Baker on banjo
Wintergrass Tacoma, Washington
February 22, 2008.

The Packway Handle Band has toured widely and shared the stage with many great musicians including Ralph Stanley, Yonder Mountain String Band, Donna The Buffalo, Darrell Scott, Larry Keel, Jeff Austin and Chris Castino, and Confederate Railroad. The young, talented members of this up-and-coming band aspire to bring their unique brand of American folk music to new audiences around the world, living up to one reviewer’s prediction that they “grow musically and become a staple name on the big Bluegrass circuit”. Packway will tour with rockers Kid Rock and Foreigner during the summer of 2015.

Current members

References

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