Rocks in a Blender is a Celtic fusion band formed by the son of a friend of Goldendale Sentinel publisher Lou Marzeles. No favoritism — Lou, former music editor at The Washington Times — thinks the band is very cool.
Rocks in a Blender is a Celtic fusion band formed by the son of a friend of Goldendale Sentinel publisher Lou Marzeles. No favoritism — Lou, former music editor at The Washington Times — thinks the band is very cool.
When my longtime friend Tom Foxx told me about his son’s new music group, I had the same kind of feeling I used to get when I was music editor at The Washington Times in D.C. and a friend would want me to write about his music group. What do you do when friendship might conflict with honest assessment of musical talent?
Whew! I didn’t have to bear that weight with Rocks in a Blender, the band that plays Celtic fusion — yes, you read that right. It was formed in upstate New Hampshire right after the pandemic, with Tom’s son Lew writing and producing the songs. (Tom and I went to school together back in New Hampshire.) Imagine traditional Celtic instruments and voices performing reggae and sea shanties but still maintaining that vibrant Celtic vibe. That’s Rocks in a Blender.
Where did the name come from? Here’s how their press package puts it:
In the rugged beauty of Upper Kidderville, New Hampshire (yes, it’s a real place), something magical started brewing in early 2022. Six musicians came together to create a unique sound.
Meet Rocks in a Blender, the Celtic fusion folk rock ensemble whose name perfectly captures their essence: sometimes beautifully melodic, sometimes delightfully chaotic, but always captivating. Born in a kitchen pantry (“studio,” as they optimistically called it), this sextet has transformed from local curiosity to regional phenomenon with their unique fusion of World Music, Americana roots, and Celtic rhythms.
The magic happens through the complementary talents of Heather Kelly on Irish harp and vocals; Josh Benton on drums and percussion; Lew Foxx on guitar and vocals; Estelle Glover handling keyboards and vocals; Dave Stokes contributing bass, guitar, and vocals; and Danielle Eames bringing it all together with fiddle and vocals.
The band’s origin story is as authentic as their music. During an early rehearsal at Heather’s house, the six were having trouble nailing their harmonies. They hit a tritone! (That’s a powerfully dissonant musical interval.) Children several towns away covered their ears; dogs in a three-mile radius began howling; grown men cowered in terror. Heather’s father was upstairs shaving and nicked himself. He came rushing downstairs and shouted, “Stop that noise! You sound like rocks in a blender!”
In that moment of clarity, Josh had an epiphany: “We don’t sound like rocks in a blender. We are Rocks in a Blender.”
And just like that, a band was born — one whose demand increases almost daily as their distinctive Celtic-Americana fusion continues to win hearts across discerning venues.
So I’m glad to share the news about this very unique music group, and that’s not just friendship talking. Check out RocksInABlender.com and look for their music on Spotify or Apple Music or Amazon Music, among other places.
Commented