“Cincinnati Country Rock Supergroup Root Cellar Xtract”
ABOUT ROOT CELLAR XTRACT
“For anyone who misses that distinct emotional feeling those songs that came out of the ’70s Laurel Canyon scene gave them, Rear View Mirror Eyes is a must-have. There aren’t many people making music like that anymore, and even if there were, it’s doubtful anyone could do it with the precision and artistry Root Cellar Xtract does.” –Cincinnati CityBeat
The consummate musicians of Root Cellar Xtract (RCx) play a kind of throw-back country rock which embodies the rootsy soulfulness of that early California country-rock sound. But there's a stripped-down purity--a maturity, if you will--that makes this a thoroughly modern outfit. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio Root Cellar Xtract draws as well from its own "edge of Dixie" geography. Formed in 2016 by Clyde Bailey, who writes the band's original compositions, Root Cellar Xtract (RCx) represents the culmination of rich musical careers coming together in perfect harmony.
Root Cellar Xtract’s (RCx) music and sound is deeply rooted in the earliest origins of true “California Country-Rock”. Root Cellar Xtract harkens back to the era of the mid 60’s to early 70’s and hills of Laurel Canyon, California which was the birthplace of California Country Rock. With names like Neil Young, David Crosby, Stephen Stills Graham Nash, J.D. Sourther, Rich Furay, Glenn Frey, Don Henley, Jackson Brown, Joni Mitchel, and Gram Parsons that bounced across multiple bands like The Band, Buffalo Springfield, Little Feat, Poco, Flying Burrito Brothers, The Eagles, Pure Prairie League, and The Byrds. Not unlike the founding members and bands of Country Rock, the members of Root Cellar Xtract have played in multiple bands from this musical space not only in Cincinnati but also across the country and Europe.
The band has recently released 12 songs on Root Cellar Xtract's full length album entitled "Rear View Mirror Eyes". Bailey teamed up and co-produced the album with Brian Lovely of The Flying Underground and formerly Brian Lovely and the Secret. Ironically both Lovely and Bailey won the 97x/WOXY Best Cincinnati Band contest in separate years in the mid-90s. Jim Peltz also co-produced the album. These consummate musicians play a pure kind of Country Rock while avoiding sub-genre excursions into "southern rock" or "folk rock" for example.
Root Cellar Xtract can be found playing live throughout the Cincinnati area at venues like Arnolds, Japs, Washington Platform, Fretboard Brewing, Braxton Brewing, Urban Artifact, Plain Folk Café, Little River Café and Bobby Mackey’s and Southgate House.
On pedal steel, Steve Mueller creates an unmistakably unique atmosphere. The solos are passed backed and forth in “jam” between pedal steel and the piano of Phil Burkhead, surrounded by the 4 part harmonies.
Which brings us to a kind of hush. The band members' level of experience with music--that careful appreciation each person brings--has resulted in a sound that is as much about what is not played as much as what is.
"We talk alot about respecting the space and letting the songs breathe"says Clyde.
Garnering a growing fan base, Root Cellar Xtract is expanding its roots and continues to grow.
Artist/Bands that Root Cellar Xtract members have shared the stage with:
Willie Nelson, Marshall Tucker Band, Kris Kristofferson, The Mavericks, Marty Stuart, Randy Travis, Ricky Skaggs, Lionel Richie, Blue Oyster Cult, B-52s, Richard Thompson, Blues Traveler, Molly Hatchet, Smokey Robinson, Average White Band, Chicago, Doc Severinsen, James Brown, Joey Bishop, Little River Band, George Jones, Freddy Fender, Chuck Leavell, Juice Newton, Dickie Betts, Commander Cody.
ROOT CELLAR xtract
Clyde Bailey
Bailey is an established singer/songwriter whose earlier band, Clyde and the Loonies, was a favorite of the (late and legendary) radio station WOXY/97X and they won the Best Band in Cincinnati contest in the 90s. Bailey then left for Europe and fronted a band for a decade called The Clyde Bailey Band. Bailey was also previously part of an acoustic trio called Wooden Obscurity. Clyde hand-picked the other members of Root Cellar Xtract to achieve a sound that he feels is still missing in this type of music: "a twanged up folk-abilly sound with a real tip of the hat to the roots of the original Country Rock,. It's not country, it's not rock, it's not folk, it's not southern rock, it's country rock". "We are definitely focused on maintaining the integrity of that "Laurel Canyon" sound".
15 years since Clyde's last band, he's been doing the singer/songwriter writer thing. But ultimately he missed the dynamics of collaborators interpreting and expanding upon his compositions. Forming Root Cellar Xtract in 2016, he hand-picked experienced musicians who quickly built a warm, layered sound that Clyde casts as "twanged-up folkabilly." "The most amazing thing is to turn a song over to band and listen to what they do to it," says Clyde, who adds that he hopes he won't remain the sole songwriter in Root Cellar Xtract.
"Influences in music go a long way in defining who you are musically " says Clyde, "And who you are, what you see and what happens to you combined with how you process and observe is what you write."
Steve Mueller
Started playing steel early 70's after watching JD Call playing with Craig Fuller and Pure Prarie League at New Dilly's in Mt Adams. Found Lloyd Hazelbaker and studied steel and guitar with him. Member of Calico Rose and Dark Star. Early influences were Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Sinatra with Nelson Riddle Orchestra as well as country influence from Midwestern Hayride. Got hooked on country rock from PPL and jazz and swing from Lloyd Hazelbaker. Love the Bakersfield sound and the country rock sound that followed.
Phillip Burkhead
Louisville, KY native Phillip Lee Burkhead began teaching himself to play piano at the age of eight by emulating pop and jazz artist. In 1979 he began his formal training at Bellarmine College as a piano and voice major. Studying under John Craig, Kay Lawrence and Steve Crews he was awarded the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award for academic and performance excellence. r. Burkhead was the holder of a four year Honors Scholarship in the Jazz and Studio Music program at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. In 1989 he was chosen to receive the Dino Santangelo Annual Award, and the Presser Scholar Award for both academic and performance achievement. Mr. Burkhead was also awarded Best Keyboard Artist by Cincinnati Magazine, the University of Boulder Jazz Festival Soloist Award while a member of the CCM group “Jazz Hates Johnny” which was voted Outstanding Combo in the USA and Canada by Downbeat Magazine. Mr. Burkhead earned a Vocational Teaching License and a Masters of Education from Wright State University in 2003. r. Burkhead has been studying and performing Jazz since 1981. He has performed with Jon Von Ohlen, Tim Froncek, Cal Collins, Kenny Poole, Jimmy Rainey, Jimmy McGary, Al Kiger, Kate Lauer, Randy Sanke, David Liebman, John Fedchock, John Clayton, Jamey Abersold, Ron McCurdy, Jon Faddis, Ingrid Jensen, Pete Escovedo, Greg Abate, Jeff Coffin, Don Braden, and Lynn Roberts. Groups include The Blue Wisp Big Band, The New York Voices, The Dayton Jazz Orchestra, The Newport Dream Band, The Louisville Stage Band, Little Anthony and the Imperials, The Coasters, and The Shirelles. r. Burkhead has taught at Miami University, Central State University, the CCM College Preparatory Program, and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. He taught music in Cincinnati’s Catholic school system and from 1993 to 2005 Phillip was an instructor at the School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. During his time at SCPA he taught Piano, Theory/Composition, Improvisation, Arranging, Music Technology, Jazz Ensemble, and was the Musical Director of The Book of Five Rings, which toured Gifu, Japan in 1999. He has been included in the Who’s Who of American Teacher’s three times. In 2005 he was given an award from the Cincinnati based organization JAZZ ALIVE in grateful recognition of his continuing support in providing and preserving jazz in the greater Cincinnati area. Mr. Burkhead is the Adjunct Professor of Jazz Piano at The University of Dayton.
Nick Hach
Nick Hach began playing drums at the age of 11 and was immediately hooked. Since then, he has spent a considerable amount of time learning about the art of drumming in all forms, even dedicating a chunk of his life to studying music at Northern Kentucky University, where he received a bachelor's degree in Jazz Performance. While at NKU, Nick had the opportunity to participate in a study abroad program called "NKU Jazz in France." This program sent Nick and his colleagues on a performance tour of France. While on the tour, the students also spent a week teaching young french musicians how to play Jazz.
Nick's playing is heavily influenced by new and old Jazz drummers, such as Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Mark Guiliana, Buddy Rich, and Nate Smith. He also pulls influence from marching drum line experience and drummers from other styles of music, such as Chad Smith, Jojo Mayer, Tony Allen, and Steve Jordan. Nick is a founding member of Mickey James & The Queen City Crew, which is a regularly performing swing band based in Cincinnati. He is also a founding member of La Formula Big Band, a 15-piece Salsa band led by Colombian native, Oscar Salamanca. Nick also spends time playing freelance jazz gigs around the tri-state.
Nick Hach enjoys spending much of his time giving private drum and piano lessons around the Cincinnati area. He has a diverse group of about 30 students, all at different ages and playing levels. "For me, teaching music has become far more than just a paycheck. It is an incredibly rewarding experience to help kids and adults learn how to create music, and I appreciate the opportunities I have to share my passion with others."
Joshua metzger
Joshua Metzger is a Singer, Songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who has been preforming as long as he can remember. Currently based in Cincinnati Ohio he has been honing his musical and performance skills for over 25 years. Joshua first began his musical journey in church singing in choirs. He quickly took to vocal performance and soon after began lessons on piano. Learning all he could about music Joshua found his true passion in music after receiving his first guitar at the age of 10. He has been writing and performing ever since.
Joshua Studied Music and Performance as well as Film, Audio, and Theater Production at The University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. He has applied these skills in many arenas including Concert Performance, Marketing, Commercial Production, Live Production, Recorded Music, Film Production and Musical Theater. His skills have taken him all over the world performing in various bands and projects.
He has had the pleasure of working with many artists including Blues Traveler, Chicago, Lionel Richie, Kenny G, Doc Severinsen, David C. Johnson, Molly Hatchet, High South, Seven Mary Three, Pit Bull and many more. Most recently he had the pleasure to accompany Blind Mississippi Morris in Memphis on Historic Beale Street.
Jim Pelz
Before joining RootCellarXtract full time, Jim contributed to and helped produce their highly regarded release "Rear View Mirror Eyes". Jim not only brings his excellent musicianship to RCx, but also years of songwriting experience and material.
Jim Pelz was born just outside of Boston MA, absorbing all he could
from a city known for it's musical diversity. He attended Berklee
College of Music before relocating to Cincinnati, where he graduated
from the UC-College Conservatory of Music with a bachelors degree in
Performance.
A veteran musician conversant in many styles of music, his career has
seen him touring the world with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra; performing
with Tony Bennett, Dionne Warwick, the Temptations among others; and opening for the likes
of Chuck Berry, Jim Lauderdale, John Cowan, Kenny Vaughan, and the
Marshall Tucker Band.
Starting on piano, then trombone, and finally guitar, he cut his teeth
performing in basements and barrooms, at every opportunity. It wasn't
long before he was traveling across New England, and then the nation,
playing with a variety of blues, reggae, rock and jazz bands.
Relocating to Cincinnati OH, in 2008 he co-founded Hickory Robot, a
critically lauded bluegrass band that has built a strong regional
following based upon the high level of it's musicianship and
songcraft. Their two CDs (Firefly, 2010, and Sawyer, 2012) feature not
only his nimble guitar work, but also a songwriting style that nods to
tradition without being bound by it. Hickory Robot continues to
perform regularly at bluegrass festivals, sharing bills with Dr. Ralph
Stanley, Sam Bush, Del McCoury, John Cowan, among many others.
Jim has recorded with the legendary Blue Wisp Big Band, and his own
critically acclaimed Newgrass band, Hickory Robot. He has one solo CD
under his belt ("Loser Angels") with the second soon to be released.
