What's Been Happening
Summer 2023 Recap
The summer of 2023 saw a number of changes with EASE. This was the first summer without George Riley playing fiddle and mandolin. The performance at the Millvale Music Festival saw Allie Craig play fiddle with the band for the first time. Although she would not play during the summer, on August 18 she returned to play at Strange Roots and will continue to play with the band. Mark Bergfelt also sat in a number of times, including at Grass In The Glades on July 29. Stephanie Green also lent a hand throughout the summer, playing at Union Brothers and Big Rail Brewing. EASE also played their first shows as a duo since January 2016, with Dave and Steve performing a number of shows, including Cobblehaus at the Falls, Big Sewickley Creek Brewing, Cousins, Georgetown Eats, Ruckus Coffee. All in all, it was an exciting summer and looks to be a fun fall as EASE welcomes Allie into the fold, with a few duo shows thrown in for good measure.
EASE at Grass in the Glades at Gibbon Glades 2023, with Mark guesting on fiddle.
WELCOME ALLIE!!!
Allie Craig joined EASE at the Millvale Music Festival this past May. After missing much of the summer due to prior commitments, she joined us once again in August, starting with back to back shows at Strange Roots and Cousins. A talented violinist, Allie's impact was immediately apparent and EASE kept moving forward without a beat. New songs such as Ashoken Farwell and a mashup of Blackberry Blossom and Friend Of The Devil quickly breathed new life into the sets. Though Mark and Stephanie may sit in from time to time if Allie can't make it, we are thrilled to have Allie as part of the band.
Ezra's Authentic Snake Elixir, with Allie on fiddle, at Strange Roots in Gibsonia, August 18.
NEW RECORDINGS
EASE has a few new projects that it is starting to work on. First, after playing a number of shows as a duo this year, Dave and Steve decided to record a number of blues songs that they have been playing for years. There is also a plan to record a number of original songs. While this is still early in the planning stage, it is exciting to look forward to what will be produced on this project. Stay tuned as we get down to the business of recording. More information will follow and keep you abreast of the progress.
EASE at Millvale Music Festival 2023,
Allie's first time playing with EASE.
EASE at Big Rail Brewing 2023, with Stephanie guesting on fiddle.
EASE live at Lazy Ass Spring Thing 4-23-22
EASE as a duo, Dave and Steve at Cobblehaus at the Falls, 2003.
NOVEMBER'S FEATURED VIDEO
This month we are featuring EASE (circa 2020) as a trio with George on mandolin and background vocals doing Friend Of The Devil. This not only brings back good memories, but also serves to foreshadow an upcoming video featuring Allie and our updated exploration of this iconic Grateful Dead song. Enjoy!
EASE played at Lazy Ass Spring Thing April 23 at the Glades Festival Grounds. Monark Sound recorded the complete set. You can click below to watch the entire set.
SPECIAL GUESTS:
MARK BERGFELT
Recently EASE has had to play a few shows without fiddler/mandolinist George Riley. While we definitely missed George, we were very happy to have Mark Bergfelt step in on the fiddle and mandolin, as well as some vocals, to contribute to some enjoyable evenings of music.
MARK
STEPHANIE
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"EASE plays beer drinking music for people who love craft beer" - Jesse W
STEPHANIE GREEN
As we move forward with George unable to play with us, we have considered ourselves very fortunate to have the incredibly talented Stephanie Green sit in with us. Stephanie is a fantastic fiddle player and has also been demonstrating her chops on mandolin as well. It's been a pleasure to have Stephanie add to the EASE sound.
"These guys have a way of bringing out your inner hillbilly." - Dennis B
SEP
28
Fishers Bar
Zelienople, Pa
7-9 PM
OCT
20
OCT
28
Strange Roots
Gibsonia, Pa
6-9 PM
Lincoln Avenue Brewery
Bellevue, Pa
7-10 PM
NOV
4
Full Pint
Warrendale, Pa
7-10 PM
NOV
5
NOV
17
Cousins Lunge
Millvale, Pa
2-5 PM
Big Sewickley Creek
Sewickely, Pa
7-9 PM
NEXT EVENT !!!!
EASE Memories
February 21, 2016 EASE is today's featured video on DEAD.NET
May 12,2018 EASE at Millvale Music Fest!!!!!
For the second year in a row, we are proud to have a video of ours selected as the Featured Video Of The Day on www.dead.net (the official site of the Grateful Dead) as part of their DeadCoversProject. This years video is of Me and My Uncle. It was taken before George and Henry (who have since left) joined the band, but remains a staple of our repertoire. Hopefully we will have more videos of the four of us to share shortly.
EASE played at the Millvale Music Festival on May 12. Though the torrential rains and lightening caused the stage at The Gardens Of Millvale to be shut down, the party moved into the adjoining greenhouse where EASE (which by then consisted of George and Henry in addition to Dave and Steve) was joined by festival goers for an enjoyable, off the cuff set.
EASE on Dead Covers Project 2022
EASE was featured on the Grateful Dead's website on February 5, 2022 as part of their yearly Dead Covers Project which highlights videos of artists covering Grateful Dead Songs. This year marked the third time that Dave and Steve were featured, but the first time that George, Steve, and Dave submitted a video as Ezra's Authentic Snake Elixir that was featured. This years theme was Europe 72. Click the picture below to watch EASE play Me and My Uncle.
January 29, 2016 The First Gig
EASE played its first gig as on January 29, 2016 at the Monroe Hotel in Butler, Pa. Starting as a duo with Dave on acoustic guitar and Steve on bass, EASE opened for Tom Panei and Shawn Hartman and kicked off their hour long set with what would become a traditional opener, Oh Babe It Ain't No Lie and closed with their popular take on Merle Holby's Moonshine and Marijuana.
