Blue grass outfit Stealin' Strings romanced the Snout Saloon stage, a venue that rarely hosts this type of music.

Snout Saloon opens its arms to atypical performers

By: Matt Houdek

Posted: 3/1/07

Sometimes you see the greatest things happen when there isn’t anyone else there to witness it. Somethign like this happened this past Saturday, Feb. 17, when the Milwaukee-based group, Stealin’ Strings, performed at the Snout Saloon in Chippewa Falls, Wis.

They have been described as a string band that plays bluegrass, as an electric band that plays newgrass and even as a rock band that plays progressive tunes. However, Stealin’ Strings is a band that is all of these things and so much more.

The Snout Saloon isn’t exactly the type of place that one would think to look for a band like Stealin’ Strings. Nevertheless, jamming in the corner of the bar were the guys from Stealin’ Strings. They were playing a bluegrass version of Phish’s “Back On The Train” and the place was absolutely hopping. The crowd was diverse to say the least, but their music transcended the limitations of genre and taste and seemed to speak to everyone that was in attendance on a personal and intimate level.

Toward the end of the first of the three sets was when Stealin’ Strings really came alive with a rockin’ version of their original piece, “Strange Things.” The title sums up the song rather well, as it incorporated complicated progressions, unconventional time signatures, and stellar guitar harmonies that were all driven by their tight and active rhythm section. With energetic stage presence and great interactions between each of the members of the band, they closed out the song tightly and with an immense amount of remaining energy, leaving the audience dumb-founded with dropped jaws and wide eyes. When opening the second set with a perfectly executed bluegrass version of Guns N’ Roses’ “Sweet Child of Mine,” it was confirmed that Stealin’ Strings is a force to be reckoned with.

When a band that is playing traditional bluegrass on acoustic instruments one minute and then launches in to a sick, Umphrey’s McGee-meets-Frank Zappa electric progressive composition the next minute, the chances are that people are going to be entertained and enjoy themselves.

The band is comprised of four musicians: Ryan Ogburn on mandolin, acoustic and electric guitar and vocals; Rob Shively on acoustic and electric guitar and vocals; Jordan Kroeger on bass and vocal; and Rob Buehler on drums, formerly of the group Circadian. The four create a style of music that is completely their own. Although they touched on a wide range of music genres throughout the night, it all seemed to have the same kind of feeling to it, or rather, coming from the same voice, unified by a common groove.

Having just recently returned from a Colorado tour, Stealin’ Strings brought their own brand of music that incorporates the newgrass feel of the mountains along with the progressive-jam feel that has been happening in the Midwest since the rise and formation of Umphrey’s McGee. Ogburn’s soulful voice and Shively’s perfectly matching harmonies adds a lot to their show as well, as demonstrated by the second set closer, “Old Lost Whiskey Blues.”

“Dinosaur Attack,” which they were shredding so hard on that Ogburn broke a string, was one of the highlights of the night as it winded and weaved through a fluent and intense electric composition that was played expertly and with an immense amount of passion. A bluegrass version of Keller Williams’ “Bob Rules” made for some laughs for the few that recognized the song, and it served as a perfect placement near the middle of the third and final set.

With teases of Pink Floyd’s “Time” and the Grateful Dead’s “He’s Gone,” and with an amazingly diversified original repertoire, Stealin’ Strings rocked the Snout Saloon and no doubt made lasting impressions on all those who were there for the show.

For more information on Stealin’ Strings check out their Web site at www.stealinstrings.com. For tour dates, search Stealin’ Strings at www.jambase.com.