The Unique Sound That Is Rusted Root

Have you ever heard of a band that doesn't fit into any category or genre? A style that's kind of a non-genre, you can hear the influences in their music but can't quite slap a label on it. Such is the case with the band Rusted Root. Rusted Root started over 20 years ago with a passion and love for music that still stands true today. Fronted by lead vocalist and axeman Michael Glabicki, Rusted Root quickly charmed fans of roots music and world rock over the years and created a diehard following known as "Rootheads." Rooted to the core.

Their style is a fusion of Grateful Dead style bluegrass rock with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American, Native American, and Indian influences. With that style that's all their own and with well deserved success under their belt Rusted Root has toured with some of the greats over their career. Greats such as Toad the Wet Sprocket, Santana, The Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers Band, HORDE Festival and, perhaps most notably, the highly coveted support role on the landmark Jimmy Page/Robert Plant reunion tour.

With a few lineup changes over the years Rusted Root have stayed true to its original vision. Now with Michael Glabicki, Liz Berlin, Patrick Norman, Jason Miller, Colter Harper, Preach Freedom and Dirk Miller steering the way, Rusted Root's musical creations has never been more focused and true to their inception. In June 2009, Rusted Root returned to the Molson Canal Concert Series, which is now hosted by Lockport, New York, following the decision by North Tonawanda Mayor Larry Soos to terminate the Canal Concert Series in North Tonawanda.

In the recording of their 6th studio album "Stereo Rodeo," Rusted Root used some choice Telefunken mics to reproduce their sound. Michael himself owns and uses 2 M16MKII's, 6 AR-51's, 4 M80's and 2 ELA M260's when recording. And Liz Berlin uses a ELA M 251E when playing live or recording. "When recording acoustic guitars and percussion instruments every string, every skin has its own resonance. Recording with open air mics sometimes loses that resonance and tonality of the instrument and affects the song's journey into creation as a whole. We don't have those problems with Telefunken mics."

Whether they're in the studio or on the road, Rusted Root is an act everyone should get a chance to listen to. In recent years each band member has produced their own solo projects aside from Rusted Root. Each project had its own unique sound. Michael recently had a mini tour go through the Chicagoland area and this writer got to see his Schaumburg show. Excellent! Check out the latest Rusted Root CD "Stereo Rodeo" and Michael's live CD "Uprooted." We're happy to have them as part of the TELEFUNKEN Elektroakustik family.

Pro: Michael Glabicki
Country: United States
Genre(s): Similar to Alternative rock, Bluegrass and Jam band
Role: Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist
Instruments: Vocals, Guitar and Harmonica
Years Active: 1990 - present
Band: Rusted Root
Official Website: RustedRoot.com.

We've used Telefunken mics in our recordings for their clarity. There are no other mics we've found that reproduce our natural sound like a Telefunken mic.