Music

Kalispell

local collaboration leads to Eastbound EP

Scott Morfitt |

CHILLIN’ WITH THE BANJO. For Shane Leonard’s new album as “Kalispell,” he tapped Eau Claire music scene veterans.
 
CHILLIN’ WITH THE BANJO. For Shane
Leonard’s new album as “Kalispell,” he
tapped Eau Claire music scene veterans.

With summer just around the corner, Shane Leonard is releasing a folk- and rock-infused album that lends itself to relaxing on a porch and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Kalispell is the name of the band, and on the recording Leonard is joined by Eau Claire music scene veterans Ben Lester, Jeremy Boettcher, Steven Hobert, and Jamie Hanson. Leonard enjoyed working with this group of friends and says, “They are just excellent people. I just wanted to be around people who had a really positive vibe going on who would be inspiring to work with.”

Also in the bands Stoop Singers, Bro. Stephen, and Gryn Gryn, Leonard had originally recorded the Kalispell album by playing every instrument himself. He describes what adding a full band did for the music, “It tends to grow into something way more beautiful than you thought it could be, just because of the talents other people are bringing to it. It enriches your idea of what the music is.”

The three-song Last Year EP is the result of that collaboration. The song Plot Lines is a journey through several rock sensibilities with overdubbed vocal harmonies, a somber (in the best way) string section, and even a banjo line running underneath that brings the whole song together.


The tune Eastbound came from Leonard’s personal journeys. He taught music and wrote songs while living along the East Coast that eventually lead to this EP.

Recording this album allowed Leonard to return to a part of Americana, he says. “I was pretty inspired by old-time fiddle music from Appalachia, New England, and some of the Midwest. It’s very focused and kind of minimalistic. That really appeals to me because I wasn’t interested in making music that is extremely complicated.”

Last Year will be released on June 11, but it is streaming online right now at Records.KalispellBand.com for your listening pleasure. While there, you can also listen to the four-track EP from last year, titled Huntington Ave.

Leonard has taken Kalispell on the road, playing shows in Durand, Minneapolis, and Menomine. This summer they will be playing three shows in Eau Claire, with an all-ages show at Infinitea on June 3 at 7pm. They also have a CD release show at the House of Rock on July 1 with Adelyn Rose and Wisconsin Built.