'His music, Deporis's, is a treasure, buried away from deserving ears, from unknowing ears, but it merits, if not desires, an audience. A voice which does not overpower, nor take the breath away, but commands attention with it's presence. The man, like his music, is vaguely mysterious.' -Alan Williamson, Sixeyes
''Swan King in the Snow & Ghostly Baby are the only songs of his I've heard, & they're astounding, similar to Devendra Banhart's music, but coming from a quieter, lonelier & altogether less whimsical place. I listen to a whole bunch of demos from unsigned bands, & it's exceedingly rare to come across anything that strikes me nearly this powerfully. Someone get this boy a record deal.' -Thomas Bartlett, Salon

Samamidon plays traditional appalachian folksongs. The band is singer/banjoist/guitarist Sam, from Doveman, Stars Like Fleas, Nico Muhly 'Elements of Style;' & Thomas B aka the Doveman on omnichord, drum, guitar, & piano. Sam & Thomas have been playing music together since they were 7 years old in Vermont; Sam learned many of these songs around then, from his parents.
'Sam Amidon proves that a banjo needn't play a breakdown to evoke the pain of a breakdown.' -Washington Post

Ed Pastorini studied piano with Lenny Tristano but loved the Beatles & Beefheart even more than jazz. His songs reflect all these influences as well as his literary heroes Joyce, Beckett, & Pinter. Ed's raspy, accurate singing, trigonometrical melodies, stunning piano, & guitar playing & the unmatched brilliance of his lyrics have made him a legend in the downtown scene. Artists with whom Ed has worked include Elysian Fields & Beth Orton.
'The stock listings phrase that when a particular band plays 'some of the best musicians in town take to the stage' is actually true in the case of Ed Pastorini's 101 Crustaceans, the 'town' in this instance
being New York City. And here's a line of glib hyperbole to follow it: The rest of them are in the audience.' -Thomas Bartlett, Salon.com