Photography: Trampled by Turtles

Hard-edged Sublimities
by J. Regan Hutson

Sometimes life pushes us hard in one direction and we just have to go with it. For Trampled By Turtles front man David Simonett, that push came in the form of a robbery.

Left with only an acoustic guitar after his car was broken into, Simonett pulled together a band that would draw from music’s pre-amplification roots. The bandmates melded their rock and metal backgrounds with traditional roots, bluegrass, and blues to form a unique sound — part hoedown, part campfire sing-along, and punctuated by moments of frenetic sped metal energy.

In the past decade, Trampled has slowly and steadily built a following, expanding from their home base of Duluth, MN. Their recent show in LA at the Music Box was part of a national tour in support of their latest album, Stars and Satellites. For someone who has been listening to their music for several years (thanks to the suggestion of a friend in MN), their live show was an exciting new way to experience some beloved music. The performance was solid in the way you would expect from a group with eight albums and almost ten years together.

The biggest surprise of the night was opening act Brown Bird, a Rhode-Island-based duo with a stripped-down sound. Their underlying themes explore the strength that comes from enduring pain and melancholy. (Give “Bilgewater” from their Salt for Salt album a listen to hear this in full effect.)

David Lamb and MorganEve Swain of Brown Bird, opening for Trampled by Turtles.

MorganEve Swain of Brown Bird pulling all eyes at the Music Box in Hollywood, CA.

Trampled By Turtles (Lft to Rt): Erik Berry, Ryan Young, Dave Carroll, Dave Simonett, Tim Saxhog

Dave Simonett gets earnest in his halo light.

Ryan Young leaves it all on the fiddle.

Tim Saxhog of Trampled by Turtles giving it up.

Trampled by Turtles in full swing.

Erik Berry(left) and Ryan Young with the 'fiddles of glory.'

Dave Simonett (left) and Tim Saxhog get the Music Box audience in on the singing.

Dave Carroll captures the moment - a fan of the fans.

J. Regan Hutson is a freelance photographer from South Carolina who loves shooting live shows as well as portraits, landscape, and travel photography. He has been living and loving in the City of Angels for the past six years. Check out more of his work at his Facebook page.

Sample the Sound