Album Notes

Pigeonholers beware: Earth Bombs Mars is an enigma.

This hard-to-classify group often is tagged with the jam-band moniker--but that's not half the story. Earth Bombs Mars (aka EBM) combines elements of America's roots music genres (rock, jazz, psychedelic, country/bluegrass) to conjure its unique improv-Americana sound. This adventuresome quartet with a penchant for improvisation truly shines in the live context. So it's only natural that EBM's self-titled debut developed organically in a live-studio recording environment.

Rich Whiteley's distinctive voice breathes life into his five compositions, while his guitar work provides textural interplay for lead guitarist John Zias. A soulful, articulate improviser, Zias caught the attention of Grateful Dead bassist Phil Lesh, who invited the guitarist to San Francisco to rehearse for a possible future collaboration.

EBM's mercurial rhythm section features in-demand bassist TJ Glowacki, who brings considerable classical and jazz expertise and smoothly shifts the harmonic floor, and drummer/vocalist Dan DeGregory, a musical chameleon who’s slinky cymbal work and supple grooves have supported the likes of bluesman Rock Bottom, world-beat percussionist Jim Donovan, and rock-n-roll icon Bo Diddley.

"Earth Bombs Mars" was engineered by Zen Recording's Steve Connelly (Ronny Elliott & the Nationals, The Ditchflowers, Jimmy Griswold). Connelly, who toured with The Byrds' Roger McGuinn, also lends his pedal steel prowess to this release.