I wish I could make this show! I see Rusty Belle every opportunity I can, and I always leave feeling like my soul got a long cool bath.

Their sound is back-alley folk rock: beautifully harmonized and haunting slow ballads, mixed with high-energy booty shaking tunes, and the most rock'n'roll accordion you'll ever hear. Skeptical? You won't be.

A few words about the lead vocalist/assistant percussionist/bucket-beater Kate Lorenz:

I've been to see Rusty Belle in packed bars and clubs on nights when it seems like no one is paying attention to whoever's on stage. Glasses clink, people chatter, and the music is an afterthought. And then Kate busts out a wail in her enormously powerful and absolutely thrilling soul mama voice. And the entire bar shuts up and turns around at once to find out who in the world is making that noise, and how they can get some more. Kate keeps 'em hooked.

Each member of this band is an incredibly talented and intuitive musician, playing everything they can get their hands on. Since they all live together in a big old renovated schoolhouse in western MA, they jam at all hours, and it shows. They're as natural together as brown on rice.

Rusty Belle will not try to impress you with how talented they are by playing 20-minute improvisational solos. Rusty Belle will not mind if you step on their shoes while you're busting a move to their tunes. Rusty Belle might not even be wearing shoes.

Rusty Belle will impress you with how effortless their very effort-ful music seems. Rusty Belle will play covers that you weren't expecting. Rusty Belle will match your energy and then triple it up on stage. And Rusty Belle will make you dance and sway and possibly even hoot'n'holler.

In sum: they're awesome. It's always obvious they're having a great time playing for you, and doing what they love. Enjoy the show!