Suncooked
If you’re anything like me, you love banjos, songs about pirates, and Suncooked. Based out of Vermont, Suncooked was formed in 2011 by three college students who united over a love of music. That love has over the past few years evolved into an album, an EP, and a Saint Patrick’s Day single, all of which showcase a raw, down to earth sound that is so hard to find in the current scene.
I first heard Suncooked about a year and a half ago at a teen center in Connecticut, and I was literally blown away. Their live setup at the time was simple but effective: the guitarist and banjo player worked a hi-hat and snare respectively with foot pedals, and the trio (the bassist being the third member) all contributed to the vocals. I approached the band after the show, and was absolutely blown away by how humble and talkative they were.
A little over a year ago, Suncooked’s banjo player, the talented Jake Gregg, suffered a stroke after being sick with Leukemia for a few months. The outpouring of support for Jake was huge, and as of today (10/6/14) the fundraising campaign for him and his family has raised over $80,000. Jake’s illness attracted the attention of some pretty big names in the scene, especially in and around the Boston area. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones and The Dropkick Murphys have both made sizeable contributions to the fund, and continue to raise awareness to the cause through social media.
If you want to check out Suncooked, they update their facebook pretty frequently, you can find them on bandcamp or you can donate to Jake’s cancer fund.
-Mikey Light