Carrie Nation & the Speakeasy is a high energy, acoustic brass n grass 5-piece from Wichita, KS. The band, whose sound has been described as “…a stagecoach in overdrive”, has brought their eclectic blend of punk, bluegrass, and dixieland to packed bars, basements, and festivals across the US since their inception in the spring of 2007.
With a lineup of great musicians, the band’s live show is never the same twice. Brothers Jarrod and Zachary Starling provide acoustic guitar and drums/washboard, along with Brody Wellman on standup bass to round out the rhythm section. Garret Briggeman (Dewayne Bro.’s, The Deedles) adds 5-string and tenor banjo to the mix, while Reverend Aaron Morris (The Band That Saved The World, Fuzz Nasty, SUNU, Bastard Squad, Blackout Drunks) adds a taste of New Orleans on the trumpet. Tyler Grubb holds down double solo duties, playing both mandolin and trombone. This blend of influences and musicality ensure a unique and interesting show each night.
CNS plays 250+ dates a year in 40 states(with a 2015 Europe tour coming up!), and has built a following with their energetic live show and ability to fit on the bill with acts ranging from bluegrass to rockabilly; punk to ska. Breakneck mandolin solos melt into blaring trombone and trumpet lines, while the standup bass and feed bucket trap set churn out driving rhythms that carry the force of a Kansas freight train.
Thoughtful songwriting that explores deeper, more interesting themes is what sets this band apart from the multitudes of acts content with singing about Whiskey and Women. From social satire to labor union songs to Civil War Ballads to existential journeys that explore life, death, despair, and indulgence, CNS’s songs will provoke thought, incite riots, and lure your children into a life of travel and debauchery.
The band’s DIY mentality is shown through their self-recorded albums, self-published music, self-booked tours, and a community of local and regional visual artists that show the band’s distinctly grassroots approach. CNS has been pounding the highways and byways of this great country for 5 years now, bringing their songs and stories to thousands. Always providing a high energy, drink’em down atmosphere to any place they play, CNS has proven a dedication to their live shows with a solid understanding of what entertainment really means.