Our Story
Graber Gryass is a band from Memphis, a collective of talented friends centered around Michael Graber. Members also play in Public Enemy, Rumpke Mountain Boys, Devil Train, Bluff City Backsliders, Left Unsung, Dagnabbits, and other bands. Michael Graber recently played mandolin and 12-string on Foy Vance’s "To Memphis," has released two recordings with Bluff City Backsliders, and also plays in Zeke’s Three Generation Jug Rascals, and Damfool, and has also played in Professor Elixir’s Southern Troubadours, Fatback Jubilee, and 611.
Why Gryass? The last thing we want to do is be yet another average bluegrass band playing covers. Our influences are vast: the Byrds, country music from every country, all stimuli. Gryass gives us the right container to hold all of this combustible material.
Why Late Bloom? After toiling in business and running a consultancy for most of his adult life, Michael Graber wrote most of these songs at age 50 and celebrates that many people creatively flourish at this age.
Why Spaceman’s Wonderbox? Band mates starting calling Michael Graber “Spaceman” because he is “so far out,” and it stuck. The Wonderbox holds all types on charms, potions, mysteries, and adventures. The songs go a little further out than those on Late Bloom and have different instrumentation: bass Erhu, dulcimer, harmonium, bouzouki.
Why do we need your support?
After paying out of pocket for the musicians, Studio, video, graphic design, and mastering, we still have a lot of work to do. Your funds will help distribute, advertise, market, and promote this musical movement. And, you’ll get a bounty of Grassy merchandise.
Meet the musicians
Michael Graber: Guitar and Vocals
Eric Lewis: Guitar, Dobro, Vocals
Andy Ratliff: Mandolin, Bouzouki, Vocals
Clint Wagner: Fiddle, Erhu, Vocals
David Pierce: Mandolin
J.D Westmoreland: Mandolin
Khari Wynn: Guitar
Nathan Breckenridge: Bass and Vocals
Danial McKee: Bass
Randal Morton: Banjo
Kitty Dearing: Vocals
Gia Welch: Vocals
Gerald Stephens: Harmonium
Jason Freeman: Dulcimer, Jug, Harmonica, Vocals
Brian Collins: Guitar and Vocals
Rowan Graber Gratz: Vocals on It Was Always You
All tracks engineered and mixed by Boo Mitchell at Royal Studios; mastered by Kevin Nix.
I hope you like the songs and the spirit of the band, the harmonies—and find that it is something new. You can read more about our session here.
Sincerely,
Michael Graber
