Culture
Gladden House Sessions 2017: The Cactus Blossoms
By: Maria Meece and Clarence Thomas
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The Cactus Blossoms hail from St. Paul, MN, and since 2013 they have been building a thoroughly infectious sound with a hybrid of aching songwriting and Everly Brothers inspired vocals.
Recently “discovered” by rockabilly revivalist JD McPherson, brothers and guitarist/vocalists Jack Torrey and Page Burkum joined McPherson in the studio to deliver the widely heralded debut You’re Dreaming (Red House Records) last year. Most recently the band was featured in the return of Twin Peaks on Showtime, shown closing episode three with a gorgeous rendition of their track “Mississippi.”
The Cactus Blossoms had a short window to join us at the Gladden House on the third day of the Nelsonville Music Festival, having two other performances on site that day. Torrey and Burkum were joined by Chris Heipola on drums and Andy Carroll on bass. The session was focused on performances only, and those in attendance were treated to a delightful set of well-honed originals and a cover. The band opened with the aforementioned “Mississippi” followed by their melodically-inticing “Stoplight Kisses.” The band closed with a fiery cover of the Kinks’ “Who’ll Be The Next In Line,” from their 1965 album Kinkdom.