Frontman Tyler Bradley talks about his music and unveils two new songs during this week’s Local Spins on WYCE, which also features new tracks by Bennett, Lipstick Jodi, Rival Maps and more. (Podcast, video)
‘Soaking in a Lot of Vibes’: Tyler Bradley of Cold Mountain Child. (Photo/David Specht)
IN-STUDIO GUEST: Tyler Bradley of Cold Mountain Child
THE MUSIC: Indie-folk
WHERE YOU CAN SEE HIM: At 7 p.m. Friday, Tyler Bradley and Cold Mountain Child play The Story Café, 444 Leonard St. NW in Grand Rapids with Tom Hymn also on the bill; Cold Mountain Child also performs Nov. 28 at Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo with Strawberry Heritage and The Candy Landys.
TRACK DEBUTS DURING LOCAL SPINS ON WYCE: The Bootstrap Boys, Lipstick Jodi, Rival Maps, Bennett, Chain of Lakes, Dede & The Dreamers and Slumlord Radio.
Support our coverage of
West Michigan's music scene
The indie-folk of Kalamazoo’s Cold Mountain Child has been an ever-evolving work in progress, sponging up influences and textures from wide-ranging sources.
The melancholy yet uplifting beauty that has emerged can be traced to frontman and singer-guitarist Tyler Bradley’s constant exploration – from the lyric-driven power of Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan of the 1950s and 1960s folk scene to “tropicalia,” reggae and Americana music to traveling to places such as Peru and Mexico and “soaking in a lot of different vibes from all over … and different styles of songwriting.”
On the Air: Tyler Bradley of Cold Mountain Child.
It’s also a product of redefining Bradley’s songs from the spare arrangements of a solo artist to Cold Mountain Child’s lush, full-band approach and the “more complex vibes” of a quartet.
Bradley said after writing and performing as a solo act, he “was really looking forward to step forward with a new kind of live experience that will also be reflected in our next album that’s continuing to be developed.”
He called it a healthy and magical collaboration.
“I bring forth songs and am at almost every practice astounded by what’s contributed by each of the members,” he said. “I love when my ideas are duped and are doubly awesome and then presented by another mind, another heart linking up with mine.”
On Stage: Cold Mountain Child
Initially forming Cold Mountain Child as a “folk songwriter duo” with good friend and musician David Spalviere-Kruse back in 2008, the group now performs as a foursome with Shane Carlson on electric guitar, John Kreider on percussion and Matthew Milo on bass. Spalvieri-Kruse currently lives in Arizona and has his own musical project, but continues to collaborate with Bradley.
Cold Mountain Child released a full-length album, “Earth Wave Sway,” in March and Bradley said he’s been working on new material for a future recording. He performed two of those new songs in the studios of WYCE-FM (88.1) on Friday as part of Local Spins on WYCE.
Listen to the full podcast here and check out a video of him performing the song, “Child Inside,” below.
The poetic, uplifting power of Cold Mountain Child’s music speaks to what its website suggests is a mission to “offer myths of heart to a world cluttered with distraction and destruction.”
“It’s been a great journey so far,” said Bradley, who expects the band tour the region and play more festivals in the coming year.
Cold Mountain Child plays The Story Café in Grad Rapids tonight, with singer-songwriter Tom Hymn also on the bill. The show starts at 7 p.m. The band also performs Nov. 28 at Bell’s Brewery’s Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo with Strawberry Heritage.
Episode No. 62 of Local Spins on WYCE also featured the debut of new tracks by The Bootstrap Boys, Lipstick Jodi, Rival Maps, Bennett, Chain of Lakes, Dede & The Dreamers and Slumlord Radio, as well as selections from Tom Hymn and Ralston Bowles.
VIDEO: Tyler Bradley of Cold Mountain Child, “Child Inside”
Copyright 2015, Spins on Music LLC
.
