by Elisa Zuckerberg, Founder of HearItThere

Sunday, May 8, 2022

Pluck & Rail are the acoustic intersection of Andrew Sussman of the prog-rock heavyweights, Frogg Café, and George Gierer of the folkabilly band, South County. George bought his first guitar at age 17 and moved to Austin, Texas, where he soaked up the sounds of the south and was forever changed. After hearing Eddie Van Halen at the age of 15, the classically-trained cellist Sussman starting spinning Bach into the blues and Beethoven into Zappa. (http://pluckandrail.com)

Pluck and Rail are the sonic equivalent of a street brawl between the Avett, Punch and Felice Brothers refereed by Gillian Welch and Pink Floyd. 

Pluck & Rail’s music genre is hard to define. I’ve seen them perform live many times and have been listening to their music for years. I’m always stumped when trying to define their style, Roots, Progrock, Punk, Classical, Bluegrass, and Americana perhaps. At times I would also add avant-garde. There are moments during a live performance when cellist (also plays mandolin) Andy Sussman goes on musical tangents producing carefully crafted melodic and experimental lines that only a trained musician could get away with. During these moments George Gierer, who is clearly grounded in Roots music, moves back a little, continues his steady rhythmic guitar strokes, and lets Andy do his thing.

George Gierer, Andrew Sussman, Zach Swanson

Pluck & Rail’s studio albums are meticulously arranged and beautifully produced. Their debut record, TRIGGER, is an eclectic song series telling tales of misfits and mishaps. and sophomore album, KILLING TIME is soon to be released on Sunday, May 15. It is an eclectic songs series recorded during the height of a global pandemic and quarantine. An energetic acoustic album weaving folk, blues, country and sometimes punk. They sing about lost love, complicated relationships, ghost towns, capital punishment, hope and redemption.

Drawing from the deep well of American Music, Pluck & Rail blend together gritty songwriting, tight vocal melodies and soaring cello runs to craft their unique sound. 

Since forming, Pluck & Rail have been featured performers at the The Long Island Bluegrass Festival, the Rock n’ Roots Music Festival, The Great Eastern Music Festival, The Ridgefield Playhouse, Garcia’s at the Capitol, Daryl’s House, The Towne Crier, The Hurdy Gurdy Folk Music Club and NJ Prog House and opened for the Steep Canyon Rangers, Sarah Shook and Red Molly.

George Mallas, singer-songwriter and host of the podcast The Songwriters’ Block sat down with George and Andy to talk about  how they met, their musical collaborations, influences and the making of “Killing Time” during the pandemic. It’s a fun time!

Have a listen HERE – bit.ly/3KPthrF

New York and Connecticut audiences can join in the Record Release Celebration at Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre in Port Chester on Sunday, May 15.

Pluck & Rail on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/71YvKPM76y1zuDHxPPSgyu