Beloved local band Typical Ghost released their self-titled album, produced by Cool Brick Studios, on April 25. The band, which seamlessly combines funk, jazz, rock and jam-band influences, is enjoying the post-release bliss and is excited to share that bliss with the community at an upcoming block party at KDNK on June 20 from 6 to 9pm. This event is free to attend and will feature a performance by the band, as well as beer from Mountain Heart Brewing. All beer sales will be donated to KDNK.
“Being able to share our music with our people and our community, and now being able to share it on the album and in our live shows is a double blessing,” said Soozie Lindbloom, percussionist and energy gal for Typical Ghost.
“We wanted our album release party to not only be a celebration of our art, but of the people and the place that enlivens and supports us,” she continued. “That is why we chose to partner with KDNK and make this a fundraiser for them.”
Lindbloom and the rest of the band, composed of vocalist-guitarists Shane Lieberman and John Moffitt, bassist Sam Chittenden and drummer-vocalist Chris Lambe, are all Carbondale locals who began playing regular live shows at Steve’s Guitars. They were also one of the side stage acts at the 2024 Mountain Fair. Conceived in a basement through many jam sessions and a lot of improvisation, the group knew almost instantaneously that this project was going to continue to be a presence in all their lives.
“I moved to Carbondale a couple of years ago. I had been living on the Front Range and playing in bands for a long time,” Lieberman revealed. “I then started asking around and looking for some nice people to make some noise with. I met Sam and Soozie while living in the neighborhood. I work with John’s wife, and then ended up working with Chris’ wife as well.”
He continued, “It’s a local and very much Carbondale, community-oriented group that we put together here, and ended up having a lot of luck with. Not only are everybody good players, but we’re also good friends.”
This level of collaborative closeness is evident in all the songs from the album. From start to finish, listeners can find a song that is perfect for any time, place, event or situation. In addition to the beats laid through each track, there are lines in every song that provide gentle motivation for day-to-day life.
For example, “Who can be sure of anything more, what’s reality? So I’ll play what I can with the cards in my hand and just breathe.” Or, “This is your life. Sometimes you make a mess of it, sometimes you don’t, but circumstance has other plans.”
Discussing the most rewarding parts of being a part of this band, as well as the process of getting the album launched, Chittenden said, “It’s a quality album we’ve put out, even after the process, which involved a lot of listening over and over again. When you put something under the microscope like that, things pop out in a good way, in a bad way. But I think overall, at the end, it was great to see it survive that process.”
His sentiments were shared by Moffitt, who looks forward to bringing this album to life for the community at the KDNK block party.
“With all the improvisation on the songs, we try our best to bring a lot of positive energy to what we do. I think along those same lines, what I’m super excited about is bringing the album to the community in Carbondale outside for the block party. It’s gonna be fun, and it’s gonna be a lot of energy,” Moffitt stated.
To keep up with Typical Ghost, visit www.typicalghost.com
In a nutshell:
What: Typical Ghost album release
Where: KDNK, 76 South 2nd Street, Carbondale
When: June 20, 6 to 9pm
Why: For the love of local music
How: Free, just show up ready to groove