Biography

Contact: Rich Landar (503)869-8210
thecampfireboys@gmail.com

"The 11 songs run the musical map, from bluegrass to indie pop and psychedelic rock jams, to easy going country folk and Americana. The center of each track is the idea that melody is king, and emotions are heartfelt with genuine sincerity."
Rick Bowen, Rhythm, Roots and Blues Report, 9/28/20

The Campfire Boys
Release date 9/25/20

The Campfire Boys first got together at the tail end of various events and gatherings, usually at around 3:00 AM by a raging bonfire.

Justin John, lead guitarist for Portland’s Grateful Dead interpreters extraordinaire, The Garcia Birthday Band, would arrive with his acoustic guitar and play on through the night with Rich Landar, mandolinist for Portland bluegrass mainstay, The Hillwilliams. Justin and Rich quickly found a musical common ground, where folk, bluegrass, 60’s and 70’s classic rock, and Dead tunes blended into some fine fireside gatherings and sing-alongs. Things went so well at these jams that before long Rich asked Justin about booking some shows as a duo and suggested calling the new act "The Campfire Boys".

...Fast forward to early 2020. The Campfire Boys have been gigging regularly for over three years and have developed an instinctual feel of where the music is headed at any particular moment, as their vocal and instrumental blend has continued to deepen. Discussions began focusing on recording an album of original songs, and then in March everything stopped while the world dealt with the COVID19 Pandemic.

A Socially Distant plan quickly came together for each of them to start recording original songs in their home studios, and then send the tracks to the other Campfire Boy, and continue sending them back and forth until they were finished. Although the Campfire Boys had always performed as an acoustic guitar and mandolin duo, the two multi-instrumentalists would also record other instruments as needed.

The Campfire Boys self-titled, debut album, released in September 2020 is centered in Americana, with healthy doses of bluegrass, folk,and psychedelic influences.

Produced, recorded and mixed by The Campfire Boys
Graphic Design: Daria Landar
Photos: Daria Landar and Rosie McGee

Order of songs on "The Campfire Boys"

1- The Campfire Boys (3:12)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: mandolin and vocal
Justin John: acoustic guitar and vocal

The Campfire Boys feels like an old Appalachian folk song, sung around the fire with good friends. It tells the story of how the band came together, surrounded by friends and family.

2- Ground Kontrol (6:20)
Songwriter: Justin John
Publishing and PRO: 0c7or0k Music BMI

Musicians:
Justin John: electric guitar, drums, keyboard bass, lead and backing vocals
Rich Landar:electric piano, organ, horns, strings, glockenspiel, bass, mandolin, octave mandolin, accordion, backing vocals

A tribute to long time Portland video game palace Ground Kontrol, with a jammy New Orleans groove, and some great instrumental trade offs between lead guitar and keyboards

3- King of Contradiction (5:46)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: piano, acoustic and electric mandolin, bass, accordion, lead and backing vocals
Justin John: : acoustic and electric guitars, drums, backing vocals

The musical question, "Am I the slave to possibilities or the King of Contradiction" set in an Americana styled backing with mandolins, accordions and interwoven heartfelt vocals.

4- Say Go (5:54)
Songwriter: Justin John
Publishing and PRO: 0c7or0k Music BMI

Musicians:
Justin John:acoustic and electric guitars: percussion, synth, lead vocals
Rich Landar: mandolin, strings, sitar, log drum, tone drum, backing vocals
Kina Lyn Muir: cello

A psychedelic folk song combining solid acoustic guitar, mandolin and cello leads, over a backing track with ambient synths, and log drums.

5- Mr. No (7:32)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: piano, bass, mandolin, octave mandolin, lead vocals
Justin John: acoustic and electric guitars, drums, backing vocals
Juliana Trivers: violin

Mr. No is a piano driven ballad, about searching for some positivity in these tough times. About 3/4 of the way through Justin John, plays an amazing guitar solo reminiscent of the best of Larry Carlton's work with Steely Dan.

6- Nothing Never Changes (6:28)
Songwriter: Justin John
Publishing and PRO: 0c7or0k Music BMI

Musicians:
Justin John: acoustic and electric guitars, drums, piano,synth, keyboard bass, lead and backing vocals
Rich Landar: organ, electric piano,bass, tone drums, backing vocals

A double drum kit approach cements the Grateful Dead like feel of this track, capped by some great lead guitar, and an organ solo reminiscent of the great Jon Lord of Deep Purple.

7- State of the Union (5:12)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: piano, mandolin, bass, lead and backing vocals
Justin John: acoustic guitars, drums

A piano driven, folky, jazz waltz, with John Prine like vocals, a Garcia like acoustic guitar solo, and lyrics discussing the state of an on and off relationship.

8- I Can See (5:43)
Songwriter: Justin John
Publishing and PRO: 0c7or0k Music BMI

Musicians:
Justin John: acoustic and electric guitars, drums, synth, gong, percussion, lead and backing vocals
Rich Landar: piano, mandolin, octave mandolin, bass, backing vocals

A piano and acoustic guitar driven psychedelic somewhat prog rock approach with lyrics to match, surrounded by "The Boxer" like effected percussion,with some more great lead guitar work in the second half of the song.

9- Caribou Susie (4:43)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: piano, mandolin, organ, horns, bass, tambourine, lead and backing vocals
Justin John: electric guitars, drums

Starting with a hot mandolin solo, this rocking number features a Chuck Berry groove, and rubbery horn arrangement supporting a "mean woman blues" lyric. It sounds like a Muscle Shoals arrangement from the 1970's.

10- I Disappear (4:22)
Songwriter: Justin John
Publishing and PRO: 0c7or0k Music BMI

Musicians:
Justin John: acoustic and electric guitars, drums, lead and backing vocals
Rich Landar: organ, piano, bass, backing vocals

This power ballad is led by a vocal that's reminiscent of Paul Rogers, over solid keys bass and drums, with a big rock guitar solo. it sounds like there should be an arena of fans waving their lit lighters back and forth.

11- Task at Hand (6:28)
Songwriter: Rich Landar
Publishing and PRO: Prime Suspect Publishing BMI

Musicians:
Rich Landar: mandolin, bass, octave mandolin, piano, ukelele, melodica, glockenspiel, tone drum, kazoo, lead vocals
Justin John: acoustic guitars, backing vocals
Giued Hatch: washboard
Juliana Trivers: violin
Daria Landar: spoons
Harrison Olk: banjo

This bluegrass, folky tune starts with guitar, mandolin, and washboard and gradually expands to what sounds like a cast of thousands. Featuring special guests from some of the Northwest's top bands like Harrison Olk, from Cascade Crescendo, Juliana Trivers, from The Hillwilliams, and Giued Hatch, from the Pagan Jug band this song encourages us to keep at our important works despite distractions and difficult conditions.

Visit us at:
http://www.campfireboys.net
https://thecampfireboys.bandcamp.com/album/the-campfire-boys
http://www.facebook.com/thecampfireboys
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9wjBX9Ld_F3kaZkbKvGXgw?view_as=subscriber