Biography
With two dogs, an 8-track recorder and a book of old murder ballads, twin brothers Rich and Rob Kwait would start their musical journey – circa 1998.
Visiting mountain cabins from Vermont to Tennessee and listening to country blues, the Philadelphia-based brothers would soon begin crafting songs of their own and bring them back to Philadelphia to play for friends on the stoop. What started as roots and bluegrass would soon become something more rich and textured and groovy, and the songs would make their way onto two limited release albums under the Kwait Brothers Band name.
After the death of their two dogs (Cornelius and Leonardo), Rich and Rob would again retreat to the mountains, this time in Upstate New York, and begin writing songs for a new album. In their travels, the brothers and the band (now known as Cabin Dogs) would meet up with Woodstock based musician/producer (The Band, Rick Danko) and invite him to play with them at the Newport Folk Festival. Shortly thereafter, the Cabin Dogs and the Professor would retreat to a converted farmhouse studio (LRS Studios in Hurley NY) and record what would become the first Cabin Dogs record, Electric Cabin.
Critics would compare the album to classic works by the Grateful Dead and The Band, with shades of Gillian Welch and Wilco, and describe the music as something like a conduit into a colorful pastoral timeless American story.
Following the release of Electric Cabin, the Cabin Dogs would continue to play steadily around the Philadelphia with brief sojourns up the east coast (including a return appearance to Newport Folk Festival and appearances at Apple Farm Festival in New Jersey and Full Circle Fair in Maine) sharing stages with everyone from Wilco, Drive By Truckers, Richard Thompson, Donna The Buffalo and The Radiators.
During this time, Rich and Rob would continue writing new material and road testing it with the band (Rich on guitar and vocals, Rob on bass and vocals, Ira Race on guitar, Stephan DiVincenzo on drums/vocals, Jeff Levinsohn on drums/percussion and Jeanine Reed on percussion/vocals).
After a writing trip to a farmhouse outside of Ithaca, NY, the brothers had enough material for a second Cabin Dogs record. This time, much of the recording would be in the band's home studio behind Rich's house (the "Cabin"). Instead of traveling to make the record, the band would invite old friends over to help fill out the sound. Professor Louie would again lay organ and accordion textures, Ron DiSilvestro would provide drum work and help engineer and mix the album and Jay Davidson would lend additional piano and organ.
"After the last few records, we really wanted to do a lot of the recording at home and at our own pace. We also wanted to stay close to our growing families. So it really worked out great to do it in our practice - now recording- studio out back," explains Rich. While the music would continue the rootsy vibe developed over the years and the funky groove displayed on Electric Cabin, the brothers and the band would also continue molding an original sound. "Somehow, being at home, we didn't feel the pressure to out-jam the jam bands or out indie the indie rock bands, or go into total singer songwriter route. We felt sort of in our own world. That sort of freedom allowed us to naturally shape a unique sound for this record.”
Advance release of the album, Midnight Trail has started to earn some favorable reception, including hitting #1 on the CMJ charts up at WERU in Maine. And, a full slate of spring and summer shows are being booked. This year and 2012 look to be busy years for the Cabin Dogs as they progress further down their own trail. Stay tuned for more.