Founded by Iowa natives David Huckfelt and Benson Ramsey, indie-roots band The Pines surprisingly actually met in Arizona, where they both lived in a Mexican barrio and first began playing together. Forming The Pines, they returned to the Midwest, moving to Minneapolis, a city that has launched many folk and rock acts from Bob Dylan to The Replacements to The Jayhawks. Like these Twin Cities legends, The Pines weave together many musical styles to create their own unique sound that is hip and haunting. The son of Greg Brown’s producer and sideman Bo Ramsey, Benson was reared on folk and blues music and those influences continue to shine through, even on louder electric songs. David shares Benson’s deep love for traditional music, and together the two craft songs that evoke the ancient, while incorporating newer rock and pop grooves. Both strong writers, singers and instrumentalists, David and Benson have distinct voices that complement each other, causing audiences and critics alike to tout them as a powerful young force in American roots music.

QUOTES

“simply and eloquently stated sonic poetry…the real deal.” Acoustic Guitar

“richly resonant indie-folk in the vein of Bon Iver, Calexico and Mason Jennings” The Onion A.V. Club

“a hushed mix of acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards creates a kind of haunted landscape…an affecting portrait capturing an American journey” All Music

“a soundtrack of American gothic intensity…a stunner of an album.” Vintage Guitar

“a dusty and often ghostly take on Americana” CBS Minnesota

“quietly gripping” Rolling Stone

“starkly poetic, buzzed-about Americana” Minneapolis Star Tribune