Juston Stens, a 1972 Triumph, and All Your Favorite Musicians

Last year, former Dr. Dog drummer Juston Stens branched out with a promising EP of original material as Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang. I've been a huge fan of Stens since he first introduced me to Floating Action via his pitch-perfect cover of "Don't Stop Loving Me Now." Stens is now back in writing and recording mode, though this time under a different set of circumstances. He's creating his first full length album by way of his 1972 Triumph motorcycle, stopping in a dozen cities across the country to collaborate with musicians and friends. The stops span coast to coast with a host of Everybody Taste favorites like Jim Eno of Spoon, Seth Kauffman of Floating Action, Kelley Darlin of Those Darlins, Bill Baird of Sunset, and Jessica Lea Mayfield. Later in December, Stens will be in California visiting with the likes of Delta Spirit, Gardens and Villa, and Jeremy Black of Apollo Sunshine. It's hard to imagine this won't be an exceptional batch of songs, especially with all the time Stens will have isolated on his bike to think about the music and lyrics. And yes, a project this independent and creative needs funding, so please check out its Kickstarter.

Juston Stens - "Falling" (from Juston Stens & The Get Real Gang)
Juston Stens - "Don't Stop Loving Me Now" (Floating Action cover)
Juston Stens & Seth Kauffman - "Don't Come Around Here No More" (Tom Petty cover)

After the jump, watch Stens' Kickstarter video.

Au Ras Au Ras - "Jon"

Generationals drummer Tess Brunet recently posted an unmastered cut from her forthcoming solo debut as Au Ras Au Ras. I've been keeping a close eye on the project since helping Kickstart it back in October, and then perhaps even more so after learning Everybody Taste favorite Seth Kauffman of Floating Action would be producing playing on the record. "Jon," set on a train with a lovelorn drifting narrator, is a promising taste of things to come with a raw bass and soft organ riding on top of steady uptempo drums and Brunet's honeyed intimate vocals. More details and a release date to come. For now, follow Brunet on Twitter or Facebook for updates.

Review:: Floating Action: Desert Etiquette

Let’s talk sports analogies. If Seth Kauffman were a basketball player, he'd be the underappreciated sixth man that comes off the bench in the fourth quarter to sink the winning basket. He may not be a recognized star just yet, but his skills more than speak for themselves: stick Kauffman with any instrument—sitar, drums, guitar—in almost any genre—soul, reggae, rock, folk—and he'll create something classic, albeit in his own distinctly laid back and loose manner. Playing nearly every instrument under the moniker Floating Action, Kauffman has already recorded one track-for-track classic album and his newest release, Desert Etiquette, shouldn’t be labeled any different.

Generationals - "Greenleaf"

After delivering the goods with their hotly received Trust EP, New Orleans' Generationals are now gearing up for another release—their second full-length, Actor-Caster. The album, due out on March 29th, was recorded over the summer in the dank humidity of Washington, DC with Con Law producer Daniel Black. It's clear from our first taste of the album, the persistent jangling piano pop of "Greenleaf," that not even DC's stifling heat could contain this group's tremendous pop chops. Dig into the new track, courtesy of Spin, along with an excellent cover by the great Floating Action.

Generationals - "Greenleaf" (from Actor-Caster)
Floating Action - "Victim of Trap" (Generationals cover)

Interview: Floating Action's Seth Kauffman

"None of Seth's music feels like some reference or some attempt at a copy. It just feels like the natural extension of who he is as a person." — Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog

Floating Action is the moniker of North Carolina musician Seth Kauffman. Fusing elements of dub with rock, soul, country and the occasional splash of sitar, Kauffman has shaped a distinctively laid back and timeless sound that pops along like a needle on your favorite old groove: a whole-heartedly original, personally curated and unclassifiable vein of funk that's like medicine for the soul. His newest record, Desert Etiquette, is due out February 22nd via Park The Van.

Thanks for taking the time to chat with me. I’m a huge fan. I think I was sold when I first heard “50 Lashes”—I love that high bass riff. And then “Marie Claire”… that whole Floating Action debut is classic.
Man, thank you!

Were you happy with the reception it got? I feel like it’s still making the rounds and being discovered. I know I didn’t stumble upon it until early this year.
No. I'm starting to realize there's a 3 to 4 year delay on people getting my records. Not trying to sound conceited, I feel it's a curse. I made that album Research in '06, and just now, people are clicking with it. It's terrible—causes me to have to psych myself out all the time. Trends that I think are already played out, won't actually be considered played out for a good year and a half.

So many bands these days come from either New York City or southern California. What’s it like making music away from that hubbub in Asheville and Black Mountain? Is it a pretty close musical community?
In my soul I know it's correct, but in my head I know I'm screwing myself success-wise. Black Mountain is so far off the grid. That's what makes it and breaks it. There's always this pull though, that it would be an easier battle if I moved to one of those areas. Can't do NYC, too swampy, no mountains. I could see relocating to Portland though sometime...love Portland...that'd be a good compromise, right?

Floating Action - "Dead Reckoning"

Earlier this year, we got a special treat from nonprofit Weathervane Music's Shaking Through series with the lush recording of Sharon Van Etten's "Love More." Now Everybody Taste favorites Floating Action have hit the studio with Scott McMicken of Dr. Dog acting as producer to record bandleader Seth Kauffman's song "Dead Reckoning."

Floating Action - "Dead Reckoning"

Hear more Floating Action:

Floating Action cover Rilo Kiley

Floating Action: It's Summertime Somewhere

Mixtape #2: Oh Sweet Sun

Dr. Dog drummer Juston Stens goes solo

Digging For Covers: Floating Action haze Rilo Kiley

Seth Kauffman's band Floating Action absolutely nail this cover of Rilo Kiley's 2007 song "Silver Lining." The track follows the original right down to the triangle solo, but at the same time makes it unequivocally their own, fitting like the familiar hazy buzz of summer.

Floating Action - "Silver Lining" (Rilo Kiley cover)