Greg Garing

The Pennsylvania-born-and-raised songwriter Greg Garing gained an appreciation for traditional country music, as well as Irish music, while growing up. However, it was seeing a performance by bluegrass legend <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Bill Monroe</a> that spurred an 18-year-old Garing to leave his hometown of Erie and move to Nashville. Attempting to learn as much as possible, Garing had the opportunity to watch <a href="spotify:artist:5CWbfANRpZbnxdstzcNg5H">Monroe</a> play often, even sitting in with him at times. He put together a band in 1993 that was playing honky tonk country when he was turned on to the music of artist like <a href="spotify:artist:6S0GHTqz5sxK5f9HtLXn9q">Garbage</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:12VaqyEhgwDRuFfEqbnrpz">PJ Harvey</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:6hhA8TKRNryM8FNzqCqdDO">Tricky</a>. Although his more traditional sound had attracted an audience and positive reviews, Garing began to incorporate more modern sounds with his earlier influences. Signed to a record deal with Atlantic, Garing released his debut, Alone (which included <a href="spotify:artist:1MGR2y3msa1wBK06SSUNaf">Mike Watt</a> on bass), which also earned good press for its gritty, evocative style, but the record ultimately failed to make a commercial impact. By 2002, Garing had long since relocated to New York City where he was continuing to play. ~ Tom Demalon, Rovi