"On one end of the county we have guns. On the other end, we have the Jahva House."
- Howard County Sheriff's Department
So begins the story of We're About 9. Brian and Katie's weekly open mic at the Jahva House in Ellicott City, MD captured the attention of the Sheriff's Department not for disorderliness, but rather for regularly breaking fire codes with attendance flooding both floors of the cafe and spilling out into the street. After the open mic ended each week, the music would continue outside in the parking lot. It was in the magical location of Parkling Lot D that Katie Graybeal, Brian Gundersdorf, and Pat Klink first started sculpting their distinctive vocal harmony arrangements.
Emerging in a scene where they would play shows to everything form high school kids to mature folkies, they were inspired to forge both a sound and a songwriting style that would appeal to both. The traditional "family music" vibe wouldn't have worked. We're About 9 knew they needed to be edgy, charming, dissonant and robust. And while they needed to work hard and take the craft seriously, the presentation needed to be all about fun. That was the secret to defying the age gap.
Fast forward two years to 2002, and We're About 9 has just won the emerging artist showcase vote at The Falcon Ridge Folk festival in a year where the competition includes some of WA9's own favorite artists: Girlyman, Rachael Davis, and Antje Duvekot. Within another two years, We're About 9 will have played the main stage at Falcon Ridge Folk Fest, Philadelphia Folk Fest, Clearwater Revival, Bele Chere, Green River Festival, Four Corners Folk Fest, Mountain Stage New Songs Fest, and many more--at the same time touring east coast folk clubs, coffeehouses, house concerts, and college venues.
In 2008 We're About 9 released Paperdust :: Stardust, an album that shows off the duo (Katie and Brian) on some songs, the trio (Brian, Katie and Pat) on others, and is also loaded with special guests. Look for members of Girlyman, Red Molly, Andy & Denise, and Naked Blue on this album.
Amalgam, a collection of 15 previously released songs, plus 2 enhanced recordings, and one brand new song is due to be released on July 24, 2010 at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival (look for We're About 9 on the mainstage on Sunday).
"Thick with foreshadow and subplots...like pressing Richard Shindell's next ideas through a 20-something cappuccino machine...You feel each song is a hit before you've any idea what the hell is going on...Musical prowess, cafeful writing, an engaging stage presence and dynamic vocals that blend or stand alone."
- SingOut!