Florida may be burning up, but Greenland is melting.
At least according to this Gainesville-bred folk band. It consists of a stand-up bass, a banjo, an electric and acoustic guitar and naturally, a suitcase that’s used to keep a beat.
Bands like Against Me!, Less Than Jake and Tom Petty have thrived in a musical environment like Gainesville. Greenland is Melting shows that given the right environment, a new band can thrive.
“It’s an accepting music scene, which is very rare,” acoustic guitar player Shaun Pereira, 23, said. “This is the kind of music scene where people want to see new acts.”
Among the noise of rock, punk and other more popular genres, Greenland is Melting sticks out like a blade of blue grass in an otherwise very green field.
Whether you want to call it bluegrass, folk or something else, the genre is as eclectic as the name of the band itself.
One may find a true resemblance of the band from a slice of their song, “Blood on the Banjo.”
“I know, I know what I see may not be true, but I sure as hell know that my grass is blue.”
The band, having formed three years ago, has recently been picked up by an independent record label called Paper and Plastick. The label was founded by Vinnie Fiorello, the drummer for Less Than Jake.
What the band may lack in age of existence, it surely makes up for in activity. Having played 130 to 140 shows in a dozen or so states, released two albums and touring and playing shows every month, Greenland is Melting has only started its journey.
“It’s going to get more intense starting next year,” said banjo player Karl Seltzer, 23, explaining that the band will release a split album, an extended play disc and a full-length album.
With a heavy load in store for next year, the members of Greenland is Melting still recall each of their humble beginnings. For Pereira, he started as a boy playing anything but guitar.
"I started to get a liking for folk and blues," Pereira said. "What I liked about it was the storytelling."
It was then that the musician began to play the instrument that he would stick to: the acoustic guitar. Pereira recalled his first cassette tape, Weezer's "Blue Album."
By the time he was 13 years old, it became very important to him to start looking for music on his own.
Karl Seltzer, the band's banjo player, started playing guitar 10 years ago. It wasn't until three years ago that he picked up the banjo; he's been playing it fully ever since.
"I figured I would like to try it," Seltzer said.
Along with the banjo, the band has may other unique stylistic elements. For instance, they implement a stand-up bass, a fresh twist from the standard electric bass. Rather than having a full drum set, the bassist keeps a beat by thumping an old suitcase.
Even with its archaic elements and the folksy-feel, Greenland is Melting understands and accepts the changes of the music industry due to the digital age. The band encourages listeners to download music from its website, either for free or for a donation of the listener's choosing.
"We're allowing someone to listen to our music for free," Seltzer said. "Music isn't a source of income. Money is band money, to keep the band in existence."
Not a penny has gone toward the band members' pockets. Instead, it all goes toward studio time, gasoline for the road, the next album, T-shirts and more.
Pereira and Seltzer both said that the band has no expectations from making their music. Rather, the members play shows and make music because they want to, not to make a profit.
Greenland is Melting's next show is Saturday at the Atlantic at 9 p.m. They will be joining musician Chuck Ragan and The Takers.
"It'll be a big show," Seltzer said.
Until then, Seltzer and Pereira want people to download their album.
"Pay what you want. Free is OK," Pereira said.
"We want people to hear the music," Seltzer said. "That's why we do it."
For more information, visit the band's website at www.greenlandismelting.com.
