The lead singers of the band Birdtalker are eager to chat about their latest record, even if they’re in the most indie-band-inspired place ever.
“Right now, we’re in the parking lot of an auto parts store in Boulder, Colorado,” said Zack Green, who founded the group with his wife, Dani.
Van troubles aside, the band finds itself navigating small venues on its The Tides Tour. As Birdtalker’s five members (the Greens, plus drummer Andy Hubright, guitarist and mandolin player Brian Seligman, and bassist Jesse Baker) wend their way through the west and into Canada, the no-nonsense group is finding appreciation and support everywhere they touch down to play.
Felton Music Hall is opening its doors to the quintet on Nov. 5, and the Greens are ready to bring their indie-folk vibe to the Santa Cruz Mountains.
The band’s easy harmonies and catchy lyrics evoke elements of other like-minded artists: Plain White T’s, Goo Goo Dolls, Mumford & Sons and a little bit of Tyler Childers peek out of their music. While not mainstream yet, the group seems well-positioned to catch fire in the coming months, and they’re happy with where they’re headed.
The Greens met in Nashville, where Zack attended high school. “My mom had a little classical guitar that I picked up, and that became my first friend in town. It’s hard to break into the hierarchy of a private Christian school,” Zack said.
He met Dani after graduation, and they connected over their mutual love of songs. After they were married, Zack started writing, Dani started helping and, within months, mutual friends were encouraging them to take their talents on the road.
“Neither Zack nor I had any ambition to create a band, so I don’t think we’d be where we are right now if it weren’t for our friends’ advice and support,” Dani said. “We were bashful, and it required a lot of encouragement for us to put things together.”
Zack points to the diverse musical tastes of the band and suggests Dr. Dog, a Philly-based group, was a sound the Birdtalkers could rally behind.
“Their music makes me excited, and makes me want to create more,” Dani said. Zack agreed. “We’re just trying to capture feelings we’ve had, and trying to create an emotional and energetic experience for others. We’re looking at each other and smiling, and it’s sweet for us to work together.”
Zack’s road to Birdtalker was paved with a number of odd jobs, including a worship pastor, while Dani spent years teaching yoga. That shared sense of spirituality is ingrained in their music, although there isn’t a religious bent to their songs.
“This feels like a really magical thing to be able to do right now,” [name] said. “The music takes you out of your mind and drops you into a moment. I can feel that happening in our shows, and I appreciate anyone who comes to share that reality we co-create together.”
Given the state of the pandemic, Covid precautions for all shows are front and center for the band. They mask up when they load in and out for performances and feel safe on stage.
“We still feel connected to people, and have taken to selling our own merchandise so we can interact with others,” Zack said.
This is the group’s third full-band tour, and the record Birdtalker is promoting is their first self-titled project; that’s particularly meaningful to Dani.
“This is the first time it feels like we’ve found our footing, and gotten a better sense of ourselves as a band,” she said. “We made all the music during the pandemic, so it was a beautiful experience for us as a group to create it together, but we feel the sense of separation and isolation that everyone’s experiencing. To now be in a room with other people, connecting over a shared experience of music, is a blessing.”
Come make your own connections with Birdtalker at Felton Music Hall on Friday, Nov. 5 at 8pm. All attendees must have proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test within 48 hours of the show. Tickets are available at feltonmusichall.com.
