Artist description "I was sold on The Flatirons in the time it took for the firstsound to move from Wendy Pate's mouth to my ear. She has the gift -- one of thosestrong, true voices that commands your attention. Pate's voice sounds likeno one in particular but is steeped in the great ones." -- Jim Desmond, No Depression

Artist History There is a great sense of discovery in The Flatironsdebut release Prayer Bones. Vocalist Wendy Pate immediately draws you in withher strong true voice. She sounds like nobody else,yet her vocals evoke the heritage of traditionalcountry's most unforgettable singers. The four-piece band behind her, powered byinventive lead guitarist Jason Okamota, is atasteful, versatile outfit which easily moves the 13songs on Prayer Bones from neo-traditional countryto soulful pop to gospel tinged folk. The Flatirons are a refreshingly polite, anassumingbunch. They have a warm relationship with theirfans. They are very excited about the opportunityfor more people to hear their music. The band seems to feed off the understated styleof Okamota, whose genuine modesty belies hisremakable chops; despite Okamota's quietpersona, every guitar player in Portland knows whohe is. In typically modest Flatiron fashion, backingvocals and acoustic guitar player Scott Weddleharbors no unrealistic illusions about The Flatironsimmediate future: "I think Wendy is one of thegreatest singers I've ever heard," Of course like allyoung musicians, the band is eager to quit theirjobs, but the Flatiron's day gigs reflect their eclectictalents: Scott Weddle is a growth managementplanner for Portland's regional government,Okamoto is a sushi chef, and percussionist RichardCueller, graphic designer and budding tattoo artist.Ask the Flatirons what they are most lookingforward to now and they will each say it is therecording of their next record. Prayer Bones is justa first step for this band of remarkable promise.

Albums Prayer Bones

Press Reviews On Prayer Bones (Checkered Past) you hear Texas before you hear anything else; then Neil Young'smusic for Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man, then peoplewho've been from band to band for years until theyfound their sound or it found them: music thatwould have made a perfect soundtrack for SeanPenn and Jennifer Lopez bleedingthrough Oliver Stone's U Turn.-- Greil Marcus, Interview

Location Portland, OR - USA

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