Music Style Not a style, but an experience that moves you in ways too difficult to explain

Musical Influences Hendrix, Coltrane, Miles Davis, Marley, Doors, Zappa, Santana, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Phish, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn,

Similar Artists Ben Harper, Dave Matthews, Bob Marley, Aretha Franklin, Santana and the Allman Brothers shaking it down.

Artist History We have set our sights on the world. Our musical style and unique composition is not compared to anything out there, and we consider that an honor. Incorporated into the music are elements of many styles, including but not limited to funk, rock, jazz, blues, improvisation, reggae, soul, and gospel. We move you, and you can’t help but feel it. Listening is not an option when you see The Ordinary Way; we pull you into our world, taking you on a journey through our live shows. Home base is Northern Virginia, in the Washington DC metropolitan area. We are a seasoned touring band, performing from coast to coast. Major cities include NYC, LA, San Francisco, New Orleans, Las Vegas, Houston TX, St. Louis MO, Flagstaff and Tucson AZ, Portland ME, Rochester NY, Nashville TN, Boulder CO, Burlington VT, Baltimore MD and Richmond VA. We have shared the stage with many fine artists and friends; Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, ekoostik hookah, The Recipe, The Derek Trucks Band, Amphibian, Jah Works, Babba Seth, Tim Reynolds, Galactic, David Grisman, Schleigho, Mecca Bodega, Agents of Good Roots, Keller Williams, The David Nelson Band, ulu, Fat Mama, Sanjay Mishra, Blue Miracle, David Gans, Ode To Abbey, and Juggling Suns. Venues range from the classy new Norva in Norfolk, Virginia to some dumpy dives you’ve never heard of and everything in between - including the summer festival circuits. Rising is The Ordinary Way’s first EP. 1000 copies sold in just over six months. The songs Rise and Heaven were featured on the Discovery Channel show “Outward Bound” which appeared on October 28th, 2000. The second studio album, titled Death and Taxes, was debuted for our CD release party at The State Theatre in Falls Church, VA on July 27th, 2001. Ask anyone who was there; we are making magic happen through music. It was an amazing and very special night. In early 2002, Bill Wright of Road Trippin’ on WRNR Radio (Annapolis, MD) voted Death and Taxes number 15 on “Road Trippin Top 30 Albums of 2001”. Following up to our CD release, we were featured in the “On the Verge: Artists You Should Know About” section of Relix Magazine (Nov. 2001), and on the front page of Relix.com for several weeks. ”The Ordinary Way is anything but ordinary. This septuplet, which formed close to five years ago, has a joyous sound that draws from multiple sources with strong underlying world beat element. The most enticing aspect of its music is the danceable quality and good-time feel.” (Mick Skidmore, Relix Magazine Nov. 2001) We’ve received favorable reviews from Jambands.com, Jambase.com, The Washington Post, Music Monthly (Baltimore, MD), and other publications. The band consists of seven members with featured guests at certain shows. Gordon Sterling wails on lead guitar and vocals. Chris Stringfellow thumps the bass and rhythm guitar. Austin Mendenhall jams on the mandolin and rhythm / lead guitar. Robin Boldt punishes the skins. Jesse Hooper pounds the keyboards and tweaks out other unearthly sounds, Fabienne Gustave belts out lead and backup vocals, and Ryan Leonardo is featured on congas and other percussion. None of this means anything till you see us perform. Some bands shine and thrive in a live setting, and we are one of them. The Ordinary Way has a concept behind it. Be as professional as possible, and always remember what is important, the music. Perform each night as if it were the last, and leave everyone with a smile, happiness in their heart, and a new favorite band.

Group Members The band consists of seven members with others on some nights. Gordon Sterling is on lead guitar and vocals. Chris Stringfellow does the bass and rhythm guitar. Austin Mendenhall plays the mandolin and rhythm / lead guitar. Robin Boldt punishes the skins and percussion. Jesse Hooper pounds the keyboards, Fabienne Gustave belts out lead and backup vocals, and Ryan Leonardo is on percussion.

Instruments Guitar, Bass, Drums, Perscussion, Keyboards, Mandolin, Female Vocals

Albums Rising, Live at Hookland, Death and Taxes

Press Reviews J.R. Richards Jam Base Boston Correspondent - On Location 5/31/02 ALL GOOD MUSIC FESTIVAL AND CAMPOUT 2002 "Dude, I can't believe I didn't bring a sweater." There are two truths inherent to spring music festivals: 1) It always rains. 2) Hippies don't dress well for the cold. And the third, which doesn't even need to be mentioned, is the tunes are always mighty fine. So it was at the All Good Music and Camping Festival last weekend in lovely Terra Alta, West Virginia. It rained. It poured. It snowed. But it rocked. Music festivals are living organisms, brief lifetimes. The All Good had the trimmings of the mini-epic. There was drama, hijinx, and even downright tomfoolery. Yep, you heard it. But the centerpiece of all that is the music, and more importantly, the musicians. 'Cause that's what festivals reaffirm: people. The Peeps. Bros. Sistahs! You can sit at home with a pair of head thumpers stuck to your ears for months - shit - years, on end, and be happy as a boogey-woogey clam. But the experience of close-up and personal, the watching of the fingers and feet and fret, it's like voodoo. And that's what you get at the festival: non-stop live music, stacked up like a living breathing session of your favorite set lists. Once you're there, you remember that for those few magical days the music is so close you can touch it. The Ordinary Way Second band in the barn, the Ordinary Way is from Fairfax, VA, and they rip. And you probably haven't heard of them yet: Austin Mendenhall on guitar and mandolin. Gordon Sterling on guitar and vocals, Fabienne Gustave on vocals, Chris Stringfellow on bass, Robin Bolt on drums, Ryan Lieonardo on percussion, Jesse Hooper on keys, and special guest Origin on the djembe and freestyle vox and rhymes. They cranked out one of my favorite performances the whole weekend. They sculpt a rich, soaring sound: a glory soulfunk vibe with arena-rock guitar hero antics thrown in on top of bottomless dub-bass. Overseeded with ethereal keys, laced gently amidst the fury like a soft rain on a lava bed, this STUFF can take you higher. Believe you me, they've got the mojo.

Location Fairfax, Virginia - USA

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