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No Strings Attached is one of the few groups to successfully incorporate the hammer dulcimer into a band setting. They play an eclectic style of music, mostly instrumental, that includes many quirky and creative original numbers, as well as makeovers of old bluegrass, celtic, and some jazz standards.
No Strings Attached features Pete Hastings on harmonica and guitar, Bob Thomas on bass and bass saxophone, Randy Marchany on hammer dulcimer and piano, and Wes Chappell on hammer dulcimer, flute, guitar, penny whistle, synthesizer, mandolin, thumb piano, harmonica, and slinky, among others. |
What really drew me to No Strings Attached was that listening to them was the first time I ever really heard anyone improvising on the hammer dulcimer. Most dulcimer players play their songs the same way every time, and to hear these guys jamming on songs like "Take 5" by Dave Brubeck really got me thinking about a whole new side of the dulcimer.
No Strings Attached specializes in high-energy performances, jamming, performing tricks such as sitting underneath the dulcimer and playing it over their head, and jamming on songs for half an hour to forty-five minutes. More information can be found at their website.