When The Tough Choices began, there were only two rules: keep it country, and keep it simple. They have done both, yet still weave burning pedal steel leads and painfully genuine guitar solos with the cool calm of a Spaghetti-Western Clint Eastwood. These ruffians draw on sources ranging from early Western Swing to rough-edged Truck Driving ballads; Bob Wills all the way to Merle Haggard 15 or so years after that funny album cover with the Chihuahua in his arms.
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The Underscore Orkestra is a Portland, OR band, playing a blend of Balkan, Klezmer, Gypsy Jazz and Swing, with a repertoire consisting of both original and traditional material from fast bulgars and melodious waltzes to odd meters and swinging rhythms. Our instrumentation includes violin, accordion, guitar, banjo, clarinet, horns, flute, harmonica, bass, vocals and percussion. Each of the members comes from various backgrounds and musical disiplines from as far away as Russia and as close as our own North West. The Underscore Orkestra has been performing for the past 6 + years, touring all around the western U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico and Guatemala and has been seen from intimate coffee shop setting all the way to huge outdoor festivals.
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