The Milkman & Sons Play American Roots Music
Specializing in: Traditional Blues and Prohibition Jazz
Mixing originals with the classics and serving an assortment of acoustic instruments
including vocals, harmonica, violin, guitar, bass and drums.
Bio short - The Milkman & Sons is a Brooklyn based band that plays Traditional Blues and Prohibition Jazz. They are known for their ability to take audiences in a musical time machine by playing the music of such varied notables as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Django Reinhardt, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Fats Waller, Hoagy Carmichael and Little Walter as well as original music written in a similar style. While the band is always fronted by singer, harmonica player and guitarist, Marcus Milius it usually features violinist, Karl Meyer and bassist, Luc Decker. As a trio they have earned a reputation for artfully creating an intimate ambiance and still being able to bring a room to life with contagious energy. They developed this craft playing up to six nights a week at local bars, restaurants and events.
Bio long - The Milkman & Sons is frontman Marcus Milius' affair with the power of the word, and his flirtation with the honesty and imperfection of blues music contrasted against his writing in the style of traditional jazz and tin pan alley. Calling on the blues traditions of the great delta walking musicians from Charley Patton to Muddy Waters, this is a one man band that sounds just like a trio; using bluesy throat, guitar, harmonica and quarters to weave the musical styling and spontaneity of John Lee Hooker with the storytelling and humor of Tom Waits. Or accompanied by his sons the band usually performs as a trio but can expand to a sextet including drums and horns or even adding a female vocalist. This allows The Milkman & Sons the versatility to cover a wide variety of repertoire from, Blues, Dixie, New Orleans Jazz, Parisian Gypsy Jazz and the Great American Songbook. Making the perfect band for any room and any event.
But what sets them apart from other bands and keeps fans coming back is the original songwriting of frontman and band leader Marcus Milius. Originally from Los Angeles, CA he has lived and played music in Japan, China, England, Spain and Scandinavia. Writing personal narratives and catchy tunes in the style of the old greats, Marcus takes audiences to another place that could have been. His vocals are reminiscent of Leon Redbone and Dr. John and his virtuosic harmonica playing ranges from Paul Butterfield to Larry Adler. His guitar playing is tasty yet understated and always more concerned with keeping time to let other voices play against.
Violinist and vocalist, Karl Meyer is the lead instrumental voice of the band but artfully harmonizes or underscores when the lead is passed to other instruments. He often provides vocal harmonies but is just as comfortable taking the limelight singing a torch song or two. A proud native of Detroit, Karl grew up singing in choir in church and playing classical music. He has since played with many different bands, from rock to jazz, touring the U.S. He and Marcus originally started playing Traditional Jazz in 2005 with the Brooklyn band the Cangelosi Cards and have been an inseparable musical team ever since.
Luc Decker is the band's bass player. Originally a jazz drummer, he is the main reason for the band’s steady and unshakable rhythmic groove. But he is also careful to help keep the band’s sonic contour continually changing as he is often featured as a lead voice or coloring the ensemble with a classical string sound as he blends with Karl on the bow. Luc is from Indiana, but met Marcus in 2003 when they both first moved to New York. They have been close friends ever since playing in a variety of bands off and on.