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The Felice Brothers  

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Brudenell Social Club

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The Felice Brothers are an American folk rock/ country rock band from Brooklyn, New York founded by brothers Ian, James and Simone.

The band got its start in 2006 by brothers Ian, James and Simone Felice, who were joined by their friend Josh "Christmas Clapton" Rawson, previously a traveling dice player, fiddle player Greg Farley and drummer David Estabrook. They originally started playing in the New York City subway stations, and in 2006 they self-released their debut album, “Through These Reins and Gone.” They followed up with their second album in 2007 entitled “Tonight At The Arizona” and toured the United States.

On 7 January 2008 the group signed a deal with Team Love Records and extensively toured the United States to promote their newest album. They also played a number of music festivals including Bonnaroo, All Points West Music and Arts Festival and the Philadelphia Folk Festival. Continuing their stride of touring, the band went on tour in 2009 with Old Crow Medicine Show, Justin Townes Earle and the Dave Rawlings Machine for a nine-city package tour called The Big Surprise Tour. Additionally in 2009, the group released “Yonder Is The Clock” which also peaked at Number 20 on the US Billboard Top 200. Then, in 2011 they released “Celebration, Florida” which peaked at Number 5 On the US Billboard Top 200.

Live reviews

Midway through this exuberant, at times rambunctious and ultimately rather excellent show at Academy Three in Manchester, James Felice announced his affinity with the UK, regarding it as the band's second home. It's wise to take these proclamations of adoration from a band with a pinch of salt, but in this case, it would not be difficult to argue with the statement from the youngest of the two remaining Felice brothers in the band. After all, this was the New York outfits second visit to Manchester in less than three months, previously playing at Gorilla in June and the band seemed totally at ease in their surroundings, performing to an audience only too glad to experience their raucous show once again.

Preceding this triumphant return tonight was Oklahoma four piece Horse Thief. The band subtly complimented the style and sound to come from The Felice Brothers, turning in a characterful set of atmospheric and psychedelic Americana, but the band also managed to prove themselves no one trick pony, as themes and emotions explored within the tracks performed tonight, along with the charismatic delivery of frontman Cameron Neal also provided nostalgic reminders of bands forever ingrained within Manchester's psyche such as The Smiths no less. It will be interesting to see if Horse Thief can develop this sound into something uniquely theirs but they could be one to watch. Bands often despise being categorized and compartmentalized, and the beauty of The Felice Brothers is that it's becoming increasingly difficult to do this, even if one was so inclined. Early releases such as 'Tonight at the Arizona' and the eponymous album 'The Felice Brothers' generated comparisons to Dylan along with the more familiar 'americana' tag. The 2009 release 'Yonder is the Clock' prompted some to include Tom Waits on the venerable list of comparable artists. However, tonights show confirmed that the band are more interested in being themselves and appear to love spending time in the company of fans who appreciate how their sound has evolved over the last eight years in particular.

This results in a ninety minute set structured around several tracks from latest release 'Favourite Waitress', but no Felice Brothers gig is the same and the boys swap vocal responsibilities regularly as various songs from the previously mentioned albums as well as 'God Bless You Amigo' and the more experimental 'Celebration, Florida' are dipped into. As the band head towards their ten year anniversary and five years on from my last encounter with the boys from the Catskill mountains, it was a particular joy to experience their unorthodox rhythms and playful approach to their melodies, which has developed as a result of their somewhat ramshackle origins on the subways of New York.

What enhances the experience further during these personnel changes in front of the mic, are the different personalities Ian, James, Josh and Greg bring to their contributions. Ian Felice certainly brings a laid back cool to proceedings in songs such as 'Meadow of a Dream' and 'The Big Surprise' but his approach does not entirely disguise the joy he appears to experience when he performs, particularly with his brother James. This was noticeably evident during the track 'Love Me Tenderly'. Throughout the show, James regularly engages in amusing banter with the audience, ensuring that the crowd are involved in proceedings throughout, having a say in the ebb and flow of the show and on the track 'Whiskey in My Whiskey' the crowd contribution raises the decibel level significantly making the track almost unrecognisable from the almost solemn incarnation that exists on the album 'The Felice Brothers'.

The band certainly have a wealth of quality songs that can be called upon on any given night and this can often result in personal favourites unfortunately failing to make the setlist. The more contemplative gems from 'Yonder is the Clock' such as 'The Boy from Lawrence County', seeming plucked straight from the soundtrack of a Sam Peckinpah film or the marvelously evocative baseball epic 'Cooperstown' sadly did not make it tonight. Maybe next time when they visit these shores that they hold in such high regard I'll get lucky. It probably won't be that long a wait!

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The Felice Brothers are absolutely amazing. Its hard to compartmentalize their sound into one genre, so I won't. If you're a fan of the American sound- you have to see them. The first time we went to see them was in 2009 or so and the performance just blew our minds. I had never seen such an energy and captivating stage presence (as a group as well as each band member individually) and they really reminded us of THE BAND, which, as you should know, is saying a lot.

Their music takes on American imagery. They sing of American landscapes, American people, American ideologies and have been known to play American traditionals. Their musical style evokes a sense of "folk" however their stage presence is something much more energetic. A favorite to watch on whichever instrument is James Felice. The soul he pours into that accordion is an intimacy I've rarely witnessed from any other live musician. Even sitting behind the keyboards you can tell that the instruments are a part of him.

They all play that way, as if they were born to write these songs and perform them for the world. They are natural performers, gifted musicians with an incredible ability to write such perfect songs and perform them playfully. You really get a sense that their relationship with their audience and their music is inclusive, as if these were your older brothers.

Hands down, favorite band - do not miss them, they never disappoint.

The Felice Brothers have been my favourite band since I first saw them at the 100 Club in 2008. The music is great - but try categorising them! With fiddle and accordian you'll get some country and cajun but then the driving rock bass and drum at times makes them seem a world away from that description, plus some call aspects of their work 'techno' but an old hippy doesn't understand that, though I like those songs! The gig at the forum on 3/9/14 was brilliant. The setlist was clearly flexible but I heard most of what I'd hope to hear apart from the brlliant 'Glory Glory' and 'Lincoln Continental'. Top memories were Ian Felice soloing on 'Lou the Welterwieght' (the memory of which has sent a shiver up my spine) and the brilliant rendition of 'Lion' from the new album. Not that any were duds, and three new songs were well received. I hope this night and the reception the band received are a sign that the days of slogging round playing to small but appreicative audiences are gone. This is a band which deserves success and a larger fanbase. Catch them next year, you won't be sorry!

At the end of a long tour, they showed no signs of fatigue or weariness. The pace was dynamic and the crowd loved it. The set was long with virtually no breaks between numbers, and despite almost no dialogue with the crowd, they maintained a warm, friendly and convivial atmosphere. It was like visiting some good old friends. The Felice Brothers seem to go from strength to strength, and the show at The Rainbow demonstrated this. An excellent evening of powerful music that was well played.

First time seeing the Felice Brothers, and they were incredible. They seemed to all be enjoying themselves and having fun. They played a few brand new songs, and now I can't wait for the album. Don't miss the chance to see them live!

It was cancelled weeks ago! It was cancelled weeks ago! It was cancelled weeks ago! It was cancelled weeks ago! It was cancelled weeks ago! Ago ago ago ago ago.

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The Felice Brothers is not due to play near your location currently - but they are scheduled to play 15 concerts across 4 countries in 2024-2025. View all concerts.

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• New York (NYC) (46)
• Philadelphia (23)
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Live Review: Deer Tick cover The Beatles' Meet The Beatles at New York's Brooklyn Bowl (12/28)

This one could go down as the best cover band of all time.

December 30, 2014

Deer Tick covers The Beatles and Lou Reed with Sharon Van Etten, Tommy Stinson, Dawes, and more -- watch

Deer Tick are celebrating their 10th anniversary as a band in epic fashion.

December 29, 2014

An Evening with The Felice Brothers at Skidmore College (9/12)

Drew Litowitz had his own stellar Saturday evening...

September 14, 2009

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A music blog featuring Alt-Country, Americana, Indie, Rock, Folk & Blues. Est. 2005.

James Felice of The Felice Brothers on Touring in a Winnebago and Circumnavigating the Pit of Poverty

Tuesday, July 09, 2024 By Mayer Danzig

Photo credit: Caitlin Greene

Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?

Right now we are the proud owners of a Ford Transit. 12 passenger, medium roof. Nicest vehicle we’ve ever had by far. Thankfully it’s never broken down.

Our first tour vehicle was a Winnebago and that thing broke down ALL the time. We all lived in it, so spend more than one night sleeping in impound lots or mechanics parking lots.

How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?

Good food is really important to us. We try to have a breakfast together every morning before driving. We’ll eat anything, and it’s almost wonderfully surprising how much great eating there is out there.

And when hungry strikes and money is scarce, there’s always sardines in a bowl with some greens. I call it The Feasting Bowl. I eat that every day, and boy does it make you feel good.

How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?

I don’t play the guitar, so thankfully it’s zero for me. My accordion needs to be worked on once or twice a year, though. Replacing and tuning reeds, and whatnot. That probably costs around $500 a year or so.

Where do you rehearse?

These days we rehearsing in my brother Ian’s church. It was built in the 1800s (by one person supposedly). We’ve also recorded our last several records there. Before that we rented garage bay on a pig farm, and before that was a chicken coop. We are moving up in the world.

What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?

First song! That has definitely disappeared into the mists of time. One of the earliest songs I can remember that I wrote was about a farm girl that I thought I was in love with. I was an angsty, lovesick teen.

The song was called ‘Farm Girl’ and the first line was ‘I fell in love with a farm girl’. Genius stuff.

Describe your first gig.

I remember my first gig with the band was actually in NYC at a place in the East Village called the Living Room. I was 20 I think, and I remember it being incredibly fun and rewarding. It was my first time ever really hanging out in New York City. I found the town utterly terrifying but also intoxicating.

What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?

I’ve been doing tree work for the last several years. Especially during the pandemic. I bought a chainsaw and some ropes and went to work. It’s incredibly difficult and rewarding work. I love being in the woods, I love trees, and I love cutting them down.

How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?

The first 2/3rds of our career we were constantly broke and in debt and stressed about money. It was a perpetual source of anxiety and misery. We only survived from doing odd jobs and the kindness and generosity of friends

But at some point things sorta loosened up and in the last 5 or 6 years or so, I’ve been able to pay my rent without sweating it too much (the pandemic notwithstanding). I don’t think I’ll ever be anywhere near wealthy but lately I’ve been able to play music and have a comparatively stress-free life. I’d very much like to continue that.

Being broke just sucks so much, and I know the pit of poverty is always ready to suck me back in. I pray I can circumnavigate it successfully for the rest of my life.

What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?

I wished I knew how much fun playing music was when I was younger. There were many years when we first started, that we were so busy, and so worried about money and housing. We were trying to make it through crazy long tours. Just sitting down and playing the piano and singing and writing felt stressful.

These days it’s all I want to do is sit at my piano, and I derive SO MUCH pleasure and meaning just from the act of playing music for myself. I wish I had cultivated that feeling earlier in my life. Music is fun.

The Felice Brothers first emerged from the Hudson Valley nearly two decades ago with a gloriously ramshackle sound that drew on everything from Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan to Walt Whitman and Flannery O’Connor. In just a few short years, the group went from busking in the subway to playing Radio City Music Hall with Bright Eyes and appearing everywhere from the Newport Folk Festival to Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble. Beginning with 2007’s Tonight At The Arizona , the band helped pave the way for the modern folk revival, while at the same time challenging its boundaries and conventions with bold sonic experimentation and unyielding integrity. The New York Times likened their music to “the rootsy mysticism of the Band,” while Rolling Stone praised the “scrappiness” of their “folk-rock noir,” and The Guardian hailed their songs as “impeccably crafted, with literary-minded lyrics that are both playful and profound.” The band’s newest record, Valley of Abandoned Songs , marks The Felice Brothers’ debut for Conor Oberst’s new Million Stars label and showcases the group at their most intimate and unvarnished. Balancing hope and despair in equal measure, the album explores the search for meaning and connection through the eyes of a wide-ranging cast of misfits and outcasts, and though the recordings here span several years of almost-lost tunes, the result is a thoroughly cohesive collection that manages to feel both utterly timeless and particularly attuned to the present all at once.

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The Felice Brothers Discuss What it Takes to Tour Relentlessly

1. last time you were here you opened for guster next door at the capitol theatre, a venue that holds up to 2,000 people. this time around you’ll be at garcia’s, which can hold 250. what do you find different about playing for a big crowd as opposed to a smaller crowd like at garcia’s do you enjoy the vibe of an intimate venue more than that of a larger venue, 2. we read in an interview from a couple years ago that you toured nonstop in 2014. how does being on the road influence you as a band, 3. sharing the stage with bands such as the killers, mumford & sons, and dave matthews band is not something every band gets the opportunity to do. which were you most excited for have any of these bands personally influenced you as a group, 4. you guys have a brand new album called life in the dark that just dropped on june 24. how long did this recording process take what would you say is significant about this album compared to your other releases, 5. we read in your bio that you spent your early days writing hundreds of songs in a chicken coup. it also says that when you had to choose songs for your album favorite waitress , you had a list of a hundred. you guys clearly do a huge amount of writing. can you describe the process for us is it usually as a band, or does one person bring an idea to the table, 6. since around 2009, you have had a couple member changes to your band. how was it that the current members of the felice brothers met and decided to play music together, 7. the felice brothers have now existed for double-digit years as a band. do you have any goals for the year 2016 what about anything long-term, 8. we read in an article that you guys used to perform in the subways of new york city, but never actually lived there. looking back, would you say the trips from upstate to the subways was a good way for people to hear your music is there anything you would do differently, 9. going into the production of your most recent album life in the dark, you weren’t even sure if it was going to be a demo or your next album. what do you think sounded special about it that made you guys decide to turn it into an album.

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The Felice Brothers

Cut live to tape with very little overdubbing, Undress was recorded in the late summer of 2018 in Tivoli, New York. Band members Ian Felice, James Felice, Will Lawrence (drums) and Jesske Hume (bass) teamed up with producer Jeremy Backofen to record their most personal and reflective album to date.  “Many of the songs on the new album are motivated by a shift from private to public concerns,” says songwriter Ian Felice. “It...

Cut live to tape with very little overdubbing, Undress was recorded in the late summer of 2018 in Tivoli, New York. Band members Ian Felice, James Felice, Will Lawrence (drums) and Jesske Hume (bass) teamed up with producer Jeremy Backofen to record their most personal and reflective album to date.  “Many of the songs on the new album are motivated by a shift from private to public concerns,” says songwriter Ian Felice. “It isn't hard to find worthwhile things to write about these days, there are a lot of storms blooming on the horizon and a lot of chaos that permeates our lives.  The hard part is finding simple and direct ways to address them.”  Undress follows the band’s 2016 album Life In The Dark, and finds the group in a very different place three years later. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more-paired down release. “Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.” Ian and James Felice grew up in the Hudson valley of upstate NY. Self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and the subsequent tour. 

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James Felice Concert Setlists & Tour Dates

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James Felice at Teragram Ballroom, Los Angeles, CA, USA

James felice at pie shop, washington, dc, usa, james felice at milkboy, philadelphia, pa, usa.

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World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

Tune in to a mini-concert with the felice brothers.

August 27, 2024 • The New York-based folk rock band perform songs from their latest album, Valley of Abandoned Songs.

The Felice Brothers on World Cafe

The Felice Brothers Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

The Felice Brothers sing about anxiety with a reassuring warmth

December 16, 2021 • On their latest album, From Dreams To Dust , brothers Ian and James Felice sing about anxieties, pressures and a world that makes less and less sense.

The Felice Brothers' Undress comes out May 3. Lawrence Braun/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

First Listen

Blooming storms permeate the felice brothers' 'undress'.

April 25, 2019 • The Felice Brothers' folk-rock sound and vision has matured and focused, and the band does its best at making sense of our modern times.

The Felice Brothers. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

The Felice Brothers On World Cafe

June 24, 2014 • The band brings its charmingly ramshackle mix of folk, R&B and Americana storytelling to the stage of World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Hear three songs and an interview with James Felice.

Newport Folk Festival

The felice brothers, live in concert.

July 29, 2013 • Though it first specialized in rowdy rock 'n' roll, the brother-band has spent the last few years exploring the more reflective side of its barroom-friendly, accordion-enhanced sound.

Simone Felice wrote the songs on his new self-titled album while recovering from emergency open-heart surgery. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Music Interviews

Simone felice: the solemn sound of a brush with death.

April 7, 2012 • The poet, novelist and musician wrote the songs on his new solo album while recovering from emergency open-heart surgery.

The Felice Brothers on Mountain Stage . Brian Blauser hide caption

Mountain Stage

The felice brothers on mountain stage.

August 24, 2011 • Hailing from the Catskill Mountains, this well-traveled rock group makes its Mountain Stage debut.

The Felice Brothers performs at the 2011 Newport Folk Festival. Shantel Mitchell for NPR hide caption

The Felice Brothers: Newport Folk 2011

July 30, 2011 • Hear the group to mix grittiness and mournfulness in this set at Newport.

The Felice Brothers performed at Auditorium Shores. Shantel Mitchell for NPR hide caption

Live in Concert

Front row: the felice brothers.

March 20, 2011 • The Felice Brothers' ramshackle sound draws on the past for a mix of subdued, Dylan-inspired folk and freewheeling Springsteenian rock.

The Felice Brothers: Newport Folk 2010

August 1, 2010 • A ramshackle rock 'n' roll band from the Catskills, The Felice Brothers whip up an infectious mix of rock, country and folk, live in Newport, R.I.

The Felice Brothers: Chicken-Coop Americana

June 2, 2009 • Bred in the Catskills Mountains and nourished by the music of Bob Dylan, The Felice Brothers' members play earthy, energetic Americana. In a session with host David Dye, the band performs songs from its latest release, Yonder Is the Clock , and explains why it was recorded in an abandoned chicken coop.

Song Of The Day

The felice brothers: ramshackle americana.

April 16, 2009 • The band just released Yonder Is the Clock , a whimsical brew of country, rock and folk that has spawned lofty comparisons to Bob Dylan & The Band. The Felice Brothers' music sounds the way Dylan & The Band's cover to The Basement Tapes looks: pastoral, anachronistic, ramshackle.

'Run Chicken Run' by The Felice Brothers

Marianne faithfull, felice brothers in concert.

April 3, 2009 • Throughout Faithfull's 40-year career, change has been the only constant. She's collaborated with an impressively diverse and famous assortment of artists and trafficked in genres ranging from folk to jazz to rock to an early form of rap. Hear Faithfull perform live in concert from WXPN in Philadelphia, with opening act The Felice Brothers.

Best Music Of 2008

'world cafe' picks 2008's top 10 cds.

November 24, 2008 • It wasn't the best year for music, but 2008 sure churned out a lot of it: In a marketplace flooded with more music than ever, there's rarely been less of a consensus. Your neighbor's iPod was most likely playing a different tune than yours was. Still, David Dye was able to pinpoint the 10 albums that best kept him interested through multiple listens.

The Felice Brothers At The Philadelphia Folk Festival

September 10, 2008 • Having honed their sound in the Americana musical mecca outside Woodstock, N.Y., the roots-rock revivalists in The Felice Brothers bring their raucous act to WXPN in Philadelphia. Hear an interview and songs recorded live in concert.

Felice Brothers: 'Young, Broke, and American'

March 3, 2008 • Formed by three brothers and a friend, The Felice Brothers have crafted a rough musical style that's comparable to those of Bruce Springsteen and Townes Van Zandt. The band, from New York's Catskills, spent a lot of its time panhandling and traveling in a school bus on tour.

The Felice Brothers

From Dreams to Dust

The Felice Brothers – From Dreams to Dust Worldwide Release Date: September 17, 2021 

On  From Dreams to Dust , the Felice Brothers eighth and most recent studio album, the band’s exuberance to be together doing what they do so well is palpable. Characteristic of The Felice Brothers, the new tracks are a mixture of somber tunes with ones that are musically upbeat, all the while carrying messages that beg listeners to think deeply about the environment, humanity, legacy, and death.  Many of the songs depict the passage of time, nostalgia, transience and getting older.

The Felice Brothers,  Ian  (guitar and lead vocals) and  James  (multi-instrumentalist and vocals), hail from the Catskills, NY, where their early songs echoed off subway walls and kept company with travelers and vagrants. Their current lineup, with the addition of bassist and inaugural female Felice member  Jesske Hume  (Conor Oberst, Jade Bird) and drummer  Will Lawrence  (also a singer/songwriter) as their rhythm section, promises to be the best yet. 

“I want for my music to do what the best music in my life has done for me,” explains Ian. “I want to do that for other people—to help them think through hard times or think through how to communicate something they didn’t know how to; to just make them happy. This may sound ironic, because my music is kind of dark sometimes, but the music I love best is just the most hopeful music like Pete Seeger singing about humanity getting along or Michael Hurley music that connects to some childlike simplicity that makes you feel light and happy.  Music is a medicine. It can make our time on the planet a little more enjoyable.” ( Yep Roc Records )

From Dreams to Dust track listing

• Jazz on the Autobahn
• All The Way Down
• Money Talks
• Celebrity X
• Land Of Yesterdays
• Blow Him Apart
• We Shall Live Again

Pre-Order From Dreams to Dust now – Digital Download, Compact Disc or Limited First Edition Double LP pressed on dusty red/cream two-tone vinyl.

The Golden Age of Misery: An Interview with Ian Felice

May 6, 2019 :

Ian Felice, lead singer and songwriter for The Felice Brothers, recently sat down with Nick Panken (Spirit Family Reunion), for his Freedom Highway radio program on Radio Kingston. Listen Here . 

from the show : Ian Felice, lead singer and songwriter for the Felice Brothers, is the guest for the hour.  His songs have often contained a complex reflection of our society, and in recent material social commentary moves to the forefront, through a unique surrealist framework.  We talk about Ian’s evolving political consciousness and how this makes its way into his songwriting, particularly on the new record Undress.

The Felice Brothers are on a national tour in support of their new record, Undress , including a local show in Kingston, NY at BSP’s back room theatre on Saturday 5/12/19.

ABOUT THE SHOW

Freedom Highway  is a weekly hour-long radio show where we trace movements of music through times of struggle. Each Sunday evening broadcast is a sonic collage of recorded music, live performances, and conversations with public thinkers and community members. Following songs across borders of race, class, geography and time, we explore how melodies and refrains are reshaped by an evolving chorus of voices, and we ask: how does this relate to the current moment in our community and country?

Special Announcement (3rd Single)

April 5, 2019: The Felice Brothers  just released “Special Announcement” from the forthcoming album  Undress , out May 3 via  Yep Roc Records . Paste Magazine said,

“The song, which directly and cleverly targets financial corruption, is quick to acknowledge the absurdity of our modern politics and the role money plays in them with the lyric “I’m saving up my money to be president. ” Songwriter Ian Felice imagines a world without financial interests, without the “Stock Exchange” and the ‘Federal Reserve.'” 

While Undress contains many of the musical hallmarks The Felice Brothers have come to be known for since first emerging from New York’s Hudson Valley more than a decade ago (ragged guitars, weighty lyrics, a Replacements-esque sense that the wheels might come off at any moment), the record marks something of a new chapter for the group after undergoing major personal and professional changes.

During the break between albums, Ian Felice (who shares songwriting and vocal duties in the band with his brother James) became a father and released both his first solo record and his first book of poetry, while new bassist Jesske Hume (Conor Oberst, Jade Bird) joined drummer Will Lawrence in rounding out the rhythm section following the departure of two longtime members.

The Felice Brothers’ long strange journey stretches back to the sidewalks and subway platforms of New York City, where they first began performing in 2006. Within just a few years, the band was playing Radio City Music Hall with Bright Eyes and appearing everywhere from the Newport Folk Festival to Levon Helm’s Midnight Ramble. They’d go on to release a series of critically acclaimed albums that pushed the boundaries of modern folk, with The New York Times likening their music to “the rootsy mysticism of the Band” and The Guardian hailing their songs as “impeccably crafted, with literary-minded lyrics that are both playful and profound.” The band shared bills with Old Crow Medicine Show and Mumford & Sons among others, took their blistering live show to Coachella, Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, and countless other festivals across the US and Europe, and backed up Conor Oberst extensively in the studio and on the road.

The band kicks off a US tour starting on April 27 in Albany. Tickets are on sale now – TOUR DATES .

Poor Blind Birds (2nd Single)

March 5, 2019: The Felice Brothers just released “Poor Blind Birds” from the forthcoming album Undress that will be released May 3 via Yep Roc Records.  Consequence of Sound  said, “On the latest single, ‘Poor Blind Birds’ the band indeed find a way to create a beautiful, melancholic abstract of the socio-political millieu.”

After announcing the highly-anticipated Undress and the title track on February 8th,  Rolling Stone ,  Brooklyn Vegan , American Songwriter , Relix and other outlets highlighted the band’s return after three years. Reflecting on the current political climate and general uncertainty in the world, Undress finds the group in a very different place than their last album, 2016’s Life In The Dark. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more-paired down release.

“Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.”

Ian and James Felice grew up in the Hudson valley of upstate NY. Self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of Life in the Dark, The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release Salutations and the subsequent tour.

Undress – the new single

February 8, 2019: The Felice Brothers’  new album, their first in three years, is entitled  Undress  and is due for release via  Yep Roc Records  on May 3rd. The first taste from the album shares the same title and will be available on all services  as of Friday, February 8.    Take a listen to the “Undress” single  here .  Pre-order  Undress   here .  

Cut live to tape with very little overdubbing,  Undress  was recorded in the late summer of 2018 in Germantown, New York. Band members  Ian Felice ,  James Felice ,  Will Lawrence  (drums) and  Jesske Hume  (bass) teamed up with producer Jeremy Backofen to record their most personal and reflective album to date. 

“Many of the songs on the new album are motivated by a shift from private to public concerns,” says songwriter  Ian Felice . “It isn’t hard to find worthwhile things to write about these days, there are a lot of storms blooming on the horizon and a lot of chaos that permeates our lives.  The hard part is finding simple and direct ways to address them.”

Undress  follows the band’s 2016 album  Life In The Dark , and finds the group in a very different place three years later. Between personnel changes, families growing and the political landscape, the result is a tighter, more-paired down release. “Every song is a story,” said James Felice. “On this album everything was a bit more thoughtful, including the arrangements, the sonic quality and the harmonies.”

Ian and James Felice grew up in the Hudson valley of upstate NY. Self taught musicians, inspired as much by Hart Crane and Whitman as by Guthrie and Chuck Berry, they began in 2006 by playing subway platforms and sidewalks in NYC and have gone on to release nine albums of original songs and to tour extensively throughout the world. Following the release of  Life in the Dark , The Felice Brothers served as the backing band for Conor Oberst’s 2017 release  Salutations  and the subsequent tour.  The band kicks off a US tour starting on April 27 in Albany.  Tickets go on sale on February 12. Check the Tour Dates section for a show near you.

EU / UK Tour Cancelation

Due to health concerns and on the advice of his doctor Ian Felice is unable to tour at this time. Therefore, regrettably, the upcoming Felice Brothers tour of the UK and Europe is canceled. Refunds will be available at your original point of purchase.

Thanks in advance for your understanding. We’ll keep you posted as things progress and the band hopes to see you out there again very soon.

Celebrate New Years Eve in Kingston, NY

Ring in 2017 with The Felice Brothers at BSP in Kingston, NY. Few tickets remain here .

Allston Pudding

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• PHOTOS: THE DARE
• INTERVIEW: MARIKA HACKMAN
• REVIEW: Charly Bliss
• PHOTOS: OMAR APOLLO

James Felice: A Real Talent and Hometown Hero

PC: GM + MK

“I don’t think anywhere we’ve ever recorded has had an actual proper bathroom,” he says about the self-made, bare bones journey of the brother band. We talked to one half of the Felice Brothers, James, as his brother Ian is a self proclaimed “avoider of eye contact.” The Americana band from the Catskills in New York has been together for 15 years and still, there’s a beaming smile on James Felice each time he swings his accordion belting, “I put some whiskey into my whiskey,” to a buncha dancin’ drunkards. The Felice Brothers, Ian Felice, James Felice, Jesske Hume, and William Lawrence just wrapped their tour for their latest release,  From Dreams To Dust . 

Of those earlier days, James says, “our reach exceeded our grasp, musically. We abandoned certain musical ideas that I wish we had pursued, but just because we didn’t know what we were doing.” Since the band was self-taught, he goes on to say, “The way I play the accordion is wrong. Incorrect. It’s too violent, too much movement… I had accordions that you really had to rip on to make it sound good, just cause they were old and more airtight. And I would break accordions all the time, I would tear accordions apart. If you listen to me play and then you listen to a real accordion player it’s a totally different experience.”

But what makes a musician “real”?

“I took to the streets I learned from busking  

My technique is worse than disgusting 

You can teach yourself anything

I’m the living proof” 

-“Blow Him Apart”  written and sung by James Felice

As time goes on and bands enter new phases, some begin to outsource responsibilities, letting go of tasks that aren’t solely making and playing the music. But after all these years, the Felice Brothers are as much, if not more, in control of every aspect of their music. They are learning more and taking on more — and it pays off, not only financially, as James explains: “In order to survive as musicians we need to squeeze every last possible dollar out of the things that we do,” but also artistically — because who knows their music better than they do?

James continues, “We do everything, basically. We’ve always had a DIY feeling about it. We’ve had other people work on stuff for us before, and often, we’re picky and we’re not great at constructive criticism. I’ve realized, we don’t know how to explain sometimes. So it’s better for us to do it ourselves. We have taken control more and more over music.” It comes back to working hard and making the best music. And in that case, when push comes to shove, “If something sucks, then blame yourself and try to get better.” 

They’ve come a long way from where they started, busking on the street and busting up instruments. “We’re getting closer to actually being able to make [the music] sound the way it should sound,” James tells us.

As listeners, we have always been drawn to the Felice Brothers’ lyrical characters, specifically their names: Eleanors, Odettas, Helen Frys. We asked James about another Helen cameo on From Dreams to Dust , “Is it the same as Helen Fry?” and he laughed, “​​I love the idea of tying songs together across time, thematically or even serialized stories. And maybe there’s a little of that happening, and maybe Helen Fry is the same Helen from ‘Jazz on the Autobahn.’ But I don’t know, Ian is a very mysterious songwriter and if I ask him that question he’ll just look at me like I’m crazy.” 

For a band known for their lyrics, there’s only so much (so little, really) insight that James can give to his brother’s words. The mystery allows us to believe that our old friend Helen Fry who “seems to think / That the devil’s dressed in pink” ( “Helen Fry” ) is also “in the passenger seat eating melon and spitting out the seeds.” (“Jazz on the Autobahn”)

If you see the Felice Brothers live, you’ll notice that James and Ian appear in opposition on stage: Ian like a stick figure and occasional gymnast, taking back-bending guitar solos, and James like a bird in flight, spreading his accordion wings wide. After a show, Ian sneaks out back in a hoodie and James hugs strangers at the merch table.

in order of height: James, Gabi, Mira. The Sinclair, Cambridge, MA, 2016

Saying that James is the most extroverted of the two would be an understatement. So when we asked if he cared about who gets recognition for their work, especially considering that James takes on roles behind the scenes like engineering and tour managing, he says, “I get to do the interviews and talk to people and I feel so appreciated and so, I don’t know, seen. I want to put out the best things we can. He [Ian] does incredible work. I’m constantly blown away and inspired by him. So I contribute what I can and I think I do a pretty good job at a lot of it. But I know what talent is.” 

James Felice is equally self aware and self deprecating. The song “Blow Him Apart,” bares his humility, 

“I got laughed at by future stars

They get their masters from Juilliard

I learned to sing

In a chicken coop”

James explains the state he was in and the inspiration for the song, “I broke my wrist last summer on my bike and I was on painkillers and I could barely play the piano. I was in a vulnerable place when I wrote that… I was feeling scared; I couldn’t work, I couldn’t pay my rent. I felt kind of pathetic honestly.” 

Despite his beaming confidence and joy on stage, the uncertainty of forging his own path, and the expectations of where society tells us we’re supposed to be at a certain age still affect James, like most of us. His commitment to the band may feel, at times, like it has been limiting to his individual progress, “I’m 36. If I’m going to make my own music, I should probably start soon.” James is aware of his and Ian’s strengths, “In any other band I’d likely be the best songwriter, but not in my band.” In our eyes, the Felice Brothers is a brother band. James and Ian have remained in the band through all of its chapters and configurations. But James surprisingly says that “Ian is the bandleader.”

PC: MK + GM

James’ wrist healed, he got back to writing and back on stage. He’s now thinking about going away to write and create, “I’m always like, ‘No, I should be working or doing something for the band or something with my family. Not running away.” In trying to grant himself more ease and artistic exploration he admits, “I’m excited because I never treated myself seriously enough to do something like that for myself.” 

The world of the Felice Brothers is anchored in the grit of hard work and the fantasies they weave of everyday people, whether in the Dust Bowl or the local dive bar. You don’t need pretty things and fancy tools to make good art. Fully realized dreams, like this album, can be blown from dust, a lack of plumbing, shirts from Goodwill. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust, the Felice Brothers have done it again — From Dreams to Dust , and, really, from dust to dreams.

Before departing, we can include one perspective from Ian Felice that we know is true: 

“JAMES FELICE A Real talent…. Alright Jimmy that’s enough let’s wrap it up”

Stream From Dreams to Dust on Bandcamp 

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An Exclusive Q&A with James Felice of the Felice Brothers

On August 6, internationally-touring, folk-rock legends the Felice Brothers and singer/songwriter Skullcrusher , take the stage at the Paramount Theater in Peekskill for a night of indie music. River Journal caught up with James Felice while the brothers are on tour in Europe. The Q&A below was edited for brevity and clarity.     

River Journal : How long has the band been together?   

James Felice : The band has been together over 16 years. I think we played our first show in the spring of 2006, though it may have been even earlier than that. Throughout our childhood we played songs and messed around but never actually put our backs into anything until around that time.   

RJ: Were you really buskers in New York City subways? Tell us a little about that experience.  

JF: Yes, we were! For about a year so. This started in the summer of 2006. We made a record together and realized to our horror that we were completely broke, and we sucked at playing music live. Busking sort of helped solve both these problems. We could make a couple hundred dollars a day if we worked really hard at it, and it was incredible practice.   

RJ:   Why aren’t you more famous? Your music’s awesome. The songwriting’s witty and wonderful. And you guys are good people.   

JF: I wish I knew the answer to that question. A self-serving version might be that we are obstinate in our desire to only play and write the music we want to make, and that what we make, for whatever reason, only appeals to a small minority of humans on Earth. Or maybe we just haven’t had our big break yet! We’re only 16 years in, after all. I’m extremely proud of what we do. Perhaps the rewards are incommensurate with the quality, but we still get to do this for a living and that is just incredible.   

RJ: Have you ever thought about leaving music? If so, what brought you back?  

JF: I used to all the time. Being a struggling artist gets less and less fun the older you get…but I never graduated high school, never went to college, have no other marketable skills or talents, and was brought up in a family that has no money. Music is the only thing in the world that makes me a living and brings me joy all at the same time.   

During the pandemic, I bought a chainsaw and started doing tree work, which I Ioved, but Jesus is it hard work and dangerous. I think spending a couple years doing that has reaffirmed my dedication to music, and that’s what I would very much like to do until the day I die.   

RJ: Why’d you decide to stay in the Catskills?  

JF: I’ve never lived anywhere else. My brother Ian and I grew up here and it honestly never occurred to either of us to leave. I’m sure it’s the best place in the world. Nothing is more precious to me than breadth and depth of the community I have developed here for the last 37 years.   

RJ: If you could go back in time, would you say yes to Dow Chemical using your song in a commercial?  

JF: Right after they offered us that money, there was a massive flood outside New Paltz brought on by Hurricane Irene. It destroyed our studio, my home, and almost everything we had. We were utterly broke, and I begged Ian to take the money from Dow. He still said no, which is something that I admire about him to this day.   

I eventually did do a commercial a few years later (for Dell , which is computers I think). It took me about 2 hours to record the track and it made us more money than the previous two or three years of touring combined. It allowed us to pay off most of our debts. It completely changed our financial lives.   

RJ: What do indie musicians need more of to keep doing what they’re doing?  

JF: Musicians need money. Going to a show and buying a T-shirt is an incredible act of love. That’s all we ask!   

RJ: You played the Clearwater Festival a time or two. Is there something special about playing in Westchester?   

JF: That was a particularly special and fun festival. It felt so wholesome, so genuine. So true to the spirit of [Pete] Seeger . The first time we played he was there, and he led a beautiful sing-along to “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” It’s a very special memory to me.   

RJ: What do you like most about New York’s River Towns?  

JF: I have lived in Kingston for the last 15 years more or less, so I have a particular love for that Hudson River town. Each one is beautiful in its own way, and they all share a fascinating history. And I’m sure they are all being rapidly transformed in some interesting and in some disturbing ways by the rapid influx of city people.   

Some of these people are disturbingly careless with our towns and our communities. Some are astonishingly wonderful additions. Hopefully you who are reading this are the latter.   

For tickets to the show, visit the Paramount website at paramounthudsonvalley.com .  

We caught you for the first time at High Water and I was in the merch line and I left my daughter saying “I’m missing this great band come find me get me a poster” and I followed the music to you. It was infectious and we really enjoyed it! We’ve been listening to you on YouTube ever since and I hope to catch you again!

I love your music. Conor Oberst has been my favorite artist for over a decade, and in 2014 I went to a local record store and they were playing Favorite Waitress, and I asked the cashier who the artist was… and I bought the album. Several months later, I was watching a YouTube video of a live performance of Wonderful Life and what to my wondering eyes should appear? But Conor Oberst in a yellow hat drinking a beer! It makes me so happy that two of my favorite artists are friends and support each other. I am so grateful for your music, each album reminds me of a certain time/place in my life. Silver in the Shadow will always have a place in my heart, and I used to sing it to my horse, Cielo. Thank you for being so wonderful.

I’m a Catskills native myself and caught your show in Inverness a couple weeks ago. It was amazing! Such a coincidence to stumble upon the band so far away from home. Keep writing and playing, the music is so appreciated. Don’t do tree work -too dangerous.

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