Raising the Root now available on Earbuzz.com

Please visit www.earbuzz.com/deanstation for more info and to purchase our newest release as well as single mp3's!

EARBUZZ REVIEW--
"We've been listening to Dean Station's album, "Raising the Root", for a few weeks now. The reason is that when the CD began with its opening track, "Feather", we were hooked. Whether its Levi Dean's Dylan-esque phrasings, the easy groove of the percussive heavy acoustic track, or the natural complementary harmonies from vocalist, Amanda Dean, the total effect was immersion. At the basic level the Deans pay respect and considerable updated energy to the folk/poet/artist of the 60's and 70's in this organic and sincere record, "Raising the Root". Helped out here by percussionist Charlie O'Neal, along with bassist Doug Deforest, the result is a breezy and deep recording that marries open rhythmic vocal interpretations of poetry with a mandolin-full nearly bluegrass canvas. The delightful fusion is pop/bluegrass/blues/folk. The CD flows with a bluegrass Layladylay love and moves with the raw and innocent quality of a living room jam while the lyrical content covers mature and poetic indie real estate. The opening track paints ala American Beauty, 'we just want to know what's going through your mind, show us a sign, so he points to a feather floating in the wind'. The Deans are story-tellers. Track 2 continues in that fashion with "Go Ahead" as Amanda uses her country clean and strong vocal describing a couple who, 'together like Bonny and Clyde they steal across the west searchin' for something greater than life's great test'. The marriage of the Deans' voices is a contrast in ironic perfection - Levi's Dylan to Amanda's June Carter - and the result is a unique quality that singularly identifies the sound - and it's in that establishment that Dean Station finds its own home."

Review of "Raising the Root" by Xavier P. and RadioIndy.com!

Xavier P. and RadioIndy.com

“Raising the Root” by Dean Station is a soothing acoustic collection. Strong and melodic, these tunes are uncommonly passionate and pure. Dean Station’s male and female vocalists form the perfect duo, providing vocals that blend to produce lustrous harmonies. The musicianship throughout the CD is strong, especially the acoustic guitar work. “Flat Footin’ Girl” strays from the general mid-tempo pace present throughout this CD and finds its root in the folk arena. Clever lyrics paint motivational tales of love and triumph. “Pocket Full of Grace” stands out as a heart-felt, soaring ballad while demonstrating Dean Station’s straight-forward, positive lyrical approach. Great production and pacifying acoustic arrangements elevate “Raising the Root” to soaring heights of pleasurable listening.

Review by Whisperin' and Hollerin'- England

Rating: 9/10 stars

DEAN STATION consists of a married couple - self-taught mandolinist and guitar player Levi and collaborator-now-wife Amanda, along with drummer Charlie O’Neal and bassist Doug DeForest. Together, they are in hot and passionate pursuit of the halcyon space shared by a surreal blend of influences. The search is on. Acoustic guitars slip and slide along atonal pathways, as the vocals siren out a melancholy tinted melody. Female harmonies gently soothe the mandolin harmonics as the cymbal crashes gently to mark out the downbeat tom-tom tempo all the way to the song’s whispered fade-out.The gentle clank of ‘Go-Ahead’ swells with Amanda Dean’s vocal and poetic beauty as she belts out the verses to this highly-strung song. Unconventional in pitch, the melody-to-die-for shines clear.There’s a more conventional country sound in songs like ‘Desire’ and ‘Flat-Footin’ Girl’, with husband Levi Dean’s vocal slurring out regretful tales of river crossings and unattainable women that seem drenched with the heart’s desire.But it’s the harmony rich places where both voices operate that genres are best blurred during this eccentric and instantly endearing take on Americana. ‘Raising The Root’ clings more resolutely than you’d expect to the straight-up or alt-country sound, but other elements combine to bend the overall tunes gorgeously out of shape. The music delves far beyond 4/4 major chord composition, as in the ragtime-sublime sepia tones of ‘Say Again’, and it keeps your interest heightened even when the music drifts and melts. The subtle shifts in tempo also shift your focus, making the listening experience all the more absorbing as the record progresses.
The bizarre half-assed blues of ‘Bad-Bad Dog’ has the same wild bluegrass streak and swings perilously close to as well as far away from the twelve bar core like frantic folk. The music is consistently strong, right through to the end. The sustained and soulful ‘May Day In Court’ provides a heady and dramatic conclusion to what is a wonderfully introverted record that’s both filled with and made up of the same dizzying obsessions.

Dean Station Interviewed by The Lowell Sun

Raising the Root at the Station

By Doreen Manning

The Lowell Sun

Love at first note? That may be what the Dean's tell their grandchildren someday, as the seeds for Dean Station was born in 2004 when Levi and Amanda Dean (then Trainer) first sang together in Albuquerque, NM.

Recognizing how seamlessly their distinctive voices fused within a melody, a creative and romantic relationship blossomed, and the birth of a new progressive acoustic duo was born.

Dean Station is made up of Amanda Dean, 26, on guitar, keyboard and spoons, and 24 year-old Levi Dean offering up mandolin, guitar, bass and fiddle. With the recent addition of Charlie O'Neal on percussion, the couple has rounded out their sound as they hit their musical stride on tour this summer. According to their bio, Amanda considers herself more of a poet than a songwriter, and credits Levi with helping her turn her poetry into music.

Both have been playing music since they were young, with Levi being nurtured within a family of songwriters and artists, playing and writing his own tunes since he was a teen. Their original music draws heavily on a folk, roots and bluegrass tradition, but with an ear toward a more contemporary sound.

The past few years have been quite a whirlwind for the group. In March of 2006 they released a self-titled album and hit the road for seven months of touring to support its debut. In the middle of the tour they took a break to tie the knot, and after the tour they relocated to Colorado. Keeping the buzz going, the prolific couple just released Raising the Root, this past July.

Taking the grassroots approach to marketing their sound has been a challenge, says Amanda, but so far, so good. "It takes a while to get the ball rolling, and then when it does, it won't just keep moving on its own, you have to be right behind it nudging it and guiding it, or the ball will stop," she says. "I do all of our booking and take care of the business end of things. Levi and Charlie have jobs back in Colorado and almost every day after a full day of work, they come home and play music. I spend my days working 9 to 5 at home booking and getting whatever publicity I can get us. We work so hard. This is our dream and the only way to make it happen is to put hard work into it."

So far, the tour has been one of warm receptions and brisk CD sales. "The response has been fantastic," shares Amanda. "We have been playing a lot of radio gigs, and when we do, we do a CD giveaway to get a feel for what people think of our music and how many people are listening."

I just had to ask this young couple, who seem so thankful for the opportunity to perform, what has been the coolest thing to happen on tour so far?

"Man, that's a hard question to answer," says Amanda. "We spend our days traveling, swimming in rivers, seeing sights, fishing, hiking, meeting all kinds of people -- and our nights playing music either at a gig or with friends and family. Just the way we get to live our lives right now is the coolest thing ever."

Talent 1 : Weather 0 Dean Station at Castle Rock Bandstand

by Gregory Chmel
Greg@ColoradoMusicBuzz.com

High winds, giant raindrops, and the constant threat of severe weather did not stop recent Colorado transplants Dean Station from providing an excellent June 22nd performance at the Castle Rock Bandstand. Throughout the show, the wind was a constant factor as it howled through the open-air bandstand and into the microphones-even pulling the band's banner down at one point. The sound quality was saved by singer Levi Dean's ingenuity: he put socks over the microphones, allowing himself and his wife and partner Amanda to provide the crowd with Dean Station's unique brand of music - a treat of acoustic guitar and mandolin-based folk music with two- part harmonies straight from the Virginia mountains.

The song selections were very melodic, poetic, and always told a story. Amanda usually gave a little description of the history of each song before performing it, and on a few selections left the guitar to hit the keyboards and smack the spoons! The bands newest member Charlie O'Neal provided the percussive background for Levi and Amanda's melodies. Not over-powering and a perfect fit, Charlie offered an extra punch when needed. As Amanda stated after one song, "Charlie uses so many types of sticks and brushes, he could use a holster!" Those who endured the initial inclement weather were quite pleased with the performance. I believe we will be hearing quite a bit from Dean Station in the coming months!

The Douglas County News Press and The Parker Chronicle cover Dean Station

Living the dream
By Chris Michlewicz, Staff Writer

While sitting in an apartment in Albuquerque, N.M., three years ago, Amanda Trainer got her first glimpse of Levi Dean’s creative song-writing ability. When she began to sing with him, their distinctly different voices fused, and the two realized they might be onto something.

That moment was the birth of Dean Station, a husband and wife “folk-Americana-bluegrass” band now based in Castle Rock. Since that time, the couple has worked tirelessly to create an inspiring collection of songs with calculated vocals and a variety of instruments, like the mandolin, bongos, spoons, fiddle and even some original instruments made with everyday objects.

Dean Station recently completed a seven-month nationwide tour out of the back of their gold Ford Taurus station wagon with dog, Bonnie, in tote. The three have shared cans of soup warmed on the car’s dashboard, and they have shared heart-wrenching moments. The summer tour to promote their self-titled debut album followed a path through quaint, countryside towns. They camped or slept in the rear of the station wagon, except on two occasions when the host venue paid for their hotel accommodations.

“We’re foregoing the comforts of home to live out our dreams,” Amanda said.

Levi, 24, and Amanda, 26, are still promoting their first album, but are working on new material for an album they hope to start recording in the fall. They are incorporating more percussion, plus a few unique instruments, to emit a fuller sound and “keep people’s attention,” Levi said.

Levi grew up playing music with his family in his home state of Virginia, and Dean Station’s sound is heavily influenced by the style of music that rises from the region. He later moved to New Mexico and formed a band with his brother called the Dean Boys, but the group disbanded because of the long driving distance between them.

Amanda admits she was “enamored” after meeting Levi through a mutual friend and seeing him play music. She first picked up a guitar at the age of 11 at the urging of her mother, but meeting Levi re-sparked her interest and motivated her to learn the ins and outs of the versatile instrument.

Levi sings in a self-described raspy voice, while Amanda’s singing carries a more soothing and sultry sound. But the collective power of their harmonizing voices, combined with the imaginative, if not rural, sound of their instruments, continues to impress audiences who crowd into coffee houses and festivals across the country.

Amanda and Levi’s journey, however, has not been without its share of adversity. Shortly before embarking on their summer tour and while shooting photos for the band’s Web site, Bonnie was shot in the side by a pellet. The couple never found the culprit who shot their Labrador-Pomeranian mix, but they were forced to pour their tour savings into saving their dog. The tour was nearly cancelled, but they quickly scraped some money together and received financial support from family.

The duo draws their inspiration for songs from a broad selection of life topics, from domestic squabbles to family troubles to touring through towns with only one stoplight.

After meeting Amanda, Levi wrote a song that expressed his frustration over the fact that she was involved with another man. She later broke up with her boyfriend, and after a brief courtship, Levi asked Amanda to marry him the best way he knew how: in song. He even skipped his college graduation ceremony to attend the wedding, but has no regrets because he still walked away with a bachelor’s degree in geography. It will be called on as a fallback, if ever the need arises.

The beginning of their whirlwind romance showed itself as the perfect opportunity to write new material. Despite its intimate meaning, the couple does not mind playing the song in which Levi proposed in front of a large crowd.

“When you fill the music with passion, I think it really comes across to the audience,” Amanda said. “People are attentive to the feelings of the song and the emotions that go along with the words.”

Levi Dean, who credits his dad and brother for inspiring his interest in music, likes to write songs that have a story, like the one he recently penned about a cast of characters in a burlesque show. Either he or his wife will tell the tale behind each song before playing it to a crowd.

Amanda Dean turns her poetry into song lyrics. Her musical influences include Tori Amos, Fleetwood Mac and Tracy Chapman. She secretly loves Billy Joel’s musical catalogue, although her husband is reluctant to let that tidbit be posted on the band’s Web site, www.deanstation.com.

The band has drawn comparisons to the youthful bluegrass group Nickelcreek, but Dean Station’s sound is unlike any other out there. It has piqued the curiosity of disc jockeys who spin country and bluegrass records and has led to increased radio play. Grassroots promotion often proves to be difficult, but the couple has managed to spread the word about their music and were even featured in an article for Albuquerque The Magazine.

The husband and wife team is now seeking a booking agent to help schedule regular gigs across the country. They recently advanced in a talent contest on an AM radio program on 630 KHOW called The Greg Hollenbeck Show. Dean Station stands out from the other contestants, which include hip-hop artists and a range of other musicians.

The band is also playing shows around Douglas County this month, including gigs at the Java Guru in Castle Rock on March 24 and the Parker Library on March 31.

The road to relative success has not been an easy one, and there is no telling what the future holds for the band, but the experience has already been worth it. The couple simply wants to be able to make a living off playing music for people. They don’t seek fame and fortune, but if it comes, it will certainly be welcome.

To borrow a lyric from a Dean Station song that preaches courage in the face of adversity: “When the sun breaks through them clouds/What’s going to happen is/Anybody’s guess.”

Contact Chris Michlewicz at 303-841-5497 or cmichlewicz@ccnewspapers.com.

Dean Station Interviewed by Albuquerque The Magazine

Dean Station was interviewed in the August 2006 issue of Albuquerque The Magazine, check out a .pdf of the article by clicking the picture below! (Adobe Acrobat needed to view)

Dean Station Interviewed by MusicDish

By: Cindy Beth Gordon (Associate Writer)

Dean Station is husband and wife team Levi Dean: Mandolin, Guitar, Bass and Amanda Dean: Guitar, Percussion. With rich two-part harmonies, introspective writing, and musical accompaniment ranging from mandolin to acoustic guitar, they create a progressive acoustic style that draws heavily on folk, bluegrass, and country to make a distinct sound that is rooted in tradition, yet contemporary.

Levi Dean, 23, was born into a family of songwriters and artists. He got his first mandolin from his dad when he was a teenager, and as a self-taught musician, has been playing and writing music ever since. Levi grew up in Virginia and went to school in the Appalachian Mountains. There, he played in a progressive bluegrass band called The Blueweeds. He moved to Taos, New Mexico, three years ago, where he formed a band with his brother, Andy, aptly named The Dean Boys.

With a mind to making music that would reach a broader audience, Levi moved Albuquerque in 2004 and formed Dean Station with Amanda Trainer. Levi's style is influenced by a diverse group of musicians and songwriters including his dad and brother, Michael and Andy Dean, Hank Williams Sr., Bob Dylan, Neil Young, The Band, Led Zeppelin, and David Grisman.

Amanda Dean, 25, was born into a family with a love of music and fine arts. She grew up singing with her mom and began playing the guitar at the age of 11. Amanda is from the San Francisco Bay Area and moved to New Mexico in 2001 to pursue a career in fine arts. At this point, Amanda had moved away from music, but after having met Levi, she was drawn back into her childhood passion. She considers herself more of a poet than a songwriter, and credits Levi with helping her turn her poetry into music. Amanda's other influences are Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos, and Billy Joel.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Hi Levi and Amanda. It's a pleasure to talk with you. So how did you two meet?

Amanda Dean About a year and a half ago, Levi's band, the Dean Boys, were playing at a club in Albuquerque and I came to see them with a co-worker. Levi's voice and mandolin playing captivated me, so I went up and introduced myself. I told him I was a singer and that I wanted to learn to play the guitar better. He said he would teach me if I would sing in his band. At the first practice everything clicked. The sparks began to fly and we sounded better together than alone. From there, sparks began to fly romantically and we've been together ever since. When Levi asked me to marry him, he proposed, down on one knee, with an original song. The chorus to the song asks, "Baby won't you be my wife?" I was so nervous that it was just a regular song and that if I screamed, "YES!" he would say, "What? Oh, no, that was just a new love song I wrote. At the end of the song I was crying because the song was so incredibly sweet and he said, "So, will you marry me?" He took out the ring and I said, "Of course." We were married in May.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Who are some of your favorite artists, influences?

Levi My number one influence has always been my dad. Growing up I idolized the way he played the mandolin and the guitar, and some of the best memories I have are of listening to his jam sessions. The pain in Hank Williams Sr.' voice, Bob Dylan's words, Neil Young's guitar, and Led Zeppelin's driving back beat have also shaped how I play and what I write.

Amanda Dean Music and art have always been in my life. One of my fondest memories is when my mother taught me how to play "Bridge Over Trouble Water." I made a connection with her and with music that day, and I think that is what propelled my interest in writing my own songs and playing the guitar. I have also been influenced by artists like Tracy Chapman, for her voice (and one of my mom's favorites), Tori Amos' lyrical style, and Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac for their songwriting and her unique voice.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] And what inspired your song "Feather"?

Levi The inspiration for the song "Feather" came when I was sitting on the porch and I looked out the window at a friend sitting against a tree, looking carefree and relaxed and just tossing some pebbles. It got me thinking about the constant quest for happiness. Our society thinks they are going to find it in the latest fad diet or by listening to Dr. Phil on TV. It was in that moment that I realized I was taking things way too seriously in my life, and that the secret in obtaining that constant quest for happiness is to live life more carefree "like a feather floating in the wind."

[Cindy Beth Gordon] What do you like to write and sing about?

Levi I write music as a way to communicate. Growing up, I struggled with a stuttering problem. So I spent much of my childhood wanting to tell people how I felt, but I couldn't get the words out. When I sing, I don't stutter, so I was grateful to have music as an outlet. I'm not the best communicator in everyday life, and it is much easier for me to get out what I'm trying to say in a lyrical melody. I also use stories and metaphors from nature to get my messages across.

Amanda Dean I tend to write about personal experiences because music is a way I can get my feelings out and take some of the weight off my shoulders. I used to keep journals, but by putting feelings in a song, you can take a terrible situation and transform it into something people can appreciate.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Do you accept songs for outside songwriters or cowrite with others?

Levi We play 99% original music because covers are often hard to replicate exactly how they sound, but mostly because we would much rather write something new. I've always been that way. Immediately after I learned my first three chords, I wrote my first song. Part of what we love about what do is the songwriting. It allows us to express ourselves. There is absolutely nothing wrong with covering songs, but we don't want to try to re-do something that someone has already done so well. It's like someone other than De Vinci trying to repaint the Mona Lisa.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] What are your goals?

Together Our goal is to be able to write play music for a living for the rest of our lives.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] How do you like living in New Mexico? What is it like there? Is there much of a music scene?

Levi We love living in New Mexico; it's unlike any other place in the country. You can see for miles and there's always a sunny spot in the sky, even when it's raining. Other places we both have lived are like living in a womb of trees and clouds. After a while, things begin to feel claustrophobic. New Mexico is a place where we feel very alive. The environment and the way of living are pretty exciting, but can be harsh at times and also very unforgiving. The terrain is rugged, diverse; it's the Wild West where you feel like you can still be an individual. This is probably why so many artists flock there. While we loving living there, the music scene in New Mexico isn't the greatest. That's why we spend so much time traveling to other places in the country to get our music out.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] What's the best advice you've been received and from who?

Levi The best advice I have received came from a family friend soon after I moved out to New Mexico. He said "Don't let the bastards get you down."

Amanda Dean The best advice I have gotten so far was from my dad: "Don't take any wooden nickels." This can be applied to life on the road as a musician in many ways!

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Sounds like good advice. Any funny road stories?

Amanda Dean We had a really funny thing happen to us while we were in Austin, playing some gigs. We had to find a place to sleep (we sleep in our Taurus station wagon to save money) and drove around looking for a secluded street somewhere out of the way. We finally settled on a street in a residential neighborhood that seemed to not have much traffic. It was really hot and humid, and there were tons of mosquitoes, so we had to sleep naked with no blankets, and with the windows up. Around seven in the morning we heard some dogs barking. Bleary eyed and covered in sweat, we sat up to find a large group of people power walking. It looked like a family of six had about nine relatives and three dogs staying at their house, and all of them were headed straight for us! We were frantically trying to get our clothes on but we were so sticky and sleepy we only managed to get partially clothed before we jumped out of the car just as they were walking by. We didn't want them to think we were homeless, so pretended we were packing the car up to go on a trip, when really, we were moving all of our equipment from the front seat (where we'd stuffed it to have enough room to sleep) to the trunk (where we sleep). Since then, we've learned to always keep our clothes on, no matter how hot it is outside!

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Any special plans for the fall?

Together We will be on tour this fall through the East coast. Right now we are in California. In October, we are going back through New Mexico, and then it is onto Texas and Nashville. We plan to spend November in Virginia, which will give us a chance to see some of our friends and family.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] That sounds great. Anything else you'd like to add that we didn't cover?

Together For more info or to check out our music visit: http://www.deanstation.com or to order a cd go to www.cdbaby.com/cd/deanstation.

[Cindy Beth Gordon] Thanks guys. We wish you the best of luck with your CD and upcoming performances!

Together Thanks Cindy.

Dean Station Reviewed by Indie-Music.com!

Review by Todd Beemis, September 9, 2006

According to the biography thoughtfully supplied by Albuquerque-based Dean Station with their eponymous album, the two principals -- Mr. Levi Dean and Ms. Amanda Trainer -- were to have been married in May of this year.

Assuming this happened, allow me to deliver to them a belated wedding gift: a candid and hard-hitting review of their music.

I loved this record.

If the future of their marriage is anything like the present sweet interaction of their voices on "Dean Station," then they better get ready to die old, happy and together.

Oh my goodness, where to begin? Well how about the delivery... the production is fantastic. The voices, mandolin, guitar -- hell, even a melodica -- jump right in a do their thing, all of them highlighted when they need to stand out and part of a fluid mix when they need to be part of the team. Far too many indie records sound like they were recorded inside a an empty Chock Full-O-Nuts can. Not this one.

Mr. Dean quite rightly name checks Robert Zimmerman as an influence and on rare occasions he gets a little too Bobby for my taste, but I swear it's only once or twice. The rest of the time, his sound ranges from old red hound dog bayin' to sweet country crooner to George Harrison and ultimately to what we can only call Levi Dean.

The (hopefully, by now) lady of the house is, like a treasured ingredient, used more sparingly. "Detonation" features her voice prominently in soliloquy, as does the album's closer, "Go Ahead," but its strength is shown throughout the record by its capacity to bend and form to Levi Dean's lead vocals. In fact, Trainer is a soft coating regularly affixed to Dean's rougher delivery. It's a winning combination.

Bugs Bunny may claim to have taken a wrong turn at Albuquerque, but on their new record, Dean Station have made all the right moves.

Dean Station Reviewed by the Taos Daily Horse Fly

Review by Dory Hulburt - April 24, 2006

Former Taos resident Levi Dean and Amanda Trainer have collaborated as Dean Station and released a self-titled CD combining his talents on the mandolin and bass, hers on percussion, and both their gifts with guitar and vocals. A Virginian, Levi grew up in a family of songwriters and artists. Aside from his family, his influences include Hank Williams, Sr., Bob Dylan, and Neil Young. Amanda, who hails from the San Francisco Bay area, moved to New Mexico in 2001 to pursue a career in fine arts. With influences like Tracy Chapman, Tori Amos, and Billy Joel, she considers herself more a poet than a songwriter, but credits Levi with helping transform her poetry into music. Amanda’s pure, fine clarity complements Levi’s nasal, sandpapery vocals in an effective two-part harmony with vibrant undertones hearkening back to bluegrass, folk, and country roots. The couple, who wrote all the music and lyrics together, plans to marry next month. Find out more about the CD, and numbers including “Anybody’s Guess,” “Flat Footin’ Girl,” and “Friendly Fire,” at deanstation.com.