East of Earth guitarist Jim Wade enjoys jolting anyone who at first takes the Baldwinsville trio for a typically low-key cafe band.

“I like when our songs start off mellow. It gets people in a certain mood, then I usually jump in with the electric guitar and give it a bite,” Wade said. “It makes people sit up and actually take notice.”

Along with guitarist Emmet Simpson and singer/flutist Sarah Anderson, Wade plays a unique style of acoustic rock. Though the absence of percussion or bass may mellow out the music, Wade believes his electric guitar gives the group's songs an edge.

Wade and Simpson started practicing together about two years ago to plant the seed for East of Earth. After Anderson joined, the three set out to record “NoWhere,” which was released in 2008. The group's songwriting formula, Wade said, finds Simpson's melodies accentuated by Anderson's lyrics and sharpened by Wade's hooks.

In the live setting of mostly central New York cafes, East of Earth continually polishes its compositions - including those set for release on the trio's second album, which it is currently recording in Wade's home studio.

“We just go out and do an open mic somewhere so we can practice playing in front of people,” Wade said. “We're just getting better and better the longer we're playing together.”

David Wilcox

253-5311 ext. 245

david.wilcox@lee.net