Jared & The Mill

This is a quick tale of positive karma.

Former Bee Gees front man Barry Gibb, the last surviving member of the genre-blurring music group, has chosen Jared & The Mill as the opening act of his U.S. tour. The Phoenix-based band memorably — and unselfishly — gave a private hospital-room concert last month to 18-year-old Mason Endres, days after she was struck by an intoxicated driver during South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.

SEE ALSO: SXSW Crash Victim Treated to Private Concert in Her Hospital Room

Gibb's selection is a reminder that good deeds don't go unnoticed.

And now, six cities along the "Mythology the Tour Live" will get to experience the same music that comforted Endres in her hospital bed, where she recovered from a broken nose and leg as well as a fractured neck.

Gibb told Mashable the band is "fantastic," adding that "I think everyone will love them and they will add the perfect element to the whole show."

jared-and-the-mill
Jared and The Mill poses for a portrait.
IMAGE: JARED AND THE MILL
Gibb and the band will begin the tour in Boston on May 15 and end it in Los Angeles on June 4, with stop in between at Philadelphia; Wantagh, N.Y.; Chicago; and Concord, Calif. Jared & The Mill are no strangers to performing on the road, having already shared the stage with such acts as The Killers, Flogging Molly, Youngblood Hawke and Cake.

"It's always very humbling to see the effect your music has on the people who love it," the band's singer, Jared Kolesar, told Mashable after the intimate show for Endres.

For Endres, the band played "Just for Now," "Love to Be Found," "Ides of Fall" and "Western Expansion," all of which you can listen to below: - Mashable - Brian Hernandez

The members of the band Jared & The Mill played the most intimate venue of South by Southwest on Saturday afternoon — the hospital room of one of their biggest fans.

Mason Endres, 18, was standing with her friends near the corner of Red River and 10th streets just after midnight Thursday when police say a drunken driver, Rashad Owens, plowed into a crowd of people, killing two and injuring 22. Owens has been charged with capital murder.

Mason and her friends were waiting for her father to pick them up after a night of checking out free SXSW shows downtown.

“We couldn’t move before it just mowed us down,” said Grace Neill, 18, a friend of Mason’s who was standing next to her when the car hit them both. Grace was knocked to the curb and badly bruised. “Then we look around, and not everyone is with us, and we realized that Mason is gone,” she said.

Mason was found several feet away in the intersection, covered in blood. She suffered a broken leg, a fractured neck and a broken nose. She was rushed to St. David’s Medical Center.

Her father, Dan Endres, was just five blocks away when he got the call from Mason’s friends about the wreck.

“I pulled up to the intersection, and it was chaos,” Endres said. “I couldn’t find her. There was just too much going on.”

She was rushed into surgery at St. David’s to set her broken bones. A rod had to be placed in her leg. Early Friday, she had to have another surgery to repair a blocked artery in her other leg.

“It’s been quite a roller coaster,” her father said. “She’s going to be fine. There are some people out there that are not as lucky as us.”

Six other patients from the crash remained hospitalized Saturday evening, two in good condition, two in serious condition and two in critical condition.

Despite the pain and the surgeries, Mason has been in good spirits.

“She was worried about what she’s missing at South by Southwest,” he said.

Most of all, she was upset about not getting to see one of her favorite bands, Jared & The Mill, an indie folk band from Phoenix, perform their two scheduled shows.

Mason befriended the members of the band at last year’s SXSW when she saw them performing on the street with a banjo player, a stand-up bass, drummer and guitarists. She kept in touch with the band via social media.

“I consider myself to have a pretty decent ear for music because that is what I want to do with my future, so if they were able to draw me in and keep me, then that’s a big deal,” said Mason, a senior at Liberty Hill High School.

Two of the band members had been chatting with Mason just a few minutes before the accident. When they found out she wouldn’t be able to make it to their planned shows following the crash, they decided to bring the show to her.

“She was on monitors when we told her that Jared was coming, and her heart rate jumped way up,” Dan Endres said. “We all burst out laughing because that was a good thing to see her smile.”

When the band walked into her hospital room Saturday, Mason’s face lit up. She sang along with all the songs. She tapped her fingers, decorated with sky blue glittery nail polish, against a rainbow-colored stuffed dog.

“I think the pure excitement of everything has gotten me through today,” Mason said, following the private concert for her, her friends and family. “Today, I felt better than I ever imagined I thought I would feel in a hospital.”

Music is Mason’s life, her friends said. She’s lost count of the number of concerts she’s been to. She’s always telling her friends to listen to her latest downloads. She wants to work in the music industry and plans to major in public relations at the University of Texas this fall. She plans to get Jared & The Mill lyrics tattooed on her when she’s well.

The lyrics are from the song “Just For Now” — “I’m a monster of affection and you’re my beautiful addiction.”

That was the first song in a long list of requests Saturday afternoon. The next line of the song was fitting: “So lie to me and tell me how/I’m OK, it’s just for now.” - American-Statesman Staff - Esther Robards-Forbes

After being welcomed into Jared Kolesar’s parents’ warm home and eating some of his mom’s quality pizza, it comes as no surprise his music is equally open and thoughtful.

Kolesar is the lead singer and songwriter for Jared & The Mill, a local band that has been delighting Arizona audiences for the past two years. Kolesar hardly needs more than a guitar to begin crafting his songs, and he even played a brand new track for his parents after dinner.

Jared & The Mill have accumulated a large collection of songs and fans over the last two years, and after all the band's hard work, they are ready to release their debut album, Western Expansion on September 17.
Kolesar and Michael Carter, who plays banjo, mandolin and harmonica, have been friends since they were youngsters. The band is the culmination of all their musical history together.

“Jared was singing and songwriting all through middle school and high school and I always played guitar along with him,” Carter says.

The band as it stands today came together in 2011, when Kolesar and Carter needed a backing band to play a show at The Clubhouse.

“We were fortunate enough to meet these awesome musicians, which are all the members we have now. It was more or less a backup band for Jared’s songs and we realized we all kind of meshed and played together really well,” Carter says.

Larry Gast III took up lead guitar, Chuck Morriss the electric and upright bass, Josh Morin the drums, and Gabe Hall the accordion and piano. Once they started practicing together, songs soon followed.

“I think our music really naturally went in the folk and country direction. It didn’t take much effort,” Carter says.

Carter himself grew up listening to Irish, Appalachian, country and folk music as kid, influenced by his parents. Jared credits Carter for turning him on to different styles of music in college that influenced his writing.
“We started as a five piece pop ensemble. I wrote a lot of pop music. We don’t like to talk about it. Those were some dark days in my life, but they’ve come and gone,” Kolesar says jokingly.

Jared & The Mill are full of Arizona pride. Beyond the Southwestern influences, Kolesar writes about being young, growing up and dealing with the ups and downs that come along with youth. His voice is hopeful and always seems to look ahead.

Carter says they were more than ready to make a record and through the help of supporters on Kickstarter, they were able to release Western Expansion without a label and tour through October.

According to Kolesar, the band catalogued “an unreasonable amount of songs” over the two years but while some of the tracks such as “Western Expansion”, “Ides Of Fall” and “Love to be Found” are new, “Returning Half” was played at their very first show. Together the 12 tracks paint a lovely portrait of where the band stands currently and gives a nice outlook as to what the future holds for them.

“I feel like we’ve done more in the past eight months than we had in two years, but I don’t think we could have done everything we did in those eight months without the past two years,” Carter says.

Jared & the Mill are a well-oiled machine and the band members are confident playing just about any venue, acoustic or not. Their ability to play unplugged came in handy at SXSW this March where they busked on the side of the road and made enough cash to pay for their gas money.
“If something awful happened we, could all go play on some boardwalk in California and make a couple bucks and get back on the road,” Carter says.

Jared & The Mill (album release) w/Old Hours, Sara Robinson & The Midnight Special, decker., The Senators, Huckleberry, Northern Hustle, The Sail Inn, September 19, 6 p.m.,$10 adv, $12 dos - College Times

After being welcomed into Jared Kolesar’s parents’ warm home and eating some of his mom’s quality pizza, it comes as no surprise his music is equally open and thoughtful.

Kolesar is the lead singer and songwriter for Jared & The Mill, a local band that has been delighting Arizona audiences for the past two years. Kolesar hardly needs more than a guitar to begin crafting his songs, and he even played a brand new track for his parents after dinner.

Jared & The Mill have accumulated a large collection of songs and fans over the last two years, and after all the band's hard work, they are ready to release their debut album, Western Expansion on September 17.
Kolesar and Michael Carter, who plays banjo, mandolin and harmonica, have been friends since they were youngsters. The band is the culmination of all their musical history together.

“Jared was singing and songwriting all through middle school and high school and I always played guitar along with him,” Carter says.

The band as it stands today came together in 2011, when Kolesar and Carter needed a backing band to play a show at The Clubhouse.

“We were fortunate enough to meet these awesome musicians, which are all the members we have now. It was more or less a backup band for Jared’s songs and we realized we all kind of meshed and played together really well,” Carter says.

Larry Gast III took up lead guitar, Chuck Morriss the electric and upright bass, Josh Morin the drums, and Gabe Hall the accordion and piano. Once they started practicing together, songs soon followed.

“I think our music really naturally went in the folk and country direction. It didn’t take much effort,” Carter says.

Carter himself grew up listening to Irish, Appalachian, country and folk music as kid, influenced by his parents. Jared credits Carter for turning him on to different styles of music in college that influenced his writing.
“We started as a five piece pop ensemble. I wrote a lot of pop music. We don’t like to talk about it. Those were some dark days in my life, but they’ve come and gone,” Kolesar says jokingly.

Jared & The Mill are full of Arizona pride. Beyond the Southwestern influences, Kolesar writes about being young, growing up and dealing with the ups and downs that come along with youth. His voice is hopeful and always seems to look ahead.

Carter says they were more than ready to make a record and through the help of supporters on Kickstarter, they were able to release Western Expansion without a label and tour through October.

According to Kolesar, the band catalogued “an unreasonable amount of songs” over the two years but while some of the tracks such as “Western Expansion”, “Ides Of Fall” and “Love to be Found” are new, “Returning Half” was played at their very first show. Together the 12 tracks paint a lovely portrait of where the band stands currently and gives a nice outlook as to what the future holds for them.

“I feel like we’ve done more in the past eight months than we had in two years, but I don’t think we could have done everything we did in those eight months without the past two years,” Carter says.

Jared & the Mill are a well-oiled machine and the band members are confident playing just about any venue, acoustic or not. Their ability to play unplugged came in handy at SXSW this March where they busked on the side of the road and made enough cash to pay for their gas money.
“If something awful happened we, could all go play on some boardwalk in California and make a couple bucks and get back on the road,” Carter says.

Jared & The Mill (album release) w/Old Hours, Sara Robinson & The Midnight Special, decker., The Senators, Huckleberry, Northern Hustle, The Sail Inn, September 19, 6 p.m.,$10 adv, $12 dos - College Times

AUSTIN -- The massive South by Southwest music festival has officially descended upon Austin. Every downtown street is crowded with musicians, managers, label reps, publicists, journalists and curious music fans. And pretty much everybody is looking for something cool.

CMT showcased Ashley Monroe and young duo Striking Matches on Tuesday night (March 12) at the Empire Control Room, sharing the night with MTV and VH1. With a critically acclaimed new album released last week, Monroe is one of the festival's few country artists to make an appearance this year. Thanks to her sterling voice, clever songs and a wry sense of humor, she'll probably spend as much time doing interviews this week as any hot indie band.

Striking Matches opened the night with a handful of songs, including "When the Right One Comes Along." Fans of ABC's Nashville will recognize that one. Although their career is just getting off the ground, this Nashville-based duo charmed the audience by infusing their appealing stage presence with wide-eyed wonder at the crazy scene that is SXSW.

Through Sunday, hundreds of bands will be competing for Austin's attention. Although most artists have one official showcase, some have two -- and others are just crashing the party. And speaking of a party, there's one behind every door, celebrating radio stations, magazines, vodka, states other than Texas, etc.

Here are some of my personal highlights of SXSW so far.

Hurray for the Riff Raff: While wandering through the trade show on Wednesday, this laid-back trio attracted me with interesting melodies and the sweet voice of Alynda Lee Segarra. Simple tunes like "Junebug Waltz" and "Fiddlesticks" proved you don't need an elaborate setup to make a big impression.

Jared & the Mill: Naturally you'll encounter busking at SXSW. Most of it is forgettable, but the exception is Jared & the Mill, a band that drove in from Phoenix and performed Tuesday. Whenever somebody's playing a washboard on a street corner, it's hard not to notice. Their infectious playing and underdog story helped pull in dozens of passersby, including me. Made up of five young guys, this hungry band is playing an afternoon showcase on Friday at the Hickory Mill in downtown Austin.

The Lone Bellow: I caught this Brooklyn-based roots band by coincidence on Wednesday afternoon, walking past a place called Hangar. (Indeed it looks just like a miniature airplane hangar, right in the middle of downtown Austin. The stage is on top, offering a marvelous skyline view.) You can easily hear their traditional country influence on songs like "You Don't Love Me Like You Used To." Incredibly, they are playing 17 shows this week!

MilkDrive: This Austin-based bluegrass band held down the fort Wednesday at the historic Driskill Hotel. Bluegrass is scarce at SXSW, too, so it was a treat to see these four gentlemen swapping fiddles and mandolins like it was no big deal. In particular, I enjoyed hearing the swelling title track to their new album, Waves.

Daniel Romano: I'm a big fan of this Canadian songwriter's new album, Come Cry With Me, so I didn't want to miss his Wednesday set at the Velveeta Room. Typically, this venue is a comedy club, and I did find myself laughing at the deadpan delivery on songs like "Chicken Bill." Like many classic country stars, Romano plants himself at center stage and stays there. It's almost like witnessing a modern-day George Jones delivering weepers like "Time Forgot (To Change My Heart)."

SHEL: On the east side of Austin, a bunch of hole-in-the-wall places set up stages for casual day parties. My colleagues and I were able to hear the sister group SHEL at Shangri La. My favorite song during their Wednesday set was "Moonshine Hill," which they started to write after buying moonshine at a convenience store. "We wrote the rest of the song the next day," one sister quipped.

Turnpike Troubadours and Dirty River Boys: These two bands are already drawing thousands of fans to their shows in Texas and Oklahoma, thanks to well-crafted songs, wailing fiddles and charismatic lead singers. Playing back-to-back at the White Horse, their Tuesday night show felt more like a Saturday night. The White Horse is a low-key country bar where you can get whiskey on tap or a local microbrew. It's off the beaten path but well worth seeking out. - CMT News

AUSTIN -- The massive South by Southwest music festival has officially descended upon Austin. Every downtown street is crowded with musicians, managers, label reps, publicists, journalists and curious music fans. And pretty much everybody is looking for something cool.

CMT showcased Ashley Monroe and young duo Striking Matches on Tuesday night (March 12) at the Empire Control Room, sharing the night with MTV and VH1. With a critically acclaimed new album released last week, Monroe is one of the festival's few country artists to make an appearance this year. Thanks to her sterling voice, clever songs and a wry sense of humor, she'll probably spend as much time doing interviews this week as any hot indie band.

Striking Matches opened the night with a handful of songs, including "When the Right One Comes Along." Fans of ABC's Nashville will recognize that one. Although their career is just getting off the ground, this Nashville-based duo charmed the audience by infusing their appealing stage presence with wide-eyed wonder at the crazy scene that is SXSW.

Through Sunday, hundreds of bands will be competing for Austin's attention. Although most artists have one official showcase, some have two -- and others are just crashing the party. And speaking of a party, there's one behind every door, celebrating radio stations, magazines, vodka, states other than Texas, etc.

Here are some of my personal highlights of SXSW so far.

Hurray for the Riff Raff: While wandering through the trade show on Wednesday, this laid-back trio attracted me with interesting melodies and the sweet voice of Alynda Lee Segarra. Simple tunes like "Junebug Waltz" and "Fiddlesticks" proved you don't need an elaborate setup to make a big impression.

Jared & the Mill: Naturally you'll encounter busking at SXSW. Most of it is forgettable, but the exception is Jared & the Mill, a band that drove in from Phoenix and performed Tuesday. Whenever somebody's playing a washboard on a street corner, it's hard not to notice. Their infectious playing and underdog story helped pull in dozens of passersby, including me. Made up of five young guys, this hungry band is playing an afternoon showcase on Friday at the Hickory Mill in downtown Austin.

The Lone Bellow: I caught this Brooklyn-based roots band by coincidence on Wednesday afternoon, walking past a place called Hangar. (Indeed it looks just like a miniature airplane hangar, right in the middle of downtown Austin. The stage is on top, offering a marvelous skyline view.) You can easily hear their traditional country influence on songs like "You Don't Love Me Like You Used To." Incredibly, they are playing 17 shows this week!

MilkDrive: This Austin-based bluegrass band held down the fort Wednesday at the historic Driskill Hotel. Bluegrass is scarce at SXSW, too, so it was a treat to see these four gentlemen swapping fiddles and mandolins like it was no big deal. In particular, I enjoyed hearing the swelling title track to their new album, Waves.

Daniel Romano: I'm a big fan of this Canadian songwriter's new album, Come Cry With Me, so I didn't want to miss his Wednesday set at the Velveeta Room. Typically, this venue is a comedy club, and I did find myself laughing at the deadpan delivery on songs like "Chicken Bill." Like many classic country stars, Romano plants himself at center stage and stays there. It's almost like witnessing a modern-day George Jones delivering weepers like "Time Forgot (To Change My Heart)."

SHEL: On the east side of Austin, a bunch of hole-in-the-wall places set up stages for casual day parties. My colleagues and I were able to hear the sister group SHEL at Shangri La. My favorite song during their Wednesday set was "Moonshine Hill," which they started to write after buying moonshine at a convenience store. "We wrote the rest of the song the next day," one sister quipped.

Turnpike Troubadours and Dirty River Boys: These two bands are already drawing thousands of fans to their shows in Texas and Oklahoma, thanks to well-crafted songs, wailing fiddles and charismatic lead singers. Playing back-to-back at the White Horse, their Tuesday night show felt more like a Saturday night. The White Horse is a low-key country bar where you can get whiskey on tap or a local microbrew. It's off the beaten path but well worth seeking out. - CMT News

Tempe band Jared and The Mill are bringing their debut album, "Western Expansion," to Prescott this Sunday.

The six-member Indie folk rock band will perform at the Bird Cage on Whiskey Row beginning at 2 p.m. Front man Jared Kolesar said Jared and The Mill formed a little over two years ago.

"When we first got together we were a pop ensemble and we were playing a lot of the songs I wrote," he said. "As we progressed we all found we had a passion for folk, roots music, so we kind of moved in that direction. Ever since then we've really enjoyed what we've been doing as a band."

A few years ago, Kolesar woke up with the idea to start a band, but didn't know where to begin. Slowly but surely he began to play with friends and friends of friends. Before too long, the band was formed.

"I hadn't played with a lot of other musicians before, as I was straight out of college," he said. "It was supposed to be kind of a one-time deal. As we practiced and got along with each other, we realized we had a lot in common and really enjoyed what we were doing."

The band chose the name "Mill" due to comparisons with processing raw materials, Kolesar said.

"My basic melodies and lyrics coming into the band. We put it through a mill, you can say, to turn it into the end product," he said.

The band brings full "bluegrass instrumentation," mandolin, banjo, upright bass, acoustic guitar and accordions.

"We add on electric guitar, keyboard and a drum set and that's what gives us our sound," Kolesar said. "Our debut album is set to be released on Sept. 17. As with any debut album, it's really an exciting time. It's our first chance to really show the world who we are and who we are as a band."

The band recently released their first single "Breathe Me in."

"It's one of the best examples of who we are as a band. It has a lot of the elements that we bring out in our music all rolled into one song," Kolesar said.

The band can currently be found online via their Facebook page at Jared & The Mill.
- The Edge

Tempe band Jared and The Mill are bringing their debut album, "Western Expansion," to Prescott this Sunday.

The six-member Indie folk rock band will perform at the Bird Cage on Whiskey Row beginning at 2 p.m. Front man Jared Kolesar said Jared and The Mill formed a little over two years ago.

"When we first got together we were a pop ensemble and we were playing a lot of the songs I wrote," he said. "As we progressed we all found we had a passion for folk, roots music, so we kind of moved in that direction. Ever since then we've really enjoyed what we've been doing as a band."

A few years ago, Kolesar woke up with the idea to start a band, but didn't know where to begin. Slowly but surely he began to play with friends and friends of friends. Before too long, the band was formed.

"I hadn't played with a lot of other musicians before, as I was straight out of college," he said. "It was supposed to be kind of a one-time deal. As we practiced and got along with each other, we realized we had a lot in common and really enjoyed what we were doing."

The band chose the name "Mill" due to comparisons with processing raw materials, Kolesar said.

"My basic melodies and lyrics coming into the band. We put it through a mill, you can say, to turn it into the end product," he said.

The band brings full "bluegrass instrumentation," mandolin, banjo, upright bass, acoustic guitar and accordions.

"We add on electric guitar, keyboard and a drum set and that's what gives us our sound," Kolesar said. "Our debut album is set to be released on Sept. 17. As with any debut album, it's really an exciting time. It's our first chance to really show the world who we are and who we are as a band."

The band recently released their first single "Breathe Me in."

"It's one of the best examples of who we are as a band. It has a lot of the elements that we bring out in our music all rolled into one song," Kolesar said.

The band can currently be found online via their Facebook page at Jared & The Mill.
- The Edge

With an Arizona fan base that is steadily increasing, the indie folk band will spend the weeks leading up to the album release playing shows in Cottonwood and Flagstaff and then kicking off a tour at the Sail Inn in Tempe on Sept. 19. The band will then hit the hot spots of the western U.S., making its way over to Texas before heading up to Washington and back down through California.

The stops on the tour couldn’t be more fitting for the western-influenced folk rock album.

“It’s very Americana, kind of southwest folk. It’s also got some old country influence and even some spaghetti western guitar,” said Michael Carter, who plays mandolin and banjo. “We’re all from Arizona and the West, and that’s what influences our music. And besides that we just play what we love to play.”

Singer/songwriter Jared Kolesar said that the 12-track album is composed of both old and new songs.

“We’ve got songs on there that we’ve played for years and songs that weren’t written until a month before we recorded,” Kolstar said. “This album is about where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going.”

As far as acts that influence it, the six-man band has too many to name. Kolesar mentioned Bob Dylan, Joe Pug, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, but “across the board, there are just way too many.”

Although its influences come in a wide variety, Jared & The Mill’s sound is similar to that of other folk rock artists such as Mumford & Sons or The Lumineers, but neither of those bands have the authenticity that these ASU alumni get from having that western upbringing in Arizona.

“That’s what sets us apart from those bands,” Kolesar said. “We’re from here and we all grew up here.”

Being compared to Mumford & Sons is something the band members expect because the type of music is so specific, but in no way does that offend them.

“Of course we want to establish and maintain our individuality, but it’s a great compliment to be compared to them,” Carter said.

Before “Western Expansion,” the guys only had an EP released in 2012 under their belt.

“The step from an EP to a full album is one that fans have much anticipated and because it was such a leap, they were blown away,” Kolesar said.

In regards to watching the band’s fan base grow: “It’s been surreal,” Carter said. “It’s so neat to have the support of your town.”

The listening party at Handlebar served as the perfect setting for the guys to mingle and hang out with fans. According to Kolesar, keeping a personal relationship with fans is one of the most important things.

“One of the perks of being able to do things like this is that it gives us such an easy access to make friends. And we love making friends,” Kolesar said.

“Fans are the most important thing for a band,” band manager Travis Alexander said. “Humbleness is something that people gravitate to, and they’ve got that.”

Alexander met the band when circumstance put him in a car with it en route to South by Southwest in March.

“It was a seven-hour drive from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, and it was seven hours of them practicing harmonies,” Alexander said. “That’s when I knew I had to stick to these guys.”

At the rate they’re going, it’ll only be a matter of time before Jared Kolesar, Michael Carter, Chuck Morriss III, Josh Morin, Larry Gast III and Gabe Hall Rodriguez see some eastern expansion and Jared & The Mill becomes the band to whom the next “indie folkers” get compared. - The State Press

With an Arizona fan base that is steadily increasing, the indie folk band will spend the weeks leading up to the album release playing shows in Cottonwood and Flagstaff and then kicking off a tour at the Sail Inn in Tempe on Sept. 19. The band will then hit the hot spots of the western U.S., making its way over to Texas before heading up to Washington and back down through California.

The stops on the tour couldn’t be more fitting for the western-influenced folk rock album.

“It’s very Americana, kind of southwest folk. It’s also got some old country influence and even some spaghetti western guitar,” said Michael Carter, who plays mandolin and banjo. “We’re all from Arizona and the West, and that’s what influences our music. And besides that we just play what we love to play.”

Singer/songwriter Jared Kolesar said that the 12-track album is composed of both old and new songs.

“We’ve got songs on there that we’ve played for years and songs that weren’t written until a month before we recorded,” Kolstar said. “This album is about where we’ve been, where we are and where we are going.”

As far as acts that influence it, the six-man band has too many to name. Kolesar mentioned Bob Dylan, Joe Pug, The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, but “across the board, there are just way too many.”

Although its influences come in a wide variety, Jared & The Mill’s sound is similar to that of other folk rock artists such as Mumford & Sons or The Lumineers, but neither of those bands have the authenticity that these ASU alumni get from having that western upbringing in Arizona.

“That’s what sets us apart from those bands,” Kolesar said. “We’re from here and we all grew up here.”

Being compared to Mumford & Sons is something the band members expect because the type of music is so specific, but in no way does that offend them.

“Of course we want to establish and maintain our individuality, but it’s a great compliment to be compared to them,” Carter said.

Before “Western Expansion,” the guys only had an EP released in 2012 under their belt.

“The step from an EP to a full album is one that fans have much anticipated and because it was such a leap, they were blown away,” Kolesar said.

In regards to watching the band’s fan base grow: “It’s been surreal,” Carter said. “It’s so neat to have the support of your town.”

The listening party at Handlebar served as the perfect setting for the guys to mingle and hang out with fans. According to Kolesar, keeping a personal relationship with fans is one of the most important things.

“One of the perks of being able to do things like this is that it gives us such an easy access to make friends. And we love making friends,” Kolesar said.

“Fans are the most important thing for a band,” band manager Travis Alexander said. “Humbleness is something that people gravitate to, and they’ve got that.”

Alexander met the band when circumstance put him in a car with it en route to South by Southwest in March.

“It was a seven-hour drive from Flagstaff to Albuquerque, and it was seven hours of them practicing harmonies,” Alexander said. “That’s when I knew I had to stick to these guys.”

At the rate they’re going, it’ll only be a matter of time before Jared Kolesar, Michael Carter, Chuck Morriss III, Josh Morin, Larry Gast III and Gabe Hall Rodriguez see some eastern expansion and Jared & The Mill becomes the band to whom the next “indie folkers” get compared. - The State Press

http://javamagaz.com/September2013Page32and33.html - Java Magazine

http://javamagaz.com/September2013Page32and33.html - Java Magazine

As Jared & The Mill get ready to release their debut album, Western Expansion, and embark on their most extensive tour of their existence, their horizons have never been this expanded and their future never brighter.

With a September 17th album release date set, Jared & The Mill plan to kick off their tour at The Sail Inn on September 19th with the support of some favorite local bands. And from the look of things, Jared Kolesar, lead vocals/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Michael Carter, lead gutarist Larry Gast III, Chuck “Bassman” Morriss III (electric bass/upright bass), percussionist/drummer Josh Morin, and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues (accordion & piano) are ready to embrace this new chapter in their career.

"Our band will be reaching as far east as Austin, Texas and as far north as Seattle, WA. This will be our longest adventure to date and we couldn't be more excited to share our tunes with the rest of our great western family,” said singer/songwriter Jared Kolesar.

Western Expansion features Jared and the Mill’s signature musical style. To say it’s engaging would be an understatement. The 12, count ‘em, 12 tracks are individually punctuated with folk, bluegrass, Americana, and rock starting off with "Breathe Me In".

A love letter of pleading and redemption, "Breathe Me In" begs a lover to look past all the imperfections that all of us can relate to, and asks, pleads, not to give up because deep down inside the writer of this letter knows their heart is good.

Damn. A very good way to start a record.

"Returning Half" further intrigued me with its roaring guitar riff, perfect harmonies and terrific clapping breakdown. "In Our Youth" couldn’t be more fun: staying up late, boozing, talking – all wrapped lushly in a blanket of banjo and driving bass.

More please.

And just as J&tM got my feet tapping, "Ides of Fall" explores the difficult and sometimes tumultuous child/parent relationship. Again, seriously, the storytelling here is brilliant. That combined with a whispery banjo lead line that leads into a hopeful hand-clapping ending to an unfinished saga. And, what would an Americana record be without demons? "What Would You Do" is so relatable that I, you, he or she could see ourselves in the story. Then, without warning, the guys turn up the tempo and turn the song into an anthem of hope.

The title track, "Western Expansion", tells a story, (and if I keep repeating “tells a story” I apologize, but Kolesar knows how to tell a story). Although on the surface this is a story of going West to find fortune, for me, it’s an analogy for looking for something better even though you may have what you need right where you are.

"Love To Be Found" is a song full of hopefulness. Regardless how hard a relationship can be, as long as you’re together with the one you love, well, in Kolesar’s words, “And with your hand pressed to mine I’ll be fine.”

I’m going to stop now and let you discover the rest of the album for yourself. But make no mistake you will not be disappointed. There is something in this record for everyone. My favorite, and I have many, is "Wrecking Ball". Not that it is the most rocking, but again the story of finding oneself, with someone important to you, just resonated to me like a wonderfully written short story.

The aspect of the record I enjoyed most is the way Jared & the Mill go from down tempo to an absolutely furious pace – fueled by Carter’s banjo. But without Morin’s pounding drums and triplet snares and Morriss’ thumping bass, it wouldn't have the same warm feel. And Hall-Rodrigues’ work on the accordion and piano ensure that the music stays afloat and light.

Truth be told, this is what Mumford & Sons wishes it was. The storytelling on Western Expansion far exceeds the other bands in this category. There’s a depth and substance to the lyrics, there’s polysyllabic words, J&TM don’t settle for the easy rhyme like, well, you know whom. This is a thinking person’s folk: thoughtful words, interesting stories (I mentioned it again), and, quite frankly, although the music is folk-y Americana, it breaks through in this category and manages to free itself of genre.

I enjoyed listening to Western Expansion, if you couldn’t tell, and next up for me is The Sail Inn on September 19th for the live performance. Oh, and you still have a few days left to contribute to Jared & the Mill's Kickstarter campaign. The band has already been successful securing the funds needed for their album but you still have a chance to score the early release as well as some other cool swag from the band. - Yab Yum

As Jared & The Mill get ready to release their debut album, Western Expansion, and embark on their most extensive tour of their existence, their horizons have never been this expanded and their future never brighter.

With a September 17th album release date set, Jared & The Mill plan to kick off their tour at The Sail Inn on September 19th with the support of some favorite local bands. And from the look of things, Jared Kolesar, lead vocals/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Michael Carter, lead gutarist Larry Gast III, Chuck “Bassman” Morriss III (electric bass/upright bass), percussionist/drummer Josh Morin, and Gabe Hall-Rodrigues (accordion & piano) are ready to embrace this new chapter in their career.

"Our band will be reaching as far east as Austin, Texas and as far north as Seattle, WA. This will be our longest adventure to date and we couldn't be more excited to share our tunes with the rest of our great western family,” said singer/songwriter Jared Kolesar.

Western Expansion features Jared and the Mill’s signature musical style. To say it’s engaging would be an understatement. The 12, count ‘em, 12 tracks are individually punctuated with folk, bluegrass, Americana, and rock starting off with "Breathe Me In".

A love letter of pleading and redemption, "Breathe Me In" begs a lover to look past all the imperfections that all of us can relate to, and asks, pleads, not to give up because deep down inside the writer of this letter knows their heart is good.

Damn. A very good way to start a record.

"Returning Half" further intrigued me with its roaring guitar riff, perfect harmonies and terrific clapping breakdown. "In Our Youth" couldn’t be more fun: staying up late, boozing, talking – all wrapped lushly in a blanket of banjo and driving bass.

More please.

And just as J&tM got my feet tapping, "Ides of Fall" explores the difficult and sometimes tumultuous child/parent relationship. Again, seriously, the storytelling here is brilliant. That combined with a whispery banjo lead line that leads into a hopeful hand-clapping ending to an unfinished saga. And, what would an Americana record be without demons? "What Would You Do" is so relatable that I, you, he or she could see ourselves in the story. Then, without warning, the guys turn up the tempo and turn the song into an anthem of hope.

The title track, "Western Expansion", tells a story, (and if I keep repeating “tells a story” I apologize, but Kolesar knows how to tell a story). Although on the surface this is a story of going West to find fortune, for me, it’s an analogy for looking for something better even though you may have what you need right where you are.

"Love To Be Found" is a song full of hopefulness. Regardless how hard a relationship can be, as long as you’re together with the one you love, well, in Kolesar’s words, “And with your hand pressed to mine I’ll be fine.”

I’m going to stop now and let you discover the rest of the album for yourself. But make no mistake you will not be disappointed. There is something in this record for everyone. My favorite, and I have many, is "Wrecking Ball". Not that it is the most rocking, but again the story of finding oneself, with someone important to you, just resonated to me like a wonderfully written short story.

The aspect of the record I enjoyed most is the way Jared & the Mill go from down tempo to an absolutely furious pace – fueled by Carter’s banjo. But without Morin’s pounding drums and triplet snares and Morriss’ thumping bass, it wouldn't have the same warm feel. And Hall-Rodrigues’ work on the accordion and piano ensure that the music stays afloat and light.

Truth be told, this is what Mumford & Sons wishes it was. The storytelling on Western Expansion far exceeds the other bands in this category. There’s a depth and substance to the lyrics, there’s polysyllabic words, J&TM don’t settle for the easy rhyme like, well, you know whom. This is a thinking person’s folk: thoughtful words, interesting stories (I mentioned it again), and, quite frankly, although the music is folk-y Americana, it breaks through in this category and manages to free itself of genre.

I enjoyed listening to Western Expansion, if you couldn’t tell, and next up for me is The Sail Inn on September 19th for the live performance. Oh, and you still have a few days left to contribute to Jared & the Mill's Kickstarter campaign. The band has already been successful securing the funds needed for their album but you still have a chance to score the early release as well as some other cool swag from the band. - Yab Yum