Roots Music Report

For the past 14 years, Full Cord Bluegrass has been making a name for themselves blending traditional bluegrass music with jazz, western swing and rock n’ roll while keeping the traditional bluegrass feel alive and well. These influences make every performance memorable and unique. FCBG – guitarist Eric Langejans, bassist Todd Kirchner, mando specialist Brian Oberlin, fiddler Grant Flick and banjo picker extraordinaire Lloyd Douglas – are at the top of their game and gaining momentum fast. Hold on to you hats when these boys hit the stage – they are bringing their version of the bluegrass train full steam ahead. 

Full Cord Bluegrass’s latest album, Choreomania featured six original tunes by the band with songs by Brian Oberlin, Eric Langejans, and Grant Flick. The album continues to get great reviews and has won WYCE’s Jammie award in 2019 for Best New Album by a New Band. The band is currently in the process of recording their next full length album to be released early 2021.

THE BAND 

ERIC LANGEJANS 

Eric is a multi-instrumentalist with an exceptional ear for music. He has been in many bands including local favorites Down Home and Woodpile. Affectionately called “Fast Eric” by his peers, his lighting fast riffs on the guitar leave you wondering what he’s going to do next. Eric also plays mandolin and fiddle when the need arises. He has recently performed on stage with John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. 
 

TODD KIRCHNER 

Todd has played bass since his early teens and grew up picking bluegrass with his dad and brothers. He got his first upright bass from his dad as a Christmas gift and has not put it down since. He has played bass in many bands and has a deep appreciation for all types of music which you can hear in every performance. 
 

GRANT FLICK 

Of Bowling Green, Ohio, has been playing and performing for the past eight years on many instruments including violin, mandolin, tenor guitar, tenor banjo, and nyckelharpa. Primarily, his interests are jazz/swing, bluegrass, and new acoustic music. Currently, his main original musical projects include Westbound Situation and Warren & Flick. He has received numerous music awards including the 2013 Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin, and he was a 2015 finalist in the Walnut Valley Festival Fiddle Competition in Winfield, Kansas, as well as a 2017 finalist at the Freshgrass Fiddle Competition in North Adams, Massachusetts. He has been selected as a two time participant (2015 and 2016) of the Acoustic Music Seminar held at the Savannah Music Festival in Savannah, Georgia. He has taught workshops at the Tenor Guitar Gathering (Astoria, Oregon), Falling Waters Music Camp (Ithaca, New York), and Augusta Bluegrass Week (Elkins, West Virginia). He has performed at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival, Red Wing Roots Festival, Indiana Fiddler’s Gathering, and many other festivals.  Frank Vignola, Mike Marshall, Julian Lage, and Darol Anger are just some of the notable musicians with whom Grant has appeared on stage. Grant is attending University of Michigan for jazz studies. 
 

BRIAN OBERLIN 

Brian is an internationally acclaimed mandolin player and educator. During his decades long professional career, Brian has been playing swing, bluegrass, and Italian classical as a solo mandolinist and vocalist. Brian celebrated the release of his 20th album in May, 2016; Troubadour which features Brian playing solo and singing original music. Along with the myriad of award-winning bands (The Journeymen, GER Mandolin Orchestra with Mike Marshall and Twin Mandolin Slingers with Evan J. Marshall) and ensembles he has collaborated with throughout the United States and Europe, Brian is also the founder and director of the River of the West Mandolin Camp, the Great Lakes Mandolin Camp and the Oregon Mandolin Orchestra. Brian was a top ten finalist at the 2013 Telluride Troubadour Contest, an instructor/performer at the 2012, 2013 and 2017 International Mandolin Academy in Italy, a featured soloist at the 2014 EuroFest Plucked String Festival in Bruchsal, Germany, and a featured soloist at the 2015 Mandolin Upgrade festival in Berlin, Germany. When he is not performing, Brian teaches music to children and adults at art centers, cultural events, festivals, camps, music schools and academies.  

More info on Brian can be found at www.mandoberlin.com 
 

LLOYD DOUGLAS 

Lloyd is from Alpena, Michigan. He has played Banjo, Guitar, Fiddle, and Mandolin in several bluegrass, country/rock, jazz, and blues bands. He has been a member of David Davis and the Warrior River Boys, Jim & Jesse and the Virginia Boys, and Detour. He has filled in with Lynn Morris Band, Audie Blaylock, and Michael Cleveland and Flamekeeper. While with the Warrior River Boys he recorded on the famed Basement sessions for legendary WAMU DJ Ray Davis. As a member of Jim & Jesse he played on the Grand Ole Opry. Lloyd also had the privilege of playing on Michael Cleveland's Grammy nominated album Fiddler's Dream.