1001 Lakeview Avenue
Toiyabe National Forest, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
USA
‘NO DRESS CODE’
Voted Best Album 2012: Reno News & Review – Best of Northern Nevada 2012 (Aug 09, 2012)
Tahoe’s Band of the Year 2012 – Lake Tahoe Action (Dec 6, 2012)
Jelly Bread, emerging out of Reno, NV, is a tour de force of full frontal funk, thoroughly steeped in a Rock-Americana style, with a dash of rollicking indie alt-rock radio appeal.
The band is fronted by award winning songwriter and lap steel player, Dave Berry, and vocalist and beast of drummer, Cliff Porter. The band’s ability to meld the elements of a high desert twang and Oakland funk & rock through musical alchemy produces a chameleonic playlist highlighted by dual vocals that bounce between native chanting at a bluegrass barbeque and a gospel singer fronting a rock band at a Sunday morning service.
Dave and Cliff have known each other since childhood, growing up in the same neighborhood and attending the same schools, but only joined musical forces 4 years ago. Cliff brought his gospel band, rhythm section partner, Brady Carthen, and his bass slappin’ dirty funk with him. Likewise, Dave brought in songwriting collaborator and keyboard player, Eric Matlock, resulting in the core group that has crafted a high energy calling card that is counter-balanced by exceptional songwriting and storytelling. This mix of in-the-pocket drum and bass grooves, swampy lap steel guitar, dirt under the fingernails guitar licks, and take-’em-to-church organ is downright appetizing—bright colors and sweet, funky flavors.
The band’s influences range from the likes of Stevie Wonder, James Brown & Parlaiment Funkadelic to the reaches of modern contemporaries like Robert Randolph, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Ben Harper and the John Butler Trio.
Having shared the stage with Soulive, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, G Love & Special Sauce, Robert Randolph & The Family Band, Roy Rogers & The Delta Rythm Kings, Rusted Root, and jamming with Jonny Lang, Jelly Bread has marked over 350 shows under its belts in its short 3 year history.