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Concerts at the Crossing Presents the World’s Largest American Roots Music in-the-Road, March 23

By Scott Cullen
Concerts at the Crossing presents an evening of American roots music featuring Spuyten Duyvil and Pesky J. Nixon, two of the highest-energy bands on the acoustic folk East Coast music circuit at 7:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing in Titusville, New Jersey. In a Concerts at the Crossing first, both bands—an 8-piece and a 4-piece—will be on stage at the same time for the entire evening for the largest in-the-round in the concert series’ history.
Hailing from New York’s Hudson Valley, Spuyten Duyvil’s (pronounced: "Spite + n Dive + l") soaring vocals, traditional jug band energy, amped-up lap steel guitar, and Chicago-style blues harp propel audiences on a barn-burning romp through the last 100 years of American Roots music. The band’s original songs mash up the blues, old time gospel, bluegrass, jug band, Appalachian, and punk rock, all rooted in a traditional folk sound that wanders the last 100 years of American music conjuring embittered Civil War veterans, recalcitrant small-town bawds, suicidal bureaucrats, star-crossed lovers, and brave-hearted fools navigating the mysteries of daily life.
Legendary folk DJ Gene Shay from WXPN calls Spuyten Duyvil “one of the hottest new bands in folk music…and one of the best".
Spuyten Duyvil’s 2011 release, New Amsterdam was a DJ favorite receiving enthusiastic airplay on over 165 stations in 5 countries and a “Top American Roots Album 2011” nomination from The Alternate Root TV.
Bombastic yet brilliant, Pesky J. Nixon (PJN) exude a genuine musical authenticity and mirth on stages all along the East Coast. Drawing influences from contemporary urban balladeers, rowdy southern bluegrass, and the sardonic yet wry wit of New England’s localized folk scenes, PJN creates an atmosphere both inviting and challenging for audiences. Compelling harmonies and narratives rein in disparate instrumentation including-zydeco style accordion, virtuosic mandolin, a variety of tribal percussion, and a myriad of string instrumentation.
With rich harmonies and musical versatility PJN brings a unique brand of infectious energy and stage banter to every stage they grace. At times putting on a show that borders on brotherly bickering these boys specialize on bringing the audience into their world, songs, and stories.
The band’s new album, Red Ducks, serves as a serenade to their roots in the folk scene with unique approaches to covering songs from the band’s local friends and some of their musical icons. The record is currently in the top 10 Roots Music Chart earning praise both domestically and internationally. 
Tickets for Spuyten Duyvil & Pesky J. Nixon are $20. Children 14 and under are $5.
The Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing is located at 268 Washington Crossing-Pennington Road in Titusville, N.J. For tickets and directions, call Concerts at the Crossing at (609) 406-1424 or visit http://concertsatthecrossing.com.