Ellis Dyson & the Shambles, known throughout the local music scene for their swinging tunes and electric on-stage performances, are taking their talents to untested waters on their spring tour.
The namesake of the band, Ellis Dyson, is a senior American studies major and self-described bowtie expert from Cary who performs lead vocals, banjo, guitar and kazoo. He is joined by Nathan Huvard on guitar, Jonathan Ng on fiddle, Danny Abrams on saxophone, Matt Hall on trumpet and Adam Maloney on bass fiddle.
This winter, the sextet set out on a tour that took them to venues from Raleigh to Brooklyn. Now, the band is taking on even more new territory in its spring tour, with both local shows and dates in Richmond, New York and Washington, D.C.
“Overnight success takes a decade at least,” said Dyson. “It’s all about playing shows and getting your name out there and just being relentless in pursuing success.”
Dyson said touring has been an eye-opening experience, emphasizing the value of exposure, connections and establishing a genuine connection with your audiences.
“If you think of the band as a business, then you, yourself, are the product,” says Dyson. “So we assume characters on stage, and people get drawn into the theatrics and the music and the moment.”
A band of both current and former UNC students, Ellis Dyson & the Shambles has a musical style ranging from laid-back mountain folk to upbeat, Prohibition-era jazz.
“Being a six-piece is a tremendous opportunity for us, musically,” said Dyson. “It’s part of our character. It lets us play to the audience each night and make each performance unique.”
Tyler Souza, a first-year environmental science major from Alexandria, Virginia, said his experience at a recent show solidified him as a fan of the band.
