Easterly's story

She said she always liked the sound of directional names like the ones espoused by meteorologists to describe weather patterns. Being from the West Coast, we figured we'd get farther if we were called "Easterly." That, and we feared that "Noah Hall & Oats" might bring lawsuits. Are we predictable like the weather? Weather junkies watch weather - Music fans make music. That's how it started. Hopefully Easterly can't be compartmentalized by full color graphics on the back of USA Today, but, if we can, hopefully the weather girl is pretty.

We formed in late 2001 to add sonic layers to the narrative layers of Noah's songs. Slowly, Noah started to incorporate the band into his solo shows at Borders. Soon the Borders Newsletter astutely heralded this marriage by changing the billing from "Noah Hall" to "Noah Hall and His Band". The buzz had begun.

We struggled with names until she blessed us with the "Easterly" idea. By early Summer 2002, the "recording project" started to take shape at United Sound Disposal (a.k.a. Dan, Andy, & Flynn's place) in Salem, OR. Our summer was measured track by track. We had to finish Paul's parts by late July before he left for a Latin American excursion.

Track by track- we finally had workable versions of twelve songs. Seeking feedback, we sent these demos to people with good ears. This led us to ask Jeff Stuart Saltzman to try his hand at some mixes. We liked what he did, and we sent the mixes to Jeff Lipton for mastering. We sent the cd to Bruce Bodeen of Not Lame Records in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and he liked it enough to offer to put it out on February 3, 2004.

The debut cd sold out in two months and we had to decide what to do. Luckily we owned the rights. And Luckily Daisuke Kambe at Wizzard In Vinyl in Japan thought enough to release our cd there in November of 2004.

We are at work on the follow-up and we are continuing to play shows in support of both the U.S. and Japanese releases.

Noah Hall - Singer, guitarist

Quietly unassuming but wields a sharp songwriting pen. Toyed with becoming an Episcopal man of the cloth via Yale Divinity where he spent some time -- an experience and epistemology that will occasionally surface in song.

Andy Douthit - Guitarist

Does not sing nor does he care to, thank you very much! Currently has the longest hair in the band, so he at least gives Easterly an ounce of rock star cred. Literate in Classic Rock and Slayer. Has been known to read biographies and travel distances to see Springsteen. Also rocks with a little outfit called "Snake Attack", although they may be on hiatus.

Kerry Kincanon - Bassist

Only feels comfortable amongst the lower frequencies. Likes life at sea level and is short by choice. Will sing backing vocals, but as you might expect, can't sing high. From the Midwest, where he played in original bands called "Glass Bottom Isle" (Nebraska) and "Colorless Green Ideas" (Illinois). Musical claim to fame - once played in band with a guy who played in a band with MC 900 Foot Jesus.

Dan Miles - Drummer

(plus other instruments on the album) Unlike Kerry, can sing high backing vocals, well. Also an excellent guitar player, and when properly plied by the audience, will play a song or two at our shows. Especially adept at Neil Diamond covers, and that's no lie. Like Noah, has been in several Northwest bands - most recently as a guitarist for "Believing in June" and as drummer for "Snake Attack."

Stan Keightley - Keyboard

bio coming soon

Rich Swanger - Guitar

bio coming soon