OctoPladd is another young band formed within the growing bluegrass community that surrounds the Berklee College of Music in Boston. Their name could have bizarre, mystical connotations – or it could just be because each of the four of them are wearing two plaid shirts in their promotional picture.
In any event, they are remarkably talented young pickers who formed outside of their Berklee classes, and do shows around the Boston area, sometimes officially representing the school. They are Julian Pinelli on fiddle, Sam Leslie on guitar, Ethan Setiawan on mandolin, and Noah Harrington on bass.
Recently they have been recording at Berklee’s audio studios, and also captured the performances on video. At this point, what they have shot is all instrumental, and they can all be viewed on YouTube.
Here’s one with a distinctly grass flavor, their version of Ronnie McCoury’s Goldbrickin’.
Engineering in the studio were Jeremy Kahn, Loren Dorland, and Mateo London, Louise Bachand shot the video, which was edited by Julian Pinelli.
Two of the band members are taking advantage of the opportunity to study abroad this coming school year, so it looks like a hiatus is on the horizon, but hopefully OctoPladd will be back with renewed vigor next summer.
