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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Band’s Connection Apparent In Music

This isn’t just a band.

This is a family.

The drummer is married to the guitarist, who is the sister-in-law of one of the other guitar players. Confused yet?

Well, those members of Seattle’s 3 Track Mind who aren’t related have known each other for a very long time - some since childhood.

Such close ties show in their music.

This four-year-old folk-rock group spins out luscious bluegrass-tinged songs with a social conscience.

“You can tell we are unified when we play,” says guitarist Kristy Gamble. “The emotional connection is really apparent.”

3 Track Mind will make their first-ever appearance in Spokane on Saturday at ArtFest, starting at 6 p.m. in the beer garden.

But don’t let the name fool you. There will be four of them.

In addition to guitar, Gamble plays hand percussion; Jennifer Todd plays guitar and mandolin; Kevin Jones plays six- and 12-string guitar; and Steve Smith plays all manner of drum.

Gamble, Todd and Jones all sing and write songs, taking lead vocals on the tunes they penned. Although Smith joined a year late, the band decided to keep its name.

They have accumulated a strong following in the Puget Sound and in 1994 opened for Joan Baez. They also appeared in the 1995 motion picture “Georgia” with Mare Winningham and Jennifer Jason Leigh.

Wrapped in a sound reminiscent of Shawn Colvin and Crosby, Stills and Nash, 3 Track Mind’s songs deal with human topics such as AIDS and domestic violence.

In “From the Outside” (on their second CD, titled “Living Room”), Gamble sings of a good friend’s bad relationship.

When he’s been drinking you say/ You want to take the kids and run away/But you don’t know where you’d start.

Gamble says she originally planned to re-record the vocals to “From the Outside” because she began crying as she sang. She changed her mind because they seemed “more genuine.”

“Your heart comes out in your music,” she says.

, DataTimes MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: ARTFEST MUSIC SCHEDULE Friday Noon: the New Criterion Banjo Orchestra (Victorian-era parlor music). 1:30 p.m.: Wild Rose Duo (two violas, classical and beyond). 2:45 p.m.: Tiana Gregg with Hidde Hanenburg (acoustic folk-rock originals). 4 p.m.: Lindell Reason Band (Detroit-style blues and jazz). 5:30 p.m.: Planetary Refugees (reggae-ska dance music). 7 p.m.: Malidoma! (world dance and drum ensemble).

Saturday 10 a.m.: Celtic Nots (children’s concert). 11:15 a.m.: Holladay and Siems (old-time cowboy and western songs). 12:30 p.m.: Roberts and Brasch (contemporary jazz). 1:45 p.m.: Hired Hands (bluegrass and country). 3 p.m.: Jim Boyd (Native American folk-rock). 4:15 p.m.: Nancy Lynn Allen (original eclectic folk). 6-8 p.m.: 3 Track Mind (folk-rock harmonies).

Sunday 11 a.m.: Philip Boulding (harpist). 12:15 p.m.: Paul Brasch (acoustic delta blues). 1:30 p.m.: Jazz Conspiracy. 2:45 p.m.: Haran Irish Dancers with The Lundberg Brothers. 4 p.m.: Chutzpah (Klezmer orchestra).

This sidebar appeared with the story: ARTFEST MUSIC SCHEDULE Friday Noon: the New Criterion Banjo Orchestra (Victorian-era parlor music). 1:30 p.m.: Wild Rose Duo (two violas, classical and beyond). 2:45 p.m.: Tiana Gregg with Hidde Hanenburg (acoustic folk-rock originals). 4 p.m.: Lindell Reason Band (Detroit-style blues and jazz). 5:30 p.m.: Planetary Refugees (reggae-ska dance music). 7 p.m.: Malidoma! (world dance and drum ensemble).

Saturday 10 a.m.: Celtic Nots (children’s concert). 11:15 a.m.: Holladay and Siems (old-time cowboy and western songs). 12:30 p.m.: Roberts and Brasch (contemporary jazz). 1:45 p.m.: Hired Hands (bluegrass and country). 3 p.m.: Jim Boyd (Native American folk-rock). 4:15 p.m.: Nancy Lynn Allen (original eclectic folk). 6-8 p.m.: 3 Track Mind (folk-rock harmonies).

Sunday 11 a.m.: Philip Boulding (harpist). 12:15 p.m.: Paul Brasch (acoustic delta blues). 1:30 p.m.: Jazz Conspiracy. 2:45 p.m.: Haran Irish Dancers with The Lundberg Brothers. 4 p.m.: Chutzpah (Klezmer orchestra).