# Pinetop Seven

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**Pinetop Seven** is an American band from [Chicago, Illinois](/source/Chicago,_Illinois). The group initially revolved around three core members, supplemented by instruments such as [double bass](/source/Double_bass), [accordion](/source/Accordion), [slide guitar](/source/Slide_guitar), [banjo](/source/Banjo), and [mandolin](/source/Mandolin); more recent recordings have a more fluid lineup and increasingly orchestral textures. The group is a key representative of the Chicago [alt country](/source/Alt_country) musical scene.

## History

Bandmembers Darren Richard and Charles Kim first met at [Vanderbilt University](/source/Vanderbilt_University), and began playing music on the [Nashville](/source/Nashville,_Tennessee) club scene starting in 1990; in 1994, they moved to Chicago and formed Pinetop Seven.[1] After adding Ryan Hembrey to the lineup in 1995, the band began touring,[1] and eventually landed a record deal with Truckstop Records, who began releasing the band's material in 1997. 1998's *Rigging the Toplights* featured [clarinet](/source/Clarinet) work from fellow Chicagoan [Ken Vandermark](/source/Ken_Vandermark). In 2000, Charles Kim left the band, and the group expanded to a larger ensemble featuring more orchestral musical textures, beginning with 2000's *Bringing Home the Last Great Strike*.[2] Their 2005 release *The Night's Bloom* and its subsequent sessions release, *Beneath Confederate Lake*, feature further orchestral exploration, as well as a revamped core of members, featuring original member Richard, [trumpeter](/source/Trumpet) Nate Walcott, [cellist](/source/Cello) Melissa Bach, bassist Andy Rader, guitarist Mack Hagood, and drummer Ned Folkerth.

Throughout its career, the band garnered considerable critical acclaim from outlets such as [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media),[3][4][5] [NPR](/source/NPR) radio,[6][7] One Times One,[8][9] The *[Orlando Weekly](/source/Orlando_Weekly)*,[10] [Paste Magazine](/source/Paste_Magazine),[11] and others.

A few months after the release of *Beneath Confederate Lake*, Richard enrolled in [law school](/source/Law_school), and the group went on hiatus. As of 2010, Richard was working as a lawyer in the music industry.[12]

## Discography

- *Pinetop Seven* ([Truckstop](/source/Truckstop_Records), 1997)
- *Rigging the Toplights* (Truckstop/[Atavistic](/source/Atavistic_Records), 1998)
- *No Breath in the Bellows* EP (Truckstop/Atavistic, 1998)
- *Bringing Home the Last Great Strike* (Atavistic, 2000)
- *Lest We Forget* (2001)
- *The Night's Bloom* ([Sky](/source/Sky_Records)/[Empyrean](/source/Empyrean_Records), 2005)
- *Beneath Confederate Lake* (Sky/Empyrean, 2006)

## References

1. [ Biography], Allmusic.com

1. Jesse Ashlock,[Biography](http://www.epitonic.com/index.jsp?refer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epitonic.com%2Fartists%2Fpinetopseven.html) at Epitonic, August 14, 2001. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *No Breath in the Bellows*](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20880-no-breath-in-the-bellows-ep?artist_title=20880-no-breath-in-the-bellows-ep), 9.0/10 rating. [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media). Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *The Night's Bloom*](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20883-the-nights-bloom), 8.4/10 rating. [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media), October 28, 2005. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *Beneath Confederate Lake*](http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/36652-beneath-confederate-lake), 7.6/10 rating. [Pitchfork Media](/source/Pitchfork_Media), May 31, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2007

1. Stephen Thompson, [A Ghostly Voice That Swoops and Swoons](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5318618). [NPR](/source/NPR), April 3, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Audio Review of *Rigging the Toplights*](https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1032189). [NPR](/source/NPR), December 7, 1998. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *The Night's Bloom*](http://www.onetimesone.com/music-reviews/pinetop-seven-nights-bloom.php), 4.5/5 rating. One Times One, November 19, 2005. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *Beneath Confederate Lake*](http://www.onetimesone.com/music-reviews/pinetop-seven-beneath.php), 4/5 rating. One Times One, July 3, 2006. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Review of *The Night's Bloom*](http://www.orlandoweekly.com/music/review.asp?rid=9907), *[Orlando Weekly](/source/Orlando_Weekly)*. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. Stephen Deusner, [Late, But Great](http://www.pastemagazine.com/action/article/2300/pinetop_seven). [Paste Magazine](/source/Paste_Magazine), feature, October 13, 2005. Accessed July 6, 2007.

1. [Former Rocker with Pinetop Seven playing up musical skill set in business law career](http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/10/11/focus3.html?page=all). *Columbus Business First*, October 11, 2010.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pinetop Seven](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinetop_Seven) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinetop_Seven?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.