Robinella And The Cc Stringband

[QueenBee]

For all you newgrass lovers out there!

My friends Robin and Cruz Contreras of Robinella and the CC Stringband are going to be performing on Conan O'Brien tonight (February 27, 2003)! I'm am so excited for them! It's going to be awesome.
R & CC have been touring with Kasey Chambers this February and they will be opening for Del McCoury in Nashville at the Ryman Auditorium in June.

Please check 'em out! I promise you won't be disappointed!

Oh by the way...they opened for Nickel Creek in Knoxville, TN. last Spring of 2002. [party]

Their website is www.robinella.com/

Have a great night!

[sap2257]

darn!! I really wanted to see it, if only you had posted earlier I would have watched it. I looked it up and everything only to realize that it was on last night! They look like they sound really amazing(I saw a mandolin so that made me excited to check them out)! Were they good? I really want to hear some of their stuff. They should put some samples on their website.
-Sarah

[QueenBee]

Yeah, they were awesome! I'm so sorry you didn't get to see them. I would've posted it earlier, but my sister had just called me with the news last night. I'll have to tell them that they need to put some samples of their songs on the website. I'm sure it would help spread the music.

I taped it so I've watched it a few times now. Of course, I'm probably biased, but they looked just like they belonged there in the big spotlight...Robin looked exactly like Sheryl Crow to me...she was so gorgeous!

Thanks for your interest...that's awesome!

[sap2257]

I'm always open to new music!! I love acoustic instruments!!! NEWGRASS ROCKS!! Just let me know if they put up any music samples on their site, or if they are doing anything else I might be able to check out!
-Sarah [noise]

[creaker]

I taped and watched their performance on Conan O'Brien because I have their EP Blanket for My Soul and just love it. Their performace was great.:)

[QueenBee]

Hey Sarah,
I found a quick clip of music from Man Over that Robinella and the CC Stringband performed on Conan O'Brien at his website. It's at the following link. Maybe it'll give you a little insight into their sound.

http://www.nbc.com/nbc/Late_Night_with_Conan_O'Brien/music/

And here's another link that just tells a tid bit about the experience they had while in New York

http://www.metropulse.com/dir_zine/dir_2003/1310/t_eye.html

Happy Listening!

[noise]

Oh yeah, creaker I wanted to ask...where did you get their Blanket for My Soul EP, and how did you discover them?...that's just so neat....cuz you're from CA right? I've looked for MOM&POP stores in my area but have been unsuccessful in finding one.

ttyl

[sap2257]

Thanks so much for the update QueenBee, I only wish I could here some more of it, 28 seconds is not enough!! From what I heard it sounded really great, I loved the way the instruments sounded. Is she the lead singer, or do some of the others sing too? Thanks again and keep us updated!
-Sarah

[QueenBee]

Yeah, Robin is the lead singer. Not any of the other band members have ventured into doing any sort of vocals yet. Glad you checked it out at least! Cya

[creaker]

Oh yeah, creaker I wanted to ask...where did you get their Blanket for My Soul EP, and how did you discover them?...that's just so neat....cuz you're from CA right? I've looked for MOM&POP stores in my area but have been unsuccessful in finding one.

I'm from CA and I got my copy on Ebay a while ago. There's a copy on there right now if you were still interested in getting one. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2514901840&category=1052 I actually heard about them from you here on the forum and went to their website to check them out and thought they sounded very interesting. Since they had some CDs out I decided I would get one, (I don't know why I wanted the EP) so I got the it and just love it. Their music is very cool. ;)

[QueenBee]

Thanks for the info on the ebay cd! I'm bidding away.

[QueenBee]

Hey everyone!

For anyone that has taken an interest in this thread (Attn to: Creaker) and this newgrass band, you may be find it good to know that Robinella and the CC Stringband have released their new CD with Columbia Records and it is in stores now. You can find it at Wal-Mart for the rolled back price of $9.88, and for any of you that wish to be daring and go ahead buy it without ever having heard their stuff, I promise that you will be pleased with your new find. You can also find it on the Wal-Mart website...here it is
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/search-ng.gsp?search_constraint=0&search_query=Robinella+and+the+CC+Stringband&Continue.x=0&Continue.y=0

Have a fantastic weekend!

[teyes]

Saw this at Tower the other day - $8.99 for a bit, regularly priced at $9.99. Took a quick listen and was pretty impressed with the voice... sadly I had only enough to (finally) pick up Radiohead's Kid A.

Thanks for the heads up though. Definitely caught my eye.

--- steph

ps. Into The Cauldron is now at 12.99... good deal. [noise]

[matt the fiddler]

btw.. the fiddler on this band has been discussed in the fav fiddler thread Billy Contreras quite an amazing guy.. just wait till you see him solo on giant steps for 15 mins..

ha ha i was flipping channels and saw then on conan.. pretty cool

[Benno]

robinella and the cc stringband is AWESOME! im sorry, but her voice is just purely sexy. shes awesome. cruz is awesome at mandolin and billy is a fiddle prodigy. that newer guy who plays that old gibson semihollowbody blues guitar is good too. i love that band. whats their recording policy?
thanks!
BEN[noise]

[sap2257]

found a little thing on them in the paper today b/c they are playing in GA on the 25. they were compared to the Creek. here's what it said:

Genre Blenders: Knoxville combo marries pre-rock-era pop-jazz to some rootsy Appalation 'grass stylings. Like fellow bluegrass-based explorers Nickel Creek, the CC String Band doesn't seem concerned with following any rule book. The Banjo, mandolin and fiddle-led ensemble is accomplished but restrained, letting the remarkable soprano of Robinella Contreras take the lead. The band opens for Old Crow Medicine Show at Smith's Olde Bar at 8pm on June 25. $10
-AJC Access Atlanta 6-19-03

just thought yall would like to read that. :D
-Sarah

[matt the fiddler]

well, they indirectly attribute their success to nickel creek. go read the band history on their website. that show they opened for creek last year was teh start of soething big ;-)

[obsessedwithNC]

WOW! i just heard of RCCSB last night on the Americana music channel. u know the channels tha just play music no videos? well it was called Man Over and my dad put this channel on and Im ran in the room OMG a new Nickel Creek song? but it was Robinella! wow I like this band.. not as much as NC tho.. pretty cool!

[QueenBee]

Hey everyone!:-))

I have some very exciting news about Robinella and the CC Stringband for those of you that are fans, and even an opportunity, for those of you that have been wondering about them, to discover them. CBS cameramen have been following them around for part of their tour to put together a program that is going to air on CBS Sunday Morning!!! [party] So far, for what Ive heard, it's suppose to be this upcoming Sunday (September 21, 2003). I'm not sure why it's not posted on their website. As far as the showtime and lonjevity, I don't have a clue, but I'll be sure to post it when I found out for sure. CBS even did a surprise interview with Robin's family so that will be neat to see as well...I don't know about any of the other band members' families though.

Well, I hope everyone's having a great week and that you'll tune in this Sunday! [noise]

[Bart Simpson]

QueenBee do you have anything to do with the Del McCoury internet board???

[QueenBee]

Umm...no I don't. Why do you ask?

QueenBee

[Bart Simpson]

Cause your screen name is the screen name to the administrator on their website.

[QueenBee]

Yes accidents do happen, even in an attempt to do some good promotional work and release critical information such as the appearance of Robinella and the CC Stringband on a national network. I somehow felt this uneasy feeling lurking in the back of my head as I was posting about their upcoming special on CBS ...as if the news I was conveying to such a fine forum may be false or slightly incorrect due to it's second-hand nature. Now I come to the point of this post. Sad news...R&CC Stringband will not be appearing on CBS Sunday morning tomorrow, Sept. 21, 2003, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel...they will be appearing on the CBS Sunday morning show on September 28, 2003. But Gosh! Don't hold me to my word yet! I suppose we'll all be a little more convinced when this event actually takes place. But either way, it is an event that will take place...I promise you that.

I sincerely hope that no one is tattered and torn over the jolt that such an unexpected let-down delivers. And on behalf of my hopelessly flawed self, I'd like to apologize to those eagerly awaiting this monumental event.

Nonetheless, have a great Sunday!... even in the absence of R&CC Stringband
I'm off to GA to visit a friend.

QueenBee

[Guesswho_Chick]

Glad you posted! There's no way I would catch that otherwise *don't watch network morning news shows* but I'll definatley try to watch this! I've been curious about the band for awhile...I just must try to remember when it's on...really REALLY busy right now :P

nice to see this kind of music getting coverage on something like CBS! WOOHOO!! [party]

[Guesswho_Chick]

Wasn't on today. But, was an excellent show, so it was still worth getting up early on a Sunday. ;) *okay, okay - so the show was on at nine, and had me up a little before eight thirty, but, for me...* Will be watching again next week though! :)

[QueenBee]

:( Sorry guys! I feel awful for having failed you once again, and I am deeply apologetic to those of you that sacrificed your Sunday morning sleep-in time. To be honest, I got the information from Robin's sister, and she seems to be slightly confused about when it's suppose to air as well. Umm... this time I'm not going to post any news until I see some more concrete evidence...such as a post on the band's website or on the CBS show.

But in light of this confusion, I have some fun news for you all. [noise] Two big advances in R&CC Stringband's career have surfaced. The band has recently finished their first video for Man Over off their latest release. I have no idea when and where it will be played but I'll be sure to keep you posted and try not lead you astray as I have in the past. And to add to the bands achievements (and this may not be a big deal but I think it is), one of their songs Mistakes is appearing on Volume 10 of Starbuck's coffee shop cd. I discovered this as I went into to the coffee shop to have my nightly study with my pathophys book and a friendly cup of caramel machiatto(sp?). I found myself browsing through the cds and of course noticed the Nickel Creek's Speak appearance on Volume 9 and then found myself freaking out when I saw R&CC Band on the back of Vol. 10. To me it's just exciting to see their name alongside the likes of Gillian Welch and Nickel Creek. So anyways...I just thought I shared those fun tidbits of information. Hope you enjoyed it!

Queen Bee

oh yeah...I've been meaning to ask. And this may be a question for an administrator. What does Stuck: on a topic of a discussion mean? Just that it doesn't move even when new topics/replies are posted? And if so, thanks for doing it to help get the news out! [noise]

[Guesswho_Chick]

Don't be too apologetic - it's no biggie! A show like this is probably MUCH more beneficial than sleep in time anyways! ;) And if any of my buddie's bands were going to be on a show like this, I'd be desperately trying to get the schedules of when even commercials were airing, so you're definately cool!

And woohoo about the two other career successes!! It's always so exciting when somebody talented and unusual gets a little bit closer to success and/or exposure!!! [noise] Wish them the best of luck!!

I'll keep watchin' for the show *and for the video now! hopefully it'll come on Launch*

and...the stuck thing...see the thread stuckies if it's still up...something the mod's do to single out interesting threads and keep it at the top where it can get noticed...yay!!

[Srol]

At WEXP(the university radio station where I host a 2 hour show) just received a copy of a CD of this band. I'll be sure to check it out first chance I get, as it seems everyone here has a very high opinion of them.

[QueenBee]

Hey!
Look what I found...yep it says it!..Loud and clear! I'm so pumped! How did I happen to miss this show???!! Oh well, there will hopefully be a next time but in the mean time check out the following link to see what a cool thing I discovered!:-)) Hint: look at the poster on the right. Needless to say I've ordered it already!

http://www.nickelcreek.com/store.htm

Luv to all,
QueenBee

[Guesswho_Chick]

that is so cool!!!! :D

and - they didn't happen to be on Sunday Morning this last Sunday did they?? hope not - cuz I managed to sleep just a weeeee bit too late to catch anything but the last twenty mins or so...so I didn't watch it at all...

[QueenBee]

Hey everyone,
Robinella and the CC Stringband's first video for their first release Man Over is being aired on CMT! It began this week. So be on the lookout for their video. Click at this link to see for yourself. http://www.cmt.com/cmt/play/ Scroll down to the bottom under hotshot. Wow...things are just getting better and better! Don't worry I'll be sure to let you know about the CBS Sunday Morning Show as soon as I get wind of some news.



QueenBee

[Guesswho_Chick]

Allright! Thanks for the info! I'll keep my eyes out for it! :)

[QueenBee]

Hi to all,
Just wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the R&CC Stringband website has been updated, and that it provides brief listens, or excerpts rather, of their songs from their latest Columbia release. So if you're curious or interested go have a listen at http://www.robinella.com ! [noise]

QueenBee

[obsessedwithNC]

wow i saw the video for Man Over! i really like this band, QueenBee.. did u say they're your friends? wow coool! i think i've got a new favorite band! .. ima havta pick up this CD! ..
is there any way I could find out the lyrics to Man Over before i buy the CD? just the part like, at the ending i think that says Man over, no need to throw the life preserver he's already drowned inside because i want to put it in my info on AOL instant messenger.

[QueenBee]

Hey again,
The video for Man Over is on their website as well. Unfortunately it's only about a 30 second clip, and I've yet to see the full thing! I'm so disappointed :( ...ah, one of the many misfortunes of not having cable tv. Oh well, hope everyone else has a chance to see it... in the mean time, yet again, here's the link http://www.robinella.com

QueenBee

[matt the fiddler]

for the 10 or so people on these boards in the mark oconnor confrene scene- it is really cool, exciting and very wierd to see billy up on cmt stuff now.. i have a recording of him playing a 10 min solo on giant steps and i still can't believe what that kid can do. billy is also one of the fastest peopel i knwo in terms of finding out amazing haromny lines in new tunes.. he has his spicer-izing tunes method that jsut rocks my world.

[QueenBee]

Yeah, I totally understand what you mean Matt but in reference to Robin more so than Billy I guess. Seeing how I don't know Billy as well. I've still yet to see the video in its entirety, but I know when I saw them on Conan, it was a very surreal experience. I kept saying, I know those people and the grin on my face I'm sure was ridiculously huge. :D I remember the first time I heard Robin sing and play guitar...she must've been 16 or so at the time. We were all sitting around a campfire singing songs, and Robin pulls out her guitar and starts singing Troublesome Waters (one of personal faves), and I remember saying to myself...oh mygosh, I didn't show she could do that! Her voice was so pleasing to hear and like none other I'd ever heard...and still is.

Just the other night, I had been up til 3am studying for an exam and my sister called me on the phone a sad 4 hours later excitedly saying, Robin's video is on CMT. And in a sleep-deprived nature, I had to remind her that I didn't have cable, but the point of this is...I talked to her about it later and she was telling me how different and odd it was to see Robin in all that makeup putting herself in a video mode<< (I don't really know how else to describe it). Nonetheless, it's still really cool!

And I completely agree with you on Billy's spicer-izing? techniques or tunes...very exciting!
QueenBee

[matt the fiddler]

billies harmonizes in a way that he learned form his teacher [buddy spicer, one of the great nashville session fiddlers]
interesting random connection- david- one of buddies sons- played bass with creek for a month or so last year-


buddy has this way of harmonizing tues using perfect 3rds. but does it in cojuction with another fiddle usually. so if you listen to buddy spichers cd - Pick Yourself Up by the nashville swing band [which robinella sings a song on ] you will hear the dueling fiddles with rich harmonies... that is what billy kinda learned.. but has really taken into his own area.

billy also studied with rachel barton for a little bit [flew up to chicago every other week from nashville- ] she is one of the greatest classical players alive- [trajically lost her legs in the sub accident, when the door closed on a strad she was borrowing.. and the sub dragged her] he used to play with a pretty soft airy tone.. not much dynamic contrast- but he has really opened up in the tonal regions recently [i think thanks to his time with her] . so cool to see him as he progresses in his approach to the art.

[Guesswho_Chick]

Just saw them on CMT! SO glad to have finally heard them!

And, wow!! Really reeeally loved it, sounded like Gillian meets Nickel, and actually, if the rest of the album similar to this one *at least in level of play or feel*, I could end up liking them as much or more than NC...not to jump to that conclusion or anything, but this is just the kind of sound I could get obsessed with...sounds like old folk, but feels really fresh...I love that mix!!

[QueenBee]

Hey to all,
Well, Robinella and the CC Stringband aired on Bluegrass Breakdown alongside the Del McCoury Band with David Higgs on NPR just the other night. Oh wow, this is just exciting! There's an interview and they play a song here and there. Robin sings one of her newest songs, and it's fantastic. So if you're interested, go listen. [noise] My banjo pickin friend Clint, that was one of the original Stringbeans (a band with Robin and Cruz before R&CC Stringband...listen to the interview you'll hear about it a bit), called me the other night saying Turn on your radio! He had just happened upon it, otherwise we wouldn't have known about it since the website does such great promotional work telling about their future appearances on shows. Oh well.

Here's the link: http://www.wpln.org/bluegrass/

QueenBee

[Guesswho_Chick]

Awesome! I will go give it a listen soon!! I love that NPR puts this stuff up online...I'd miss everything if they didn't!!

Oh - and something cool! Yesterday I was looking around at cheap-cds.com, looked up Robinella, and they actually had them listed under rock!! Too neat!!! [noise]

[QueenBee]

Hey,
Well, it looks like Robinella and the CC Stringband have made it to CMT's Most Wanted Countdown! They aired as #19 this past Saturday morning, and they are also featured during CMTs Newsbreak. So keep a look out for them. Hopefully we can keep them climbing to the top. You can vote for their video at http://www.cmt.com/cmt/request/mwl.vote.jhtml Woohoo! This is great!

QueenBee

[obsessedwithNC]

well, there ya go. i voted for them... four times. LOL
i love robinella and the cc stringband.. whenever i see their video i make the room go silent and i turn the volume up to 29.. (it hasn't quite hit the 30 status..thats only for nickel creek :))
it seems Robinella is getting more and more popular because the music store at the mall (F.Y.E.) was out of stock of the CD and i had to order it and there were other people who had ordered it as well. hmmph its not coming til late next week.

I LOVE THESE GUYS! WOOOO

[matt the fiddler]

just turn them up to 11..

[Guesswho_Chick]

Originally posted by matt the fiddler
just turn them up to 11..

:D isn't that the wrong genre??

hmm I should be watching cmt a little more often if they're going to be featuring robinella...nice to see how well they're doing! Just a feeeew too many so-so artists make it big, nice to see someone talented for once...

[fiddlincklcrker]

Originally posted by obsessedwithNC
well, there ya go. i voted for them... four times. LOL
i love robinella and the cc stringband.. whenever i see their video i make the room go silent and i turn the volume up to 29.. (it hasn't quite hit the 30 status..thats only for nickel creek :))
it seems Robinella is getting more and more popular because the music store at the mall (F.Y.E.) was out of stock of the CD and i had to order it and there were other people who had ordered it as well. hmmph its not coming til late next week.

I LOVE THESE GUYS! WOOOO

on my tv when nickel creek comes on it goes up to 100 which is the loudest that it goes. for robinella i would say 50 which is pretty darn loud my dad gets mad at me.

[treelover]

I love what I heard...... but I cant find their cd ANYWHERE!

[Guesswho_Chick]

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000996HY/qid=1073425024//ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i0_xgl15/104-6685115-3943903?v=glance&s=music&n=507846

There ya go!! :)

[treelover]

Thanks!;)

[obsessedwithNC]

hey QueenBee, are you still around here? I'm just wondering what's next for Robinella and the band. They seemed to be doing very well with Man Over and I was wondering what they are up to now?

((still haven't bought the CD. i dont like internet CD purchases and the FYE store is always sold out :p)

[fiddlincklcrker]

I heard on CMT that Robinella and Cruz(her husband which I didn't even know) are expecting their first child in May.

[matt the fiddler]

Cruz Contrez = CC for the CC string band.. robinella is billie's sister in law..

[QueenBee]

Hey guys!
Yeah I'm still here...not often b/c things get crazy... but onto R&CC Stringband. The band is taking time off the road so that Robin and Cruz can devote time and energy towards their new baby that's on the way. They are playing every Sunday night in Knoxville at a local place called Barley's. Even though they are taking time off the road, they are still working hard on new material and plan on spending some time in the recording studio for a new album. So expect to hear more great things from them! [noise]

QueenBee

[obsessedwithNC]

Hi Queenbee, it's been a while... has Robinella had her baby yet?

[QueenBee]

Hey!
Yes, Robin had her baby a few weeks ago, and as far as I know, all is well with the new addition to the Contreras and Tipton families.

QueenBee

[QueenBee]

Hey ya'll!
Robinella is back. There is a new website up at the same web address http://www.robinella.com/ , and the new cd is coming out soon. I believe there have been some changes, but I think we can expect to find the same style and quality of music. You can read about it and the band on the website. Robin wrote all of the songs with the exception of one cover song. My sister sent me this email about her visit.

hey. I went to edited this past weekend and i got to see robin, cruz and their baby Cash (which surprisingly looks nothing like cruz) looks like pure tipton. They have a new cd coming out in aug or sept...and they have updated their website. all the new songs are written by robin except for one. Mr. T (Tipton) told me its a great album and they hope for success. http://www.robinella.com/index.htm
thought i would pass the word along.

So here I am passing the word along to you. I'm headed to a special place this weekend to visit with their family so if they decide to sit around and play some of their stuff, I'll be sure to give ya'll an update on the new material. Hope everyone is having a great summer!

QueenBee

[lerdave]

Robinella's (they dropped the CC Stringband) new album, Solace for the Lonely, is great. I can't stop playing it. I think it could deserve a grammy nomination, but it would be difficult to categorize. It's jazzy, but I would only call a few cuts jazz. Maybe it would be in the catchall category, contemporary folk. Give it a listen.

[Lewis Smith]

GAC is showing they are going to broadcast there interview with Robinella,and the Greencards on April 7.On there edge of country program.Its the one they did during the South by Southwest show.Nickel Creek,and the Derailers is on the 12th.

[thedownsideband]

Yay!