How do you qualify a band that claims they are “bards of dispossessed ramblers, gamblers with no bankroll, and hobos waiting for the sunrise”? Tea Leaf Green (TLG), is a band that claims they never got together and planned on what kind of a band they would be, it just sort of happened. Gathering a bit of rock and roll, a smidge of blues, and a touch of blues, TLG’s shows have become a staple of the San Francisco’s bustling music scene.

Their newest studio release, Taught to be Proud, is TLG’s fourth since forming in 1999. It has an energy that might remind you of early Elton John or maybe a bit of Bob Dylan, but it is their live performances that really set them apart from their contemporaries.

After the release of Taught to be Proud, TLG went on tour and opened shows for Gov’t Mule and Trey Anastasio formerly of Phish and playing such high profile shows as Bonnaroo and Wakarusa. Like their counterparts, each show has become a new experience, a new take on an old song, and completely different from the night before. Hard to believe with the punishing schedule the group keeps, but their enthusiasm is obvious in the eyes of their dedicated fans who often travel from venue to venue to see them play.

Their music is smart, honest, and best of all, fun. In an era of self-effacing music, critical of all things traditional, Tea Leaf Green are a breath of fresh air combining thought provoking lyrics with a lighthearted delivery all while keeping smart and dynamic at the same time.

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