Next to Kin Releases First Album, 'Kindergarten'

Local band Next to Kin is releasing their first studio-recorded album this May at Ransom Steele Tavern. The new album is titled Kindergarten and consists completely of original songs written by the band. Besides the subtle play on words, the title is representative of beginnings, and of the band starting a new journey.

“It has significance, where this is our first studio album,” Mary Tewksbury, lead guitarist and vocal performer, reveals. “It’s not by any means perfect [but in the end] we, actually, thoroughly enjoy playing music with each other.”

Not only are the songs on this album Next to Kin originals, they are also generational. Many of the band members attribute much of their song inspirations to family, and that is particularly significant in this album. Mallory Evans (lead singer, rhythm guitar, and auxiliary percussion) and Ryan Cirbus (upright bass and piano) are both bandmates and siblings. Evans and Cirbus’ mother, Mel (nicknamed “Girl” by the band) is featured on the album singing harmonies. In addition, the siblings’ late grandmother can not only be heard in one of the songs, but is also from whom it was inspired. Cirbus and Evans randomly picked a line from one of their grandmother’s poems and made it the first lyric of their song “Crary Mills,” which is also the name of their grandmother’s hometown. The song ends with a spoken line taken from a song written, performed, and self-recorded by the siblings’ grandmother years ago. This was truly a whole new level of collaborative effort.

“It was the first song we wrote together,” Tewksbury explains.

Although this album release is a new endeavor for the band, it is far from their beginnings. The band members had experiences playing together in one combination or another as far back as eight years ago. Yet, it was not until 2013 that the seeds of Next to Kin were planted. Cirbus and Tewksbury were both playing in the Cyber Café West house band, then known as InnerMission, and Cirbus - as his “kin” - invited Evans onstage. From then on, Evans and Tewksbury began playing together regularly, while InnerMission continued. Eventually, the threesome came together and established Next to Kin.

“On a warm November day in 2014,” Cirbus begins. “That’s when we put a name to it,” chimes in Evans.

The name Next to Kin began as a joke by Tewksbury based on the simple fact that, when playing together, she was literally standing next to kin (Cirbus and Evans). Joke or not, the name was fitting, and so it stayed. Just less than a year later, the band was complete when Andy Thomas (drums) joined in September of 2015. Thomas was subbing in as the drummer for East Coast Bigfoot at a shared gig with Next to Kin at Ransom Steele Tavern the month prior. Next to Kin invited Thomas to play with them during their set, and the threesome became a foursome.

“We told him not to tear down his drums and he didn’t. We’re glad he didn’t,” shares Cirbus.

Once established, Next to Kin began to find their group sound. Even though the individual members originally wrote many of their songs solo - some even before the band was established - the band has since influenced each other’s’ writing. Each member feels that, old or newly written, there is a piece of everyone in all the songs they perform. With that, there is also a piece of each band member’s history and inspiration within their songs. Many of the songs they write are based on loved ones and their own life experiences manifested as music and lyrics. In addition, the group is also influenced by bands that have inspired them in the past, what they call, “elder influences.” A few favorites specifically mentioned were Phish and Barenaked Ladies. All these factors combined have helped Next to Kin create unique songs that fit into their own folk-fusion sound.

“What’s neat about the album is that it’s not just honed-in on one sound; it kind of touches on a lot of different things,” Cirbus explains.

There is an obvious kinship shared among the band members that is apparent both onstage and in their candid interactions with one another. Although only two of the foursome are actual blood relatives, the band acts like one happy family. The Next to Kin members are all natives to either Broome or Tioga County and they each have additional roles, outside of the band, within their communities. Tewksbury is the General Manager of Binghamton’s Cyber Café West, as well as a part-time student of healthcare management. Evans is a part-time Fundraising Manager at the Tri-State Chapter of the Scleroderma Foundation in Binghamton, and a fulltime mom. Cirbus is a music teacher in the Owego-Appalachian School District, bassist for local bluegrass band Bug Tussle, and father of one, soon-to-be two. Lastly, Thomas is a well-recognized local face, known for his involvement in many local bands, including The Falconers, Zydeco Po’ Boys, Dutch Bucket System, and Second Class Citizens. Although Thomas could not be present at the interview, his bandmates were singing his praises.

“He brought what we were doing as a threesome to the next level - he totally gave us a different sound,” says Tewksbury.

The members of Next to Kin have come a long way over a short few years, but they have certainly put in the work. Along with writing, fine-tuning, and recording their songs, they have also spent the last year funding their recording project and performing live shows, while keeping their day jobs. Funds were raised through sale on their EP album, which was a live recording of a performance at Ransom Steele, as well as much-appreciated donations through their Kickstarter that exceeded expectations. The band is overwhelmed with gratitude for all who supported them, including family, friends, fans, and donors. They are especially grateful for the work of Jeff Stachyra of NewClear Studio, who produced, recorded, and mastered their album.

“It was a humbling experience,” Evans shares. “It was really good for us as a band.”

Meeting with the band is an experience filled with laughter shared and stories told. It’s clear that Next to Kin is a group of local community members that not only share a love for music, but a love for each other and for this area. They put their time and talents, both on and off stage, back into the community. Their passions, influences, and histories are present in their music, just as their humor and kinship is felt in their stage presence and repartee. It is a genuine and contagious energy that makes for a fantastic live show, and this month you can take a piece of that energy home with you in their album, Kindergarten.

The album release party takes place May 5th at Ransom Steele Tavern. Devinne Meyers opens the show at 8pm, followed by Next to Kin at 9pm. Cover charge is $5, $7 with drink chip. In addition to the release party, Next to Kin has a number of local gigs lined up for the month of May: They can be seen at Chips Bar in Windsor on May 6th, Bill’s Restaurant in Owego on May 12th, and Thirsty’s Tavern in Binghamton on May 20th. They will also be returning to Ransom Steele on May 19th, with Cirbus’s fifth-grade rock band as their opener. Plus, keep your eyes peeled for information on their Binghamton CD release at Cyber Café West on July 14th at 9pm. For more information about the event or the band, visit nexttokinmusic.com or facebook.com/next2kin.