"A folk-pop trio from Seattle, performs funny original songs whose exquisite musical detail and subtle needling wit attain a level of craft not often seen in pop" - NY Times
Imagine what might happen if Tim Burton and Edward Gorey hijacked the Andrews Sisters en route to a Stephen Sondheim festival with The Beatles and Tom Lehrer in the sidecar; you'd get Seattle super-harmonizers Uncle Bonsai. With just three voices and an acoustic 
guitar, Uncle Bonsai presents an often dizzying vocal array of intricate harmony. Their songs, dark and hilarious at times, just as often delight with moments of great insight and beauty. The trio aligns itself with the under-achiever, the dejected, the outsider, the black sheep. Densely-packed lyrics fly by in a whirr at times, and take a skewed stance on topics such as first-world problems, the creation of the universe, the afterlife, and, of course, holidays with the family. Uncle Bonsai's acoustic folk-pop songs are almost one-act plays or short stories, resisting strict pop, folk, or singer-songwriter categories. Their songs focus on the passing of time, the passing of genes, and the passing of pets - the truth of everything seemingly buried somewhere under the family tree.
Now in its forty-second year, the group has nine recordings, a reversible/hard cover book for parents (and their kids), and recently premiered an all-new show, “Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs,” featuring a 25-song song cycle. The group plans to do shows that integrate these songs into their regular material AND will also present the entire cycle in a series of shows in Fall, 2023.
"Singers Ratshin, O'Neill and Adler are pitch-perfect in their delivery of often complex harmonic arrangements. And if there were an Ella Fitzgerald Award for Exquisite Elocution in Song, they would surely get it. The trio officially bills itself as a "folk" outfit, but has none of the naiveté that label might suggest. These are nicely edgy, sour-sweet songs, written for grown-ups." - The Seattle Times
The most recent recording, "The Family Feast: The Study of the Human Condition, First World Problems, and the Lasting Physiological and Psychological Effects of Eating Our Young," is available everyhere. The CD features many of the songs the group has been performing for the past few years or so. Included are: Problems, Brand New World, Modern Medicine (Old Man Arms), In The End, The Family Feast, Bat, and many others. The group is has finally started performing again, after this long, world-wide, "interruption," and is excited to be playing these songs, along with selections from the 25 new songs from the "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" song-cycle..
This summer, the group plans to start recording the "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" song-cycle, with plans to release each section as it's finished. The more recent recording, titled The Family Feast: The Study of the Human Condition, First World Problems, and the Lasting Physiological and Psychological Effects of Eating Our Young, features many of the songs the group has been performing for the past few yers. Included are: Problems, Brand New World, Modern Medicine (Old Man Arms), In The End, The Family Feast, Bat, and many others.
Andrew recently completed his new song cycle, "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs," a collection of songs inspired by, well, the seven sins, the seven wonders, and, um, the seven dwarfs. Uncle Bonsai finally got to perform the whole 25-song concert, at The Triple Door in Seattle, on April 23rd, and they're excited to head into the studio this summer to start recording the songs. More info to come but keep your eyes on the 7sinswondersdwarfs.com web site!
Uncle Bonsai can’t seem to get it right. Everything goes askew in whatever they try. Their so-called “children’s” songs ended badly, especially for the family pets, but even their “grown- up” songs of childhood memories are rife with disappointment. Long obsessed with what gets swept beneath the rug of every family, the trio’s recent work turns its scrutiny on parenting. Once children themselves, they mocked the best (some say “futile”) efforts of their beleaguered parents. Not until after becoming parents themselves did they realize the great wisdom and fortitude of their parents, after all. Shoulda said something. Now they turn their “mature” attention to the sheer devilry of their own children.
Uncle Bonsai’s first "flipover" book contains two illustrated songs about extreme efforts certain skewed adults (might) take to get their own children to bed: Confess to them about the reality of monsters. Bribe them. Threaten their toys. Accept the futility and hit the gin. There are no swear words and no one’s getting hurt, but straight-faced lies and escalating tempers of angels will lead even good parents to feel superior to the depths sought out by the narrators of these songs.
That’s why we love Bonsai. They’re so much worse off than we are.
The group is currently spending the summer recording the 25-song "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" song cycle. They'll be back in the fall and, as shows are confirmed, we'll be adding them here..
It's Andrew's birthday so we're having a celebration. Uncle Bonsai welcomes singer/songwriter Scott Katz, Electric Bonsai Band (it's not electric, it's not a band . . . Andrew's solo performance), and extra special guests: The Go Janes! One show at the amazing Good Shepherd Center. Limited seating . . tickets on sale now!
SAVE THE DATE! Uncle Bonsai is very excited to be returning to The Triple Door for a 43rd Anniversary show, featuring songs from all the recordings, the "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" show, and more. Some old songs, some new songs, some surprises, including the world premiere of selections from The Seven Modern Wonders! Insincere singer/songwrite Scott Katz opens the show . . . tickets on sale soon!
We're especially excited to be presenting the entire "Seven Sins, Seven Wonders, Seven Dwarfs" song-cycle at this wonderful venue. It's the first time bringing this 25-song set to Snohomish and we can't wait 'cause there's now even more Sevens! That's right, for the first time anywhere, the group plans to premiere the Seven Modern Wonders set. The what? That's right . . . eight new songs -- gotta have that theme song in there -- together for the first time!!
The group is so excited to be returning to Coyle, Washington. This afternoon concert at the Laurel B. Johnson Community Center will feature songs lots of old songs, lots of new songs, and a lot of surprises! Great venue with great sound . . . don't miss it!
For the final show of 2024, Uncle Bonsai is thrill to be returning to this intimate venue in Kingston. A warm, inviting, stage . . . a mix of old and new songs and a great potluck!
Live Uncle Bonsai Audio Samples |
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| Problems live @ Kirkland Performance Center | |
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| I Would Come Back from The Grim Parade (Live) | |
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| Men and Women live @ Kirkland Performance Center | |
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Click on photo to open a high-res version of this promo shot.
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