Welshly Arms

Welshly Arms is a blues rock group from Cleveland, United States, active since 2013. The band consists of Sam Getz, Michael Gould, Lady Bri, Brett Lindemann and James Weaver. Its core lineup in the biography is described as Sam Getz on guitar and vocals, Michael Gould on drums, Brett Lindemann on keys and James Weaver on bass guitar.

Background

The group’s members develop their musical interests from an early age. Sam Getz begins playing guitar at six, encouraged by his father, who is described as a music enthusiast and drummer. By 14, he is headlining clubs on the Cleveland blues circuit and opening for Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac and Mick Taylor of the Rolling Stones. James Weaver plays with the Cleveland Youth Orchestra and performs on guitar and bass in local rock bands. Michael Gould plays in local rock and punk groups, as well as his high school marching band. Brett Lindemann studies classic jazz and later describes discovering jazz in high school as a turning point in how he approaches the piano.

Formation and development

Getz, Gould and Lindemann first meet through their local church and begin playing Sunday services together. After a few years, they decide to pursue their own creative path. Their musical lives overlap again when Getz, Weaver and Gould play together in the Cleveland rock band Cactus 12. Lindemann, Getz and Weaver then tour the United States with various singer-songwriters over the next five years. The members reconnect in the summer of 2011, when an informal gathering leads to jamming and writing that forms the basis of Welshly Arms.

Sound and influences

The band combines blues rock with influences from rhythm and soul, rock and roll, and classic jazz and blues. Its references range from Jimi Hendrix, The Temptations, Otis Redding and Howlin’ Wolf to contemporary work. Welshly Arms describes its music as aiming to capture a human element and spontaneity in performance.

Repertoire and hometown connection

Among the songs identified with the group are “Two Seconds Too Late” and “The Touch”. Welshly Arms also has a strong connection to Cleveland, drawing on the city’s musical history and naming the Ojays, the James Gang and the Black Keys among its local influences. The band writes, produces and records all of its material in Cleveland.