Our Common Roots

Since their genesis in 2015, Our Common Roots (affectionately referred to as OCR) have taken their band name to heart, blending several unique musical stylings to create a freshly familiar sound. Lead vocalist Brian Lucenti (Career Mode, The Rooftop Escape) began crafting songs that mixed an unmistakably Southern Gospel influence with his affinity for pop punk and country/folk musicians who can be deemed “rough around the edges.” Collaborating with guitarist and singer Ryan Flynn (Miracle of Madness) helped shape these songs into bonafide earworms, utilizing the knowledge of Flynn’s extensive musical background to bring Lucenti’s lyrics to life. Graham Espe (Honey Suckle Vine, Chapter Three, Love Scene Clear) joined the fray years later to lay a skeleton framework of groove, providing the ever-important bass line that clearly draws the roadmap the rhythm section follows. Punctuated by the charismatic drum work of Justin Parker (Career Mode, singer/songwriter), the melding of these eclectic styles create a unique sound that share elements with acts like Dave Matthews Band and The Avett Brothers while not being restricted from entering heavier, groovier territory. The most recent addition to OCR, Corey Peters, provides the final ingredient that allows each song to shimmer and shine. Blending technical musical ability with distinct influence from virtuosic players like The Dead, the latest lineup of Our Common Roots is arguably the strongest to date.

People who hear the folk-infused, rock inspired stylings of Our Common Roots for the first time can’t help but notice that the songs sound, and feel, familiar. Mental images of scenic drives through the colorful Adirondack Mountains attach themselves to the melodic, acoustic-centric stylings of songs like “Compass” and Ohio.” Traditional folk songwriting elements wrap themselves around lyrics that stick with you like the smell of a campfire after a weekend in the woods. Heavier, more pulsating tunes like “Have Another” and “Oh Please” unlock core memories of spilled suds on dancing shoes, driven by thumping drums and bass that are accentuated by beautifully rugged vocals.