FROM SMALL BEGININGS
"The Electric Trains" came together in 2002 as a Duo featuring Jack Collins on vocals, acoustic guitar and octave mandolin and Duke York on vocals and bass.
The primary mission was to provide live, train themed music, for local model railroad shows (hence the name). This was received so well that we decided to take the act out "on the road".
We bring you a lively mix of traditional folk tunes, our original local historical railroad tunes, and cover songs interpreted as only "The ETrains" know how.
In 2010 we released our first full length cd "Put The Track Back". A moving collection of 9 originals and 3 interpretations.....available now on cdbaby and itunes (follow the links on our products page).
Jack & Duke recently recruited old friends Charles and Rick Spencer to round out the band. Although they do not appear to be related, they're known around here as the Spencer Bros.
Charles Spencer plays acoustic and electric guitar. He played the tasty lapsteel parts on the new cd. Charles says of himself:
"I've been playing music since I was five or six, and since I was a teen I've been deeply fascinated with American roots music of all kinds, especially prewar blues and country. I've played and written music wherever I've lived, including blues bands in Maryland and folk music in Atlanta, where I also played lead guitar for years in a country dance band. I've also been a choral conductor and school music teacher".
Rick Spencer adds vocals, banjo and mandolin to the Electric Trains' mix. He has been on the music scene for over 30 years.
He's perhaps best known as a founding member of the powerhouse sea music group "Forebitter." He is a composer of songs that run the range from delicate and sensitive to humorous and irreverent. As a soloist and with others Rick has performed throughout the US, Canada, England, Portugal, France, Poland, Germany and the Netherlands. He is known internationally for his work as a historian, researcher, singer, songwriter and performer of music in the American folk tradition.
Rick worked as a staff musician at Mystic Seaport for 20 years. He has worked aboard tall ships from the days of sail and has been an instructor on sailing ships in the US, Canada and Europe. Rick has recorded several solo projects and can be heard as session musician, arranger and producer on a number of others.
Rick is the Executive Director of the Dr. Ashbel Woodward Museum in Franklin, CT.
The Electric Trains performs most often as a trio, (occasionaly as a duo or quartet)...we can play completely unplugged at acoustic intimate events or fully amped up outdoor concerts. And anything in between. Whatever is appropriate for your event.
The repertoire includes all styles of train and transportation songs: (Trucks, Busses, Horses/Mules, Sailing Ships, Stockcars, and Flying Saucers) from folk, and blues, to rock and country, an "infectious mix of good time roots music".
The band has been performing at numerous New England venues, listening rooms, outdoor concerts and festivals, excursion trains, and Railroad Museums. and is available for your special function.