Cassino is a

folk Folk or Folks may refer to: Sociology *Nation *People * Folklore ** Folk art ** Folk dance ** Folk hero ** Folk horror ** Folk music *** Folk metal *** Folk punk *** Folk rock ** Folk religion * Folk taxonomy Arts, entertainment, and media * Fo ...

band from

Huntsville, Alabama Huntsville is the List of municipalities in Alabama, most populous city in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population of the city is estimated to be 241,114 in 2024, making it the List of United States cities by population, 100th-most populous ...

, created from the remnants of the band

Northstar Northstar may refer to: * Polaris, a star Arts and entertainment * Northstar (band), an emo band from Alabama * Northstar (rap group), a rap group affiliated with the Wu-Tang Clan * "Northstar", a 2019 song by XXXTentacion from the album '' Bad ...

. In April 2005, Cassino was birthed from the remnants of the two principal songwriters of the Alabama rock group

– a team that arose through a creative bond between childhood friends Nick Torres and

Tyler Odom Northstar was an American band formed in 1997 in Huntsville, Alabama. History Early years and debut album (1997–2003) Since the band's inception, they have had around five guitarists and three different bassists, have been a three-piece, fo ...

. They began recording their first album in 2006 with Nashville-based producer–drummer Craig Krampf, known for his work with artists including

Dolly Parton Dolly Rebecca Parton (born January 19, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, actress, and philanthropist, known primarily as a country music, country musician. After achieving success as a songwriter for others, Parton's debut album ...

Alabama Alabama ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South, Deep Southern regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gu ...

Townes Van Zandt John Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997) was an American singer-songwriter.

Steve Perry Stephen Ray Perry (born January 22, 1949) is an American singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer and frontman of the rock band Journey during their most successful years from 1977 to 1987, and again from 1995 to 1998. He wrote/co-wrote ...

and

Melissa Etheridge Melissa Lou Etheridge (born May 29, 1961) is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and guitarist. Her Melissa Etheridge (album), eponymous debut album was released in 1988 and became an underground success. It peaked at No. 22 on the Billbo ...

. While the record does not have a specifically Nashville sound, the city did become prevalent in the making of their debut record ''Sounds of Salvation'', both as a new environment to inspire songwriting, and in the cast of characters brought in by Krampf. "Salvation" was soon joined by

E Street Band The E Street Band is an American rock band that has been the primary backing band for rock musician Bruce Springsteen since 1972. In 2014, the E Street Band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. For the bulk of Springsteen's recordin ...

bassist

Garry Tallent Garry Wayne Tallent (born October 27, 1949), sometimes billed as Garry W. Tallent, is an American musician and record producer, best known for being the bass player and a founding member of the E Street Band, Bruce Springsteen's primary backing ...

and saxophonist

Jim Horn James Ronald Horn (born November 20, 1940) is an American saxophonist, woodwind player, and session musician. Biography Horn was born in Los Angeles, and after replacing saxophonist Steve Douglas in 1959, he toured with member Duane Eddy for ...

. Released independently on March 29, 2007, ''Sounds of Salvation'' blends various states and sounds. In September and October 2007, they went on a US tour with the Forecast and

Blackpool Lights Blackpool Lights is an American indie rock band founded in Kansas City, Missouri, by The Get Up Kids guitarist Jim Suptic, bassist Brian Everard, and drummer Billy Brimblecom. History Formation and ''This Town's Disaster'' (2004–2006) Blac ...

. Following this, they supported

Straylight Run Straylight Run is an indie rock band based in Baldwin, Nassau County, New York. The band released two albums, ''Straylight Run (album), Straylight Run'' and ''The Needles the Space'', as well as three EPs, ''Prepare to Be Wrong'', ''About Time' ...

on the headlining tour of the US until the end of the year. After touring the U.S. in support of the album, Cassino settled down and started working on another full-length record in the beginning of 2008. Odom exited the process (he now plays with the group Destry), and Torres teamed up to write primarily with Alabama native and long-time friend Edward Puckett. Puckett filled in on bass for the earlier Cassino tours, and through constant exposure, they found that their similar tastes and different styles complemented each other well. They set up shop in a small apartment, and wrote and recorded for most of 2008. The city of Nashville this time found its way into the recording process through the contributions of friends and session/touring musicians Kevin Arrowsmith (fiddle, banjo, mandolin), Tripper Ryder (bass) and Craig Krampf (drums, percussion). This newest endeavor became ''Kingprince''. It was released digitally in December 2009, and was released physically in January 2010. Nick Torres and Ed Puckett have gone back into the studio to record a new album recorded and released in the form of two six-song EPs. The first half of the album was titled ''Bottlenecker'' and was scheduled to be released in the Spring of 2016. In early 2020 the band released two singles which would be included in their next EP. On February 28 the band released an eight-song EP titled ''Yellowhammer''. The album included a revised version of the previously released song, "Ghost", as well as a previously recorded song, "Corvette". On the 11th anniversary of the release of "Kingprince", Cassino released a single titled, "Quarantine Song". In September 2022, Cassino released a cover of a previously released

song, "Pollyanna", entitled "Pollyanna 22".

Discography

*''Sounds of Salvation'' (March 29, 2007) *''Kingprince'' (October 28, 2009) *''The Weight of Bother'' (May 14, 2011) *''Bottlenecker'' (May 27, 2016) *''Yellowhammer'' (February 28, 2020)

Shows

Their shows are few and far between, usually touring with As Tall As Lions. They started a US tour, in November 2007, with the band Straylight Run. Also appearing in this tour were Dear And The Headlights, The Color Fred and Clouds Take Shape.

References

External links

Cassino's PurevolumeCassino's MyspaceInterview with Tyler for More Important Than Music
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cassino Musicians from Huntsville, Alabama