The Cactus Blossoms
{{Short description|American alternative country and indie folk band}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2013}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = The Cactus Blossoms
| image = Cactus Blossoms-5 (47932948798).jpg
| caption = The Cactus Blossoms performing in Maquoketa, IA in 2018
| origin = Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
| genre = {{hlist|Alternative country|indie folk}}
| years_active = 2011–present
| label = Walkie Talkie Records
| website = http://www.thecactusblossoms.com/
| current_members = Jack Torrey
Page Burkum
}}
The Cactus Blossoms is an American alternative country and indie folk band based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.{{Cite web|last=Blickenstaff|first=Jacob|title=On the Road with The Cactus Blossoms|url=https://www.motherjones.com/media/2019/04/on-the-road-with-the-cactus-blossoms/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=Mother Jones|language=en-US}} The band is composed of brothers Jack Torrey (vocals, guitar, bass) and Page Burkum (vocals, guitar) with a touring act including Phillip Hicks (bass), Jake Hanson (guitar), and Jeremy Hanson (drums).{{Citation|title=The Cactus Blossoms - Full Performance (Live on KEXP)| date=August 8, 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqOM3TtzdUU|language=en|access-date=2022-02-14}}
The band's musical styling of "the sounds and approaches of early country and rock n' roll" was inspired by traditional American folk music and "hillbilly" music and is "reminiscent of 60s Nashville and Los Angeles as heard in artists like Roy Orbison, The Byrds, Duane Eddy, and the Everly Brothers."
The band's third studio album, One Day, was released on Walkie Talkie Records on February 11, 2022.{{Cite web|date=2022-02-11|title=Review: The Cactus Blossoms Share a Brighter "Day"|url=https://americansongwriter.com/review-the-cactus-blossoms-share-a-brighter-day/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=American Songwriter|language=en-US}}
History
File:Cactus Blossoms - First Avenue - Minneapolis (37773433415).jpg in Minneapolis in 2017]]Brothers Jack Torrey and Page Burkum began playing music at ages 18 and 23, respectively,{{Cite web|date=2017-07-21|title=Cactus Blossoms' Jack Torrey Discusses the Band and Twin Peaks|url=https://www.kvsc.org/podcast/cactus-blossoms-jack-torrey-discusses-the-band-and-twin-peaks/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=KVSC 88.1 FM|language=en-US}} but didn't form the Cactus Blossoms duo until they were both in their 30s.{{Cite news|title=The Cactus Blossoms Go From A Fictional Bar To The Studio With Dan Auerbach|language=en|work=NPR.org|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2019/06/20/734378290/the-cactus-blossoms-go-from-a-fictional-bar-to-the-studio-with-dan-auerbach|access-date=2022-02-14}} The band began playing local shows in Minneapolis in 2010 and self produced and released a self-titled debut album in 2011.{{Cite web|title=The Cactus Blossoms Biography, Songs, & Albums|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-cactus-blossoms-mn0002999674/biography|access-date=2022-02-14|website=AllMusic|language=en}} Their popularity secured them a residency at St. Paul's Turf Club where they self-produced their first live album titled Live at the Turf Club.
After several tours supporting other artists, JD McPherson proposed working together, and produced their first studio album.{{Cite web|last=Ferguson|first=Neil|date=January 22, 2016|title=The Cactus Blossoms Talk New Album, Brotherly Harmonies, And JD McPherson (INTERVIEW)|url=https://glidemagazine.com/154566/cactus-blossoms/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=glidemagazine.com}} In 2015 the band signed with Red House Records,{{Cite web|date=2015-08-14|title=The Cactus Blossoms Sign with Red House! -|url=https://www.redhouserecords.com/cactus-blossoms-sign-red-house/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=Red House Records|language=en-US}} which released their debut studio album, You're Dreaming, on January 22, 2016. The album reached #23 on the Americana Billboard chart and was met with favorable reviews with American Songwriter describing it as "honest, unvarnished, completely engaging style that is clearly retro but in no way musty."{{Cite web|date=2016-01-21|title=The Cactus Blossoms: You're Dreaming|url=https://americansongwriter.com/the-cactus-blossoms-youre-dreaming/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=American Songwriter|language=en-US}}
In 2017, the band appeared in the revival season of David Lynch's television series Twin Peaks, performing the song "Mississippi".{{Cite news|last=Hilton|first=Robin|date=2017-06-08|title=The Cactus Blossoms Share New Video For 'Mississippi,' Featured On 'Twin Peaks'|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/06/08/532048462/the-cactus-blossoms-share-new-video-for-mississippi-featured-on-twin-peaks|access-date=2022-02-14}} The song is also featured on the soundtrack album, Twin Peaks: Music from the Limited Event Series.
In 2017 the band was invited by Dan Auerbach to his Nashville studio to write some songs together.{{Cite magazine|last=Freeman|first=Jon|date=2019-02-13|title=Hear the Cactus Blossoms' Aching New Song 'Got a Lotta Love'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/cactus-blossoms-new-song-got-a-lotta-love-794497/|access-date=2022-02-14|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}} Two of the songs, "Got a Lotta Love" and "Blue as the Ocean" appeared on their studio album Easy Way which released March 1, 2019. Departing Red House Records, the album was released on the band's own Walkie Talkie Records label.
After taking a forced hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the band began recording their third studio album in an at-home studio.{{Cite web|last=Liebig|first=Lorie|title=The Cactus Blossoms Announce New Album, Share New Single 'Hey Baby'|url=https://theboot.com/the-cactus-blossoms-hey-baby-one-day/|access-date=2022-02-14|website=The Boot|date=December 3, 2021 |language=en}} On December 3, 2021 the band announced their third studio album One Day would release on February 11, 2022.
Members
Discography
= Studio albums =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Title ! rowspan="2" scope="col" |Album details ! colspan="5" scope="col" |Peak chart positions{{Cite magazine|title=The Cactus Blossoms|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/the-cactus-blossoms/|access-date=2022-02-14|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}} |
| scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" |US
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" |US ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" |US Americana/Folk ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" |US Heatseekers ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;" |US Tastemaker |
|---|
| scope="row" |The Cactus Blossoms
|
|— |— |— |— |— |
| scope="row" |You're Dreaming
|
|— |— |23 |— |— |
| scope="row" |Easy Way
|
|— |21 |— |9 |16 |
| scope="row" |One Day
|
|— |— |— |— |— |
| colspan="20" style="text-align:center; font-size:85%;" |"—" denotes album that did not chart or was not released |
= Live albums =
- Live at the Turf Club (2013)
= Singles =
- "Happy Man" (2020)
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cactus Blossoms}}
Category:2010 establishments in Minnesota
Category:American alternative country groups
Category:American indie folk groups