In these days of auto-tuned hits with senseless lyrics and the bombardment of people who constantly quote them such as, "Poppin' bottles in the ice like a blizzard, when we drink we do it right, gettin’ slizzard,” I am always pleased to find artists, of all genres, who remain dedicated to creating and performing the traditional offerings of American music.

Such is the case with Carmichael band Vintage Fare, a band that blends the styles of bluegrass and folk music, performing originals and classic hits from the 1960s and 70s.

Although each of the musicians have many years of experience behind them, Vintage Fare has only been together as a band for six years. The Carmichael natives, comprised of five uniquely talented friends, describe their brand of acoustic folk music as "amplified acoustic," and have come about in a rather unique way. 

Around 2001, founder and vocalist/guitarist Alan Klien, along with guitarist/vocalist Dave Lyman, started a group called Rubber Soul--it performed Beatles tunes and more. Lyman’s neighbors Wes (harmonica) and Cynthia Peterson (vocals) have always lived next door to Lyman and would often come over to hear the band practice. Rubber Soul eventually morphed into Vintage Fare, adding the Petersons to the lineup.

"One evening, Wes casually mentioned how Cynthia had a very nice voice and that we should take a listen to her. We asked her if she had a song she’d like to sing," Klein said. "She picked a song that she knew, sang about three measures of it and we just kind of stood there with our mouths open. She was so good."

Wes also soon found himself in an impromptu audition.

"I was in my home noodling around playing harp along to the stereo one day and Dave pounded on the door and asked, did I hear someone playing harp in here?" Wes Peterson said.

The rest is history. Wes was then recruited to the band as a permanent fixture and so began its performances at several fairs and festivals in and around Carmichael. Later, the band began performing regularly at Carmichael’s Lido’s Bar & Grill, where it now appears on a regular basis.

"This band is really a green band. We’re environmentally correct because it’s all natural," Lyman said. "What you hear is all of us playing acoustically--no effects."

Cynthia, who sings harmony as well as lead vocals on occasion, delivers a powerful, yet natural, goosebump-producing voice reminiscent of 1960s folk-singer, Joan Baez--all of this coming from an untrained vocalist who just happened to love to sing.

"I would always sing in the car, in the shower, with my mom in the kitchen singing 'Silent Night'. I’ve just always enjoyed singing," Cynthia Peterson said.

The band delivers a folksy, rootsy sound that may take you back to the days of influential folk/rock trio Crosby, Stills & Nash. Yet all comparisons aside, Vintage Fare definitely holds its own in style, displayed by its originally-penned tracks such as "To Be a Kid Again."

Multi-instrumentalist, Chuck Cole, recently joined Vintage Fare and complements the band’s overall sound adding mandolin, banjo, Dobro, bass and fiddle. The "one-man band," as he refers to himself, is also a member of the historic folk group The New Christie Minstrels. He noted the mandolin is his favorite instrument to play with his latest band.

"The voicing is so unique and out there," Cole said. "Playing the mando and Dobro stuff behind the music just really adds a dimension there that’s really neat."

Soon after the end of my chat with the band, I was treated to a wonderful rendition of Bob Dylan’s "Forever Young" (which is also the title of the band's first CD released last year) with Cynthia Peterson on lead vocals.

"It’s our signature song. We close each of our appearances with that song," Klein said. "It’s stunningly beautiful and I think it speaks to who we are and what we want to do, which is to share a lot of joy with our audiences."

Vintage Fare will perform at Lido’s Bar & Grill in Carmichael on Feb. 5. For more information on the band and its upcoming show dates visit:  http://www.vintagefare.net/.