PARIS THIEVES

Local bands have been an ongoing affair with Cleveland County for many years; Peeler’s Mill, Enola Gay, and now to unveil the local band of the 21^st century, The Paris Thieves. A couple years ago, Jimi Gould started a small record company called Duce Records. He asked sister/brother musical duo, Summer Kasel Keever and Kenny Kasel to be his first clients. Being exposed to music early in childhood, everything from Joan Baez to Cat Stevens, the Kasel family has deep folk roots. Gould reflects, “We initially spoke about doing a simple album with just the two of them, but then the songs they wrote called for a bigger sound, and that's when the recruiting began!” Assimilating Summer’s husband Alan Keever and his punk/rock-steady background lead to former band mate, the beach/rock influenced saxophonist, Trent Hoyle. Perfect timing of the fates brought two more members to the Paris Thieves. As the local group Evergreen subsided, mandolin/guitarist Rush Padgett and the seasoned, versatile bassist, Phil Simmons, were drafted to complete the band’s amazing sound. Summer describes it as, “Folk Rock with a vintage influence. Heavily influenced by the music we grew up on and our own personal experiences." Aaron Meier of Stepping Stone Sound in Shelby recorded the band’s latest album and I have to tell you, it will blow you away! The Paris Thieves have most recently been featured on the Rise Guys Morning Show on Charlotte rock station 93.3. They can be seen at Smiley’s Acoustic Cafe doing an acoustic show on December 7th, and at Smokey Joe's in Charlotte on January 31st. Go see them live and buy one of their awesome CDs!