The Commonwealth

Band Members:

Daniel Duncan Compositions, Arrangements, Vocals, Guitar and Banjo Liz Adams Double Bass, Backup Vocals, Arrangement James Vaughn Cello Rachel Blanton Violin Jacob Duncan Alto and Tenor Sax, Clarinet Gary Pahler Drums and Percussion

Interview by Jeffrey Lee Puckett:

Daniel Duncan could probably write any kind of song he wanted, from a 4/4 waltz to a Top 40 pop song, but he loves a challenge as much as he loves music. That's why he started The Commonwealth, a band known for defying expectations.

At full power, The Commonwealth boasts guitar, acoustic bass, violin, cello, saxophone, drums, clarinet and banjo -- any combination of which will likely take a left turn everytime you're thinking right.

"I love music that experiments with instrumentation, that's not still doing the same guitar, bass, vocal thing," Duncan said. "I still love that kind of stuff, but The Commonwealth is a way to challenge myself musically.

"I love writing something and then seeing how I can mess things up, to make it so it's unexpected."

The Commonwealth released a self-titled album earlier this summer that consistently surprises, from the shape-shifting arrangements to the flashes of humor to moments of startling beauty. Duncan's challenges can lead to your own -- with elements of folk, jazz, classical and rock, this sometimes isn't the easiest music with which to wrestle. But that's the point.

Duncan, a Louisville native, got his start in metal bands before getting hooked on composing for a variety of instruments. "I write the guitar stuff first and then sit down and work out the other parts on guitar," he said. "It's not a tyranny. There's about 20 percent that we work out together."

Duncan used electronics early on, but three years ago settled on a largely acoustic lineup that has recently seen some temporary changes. Bassist Liz Adams has left town for graduate school, so Duncan has scaled down The Commonwealth to him, cellist James Vaughn and violinist Rachel Blanton.

"I really like just a guitar, violin and cello," Duncan said. "It's very intimate but still has a lot of The Commonwealth feel because strings are such a big part of the sound."