Priestbird

Priestbird is the name adopted by the trio of Danny Bensi, Saunder Jurriaans, and Gregory Rogove, who formerly performed and recorded under the name Tarantula A.D. Under their previous moniker, they were a progressive rock instrumental band that released the 2005 album Book of Sand on Kemado Records. According to their imaginative press biography, they then suffered a "vicious break-up," after which "One member left for Argentina to join a tango band, another became a semi-professional Soccer player in Italy, and the last retreated to the Himalayas to seek refuge in Shiva." After a year apart, however, the three got back together in New York City, changed their musical style to a somewhat more straightforward rock sound, began to sing, and recorded their debut album as Priestbird, In Your Time. On the disc, Bensi played cello, violin, piano, guitar, bass, organ, and banjo; Jurriaans played double-neck guitar, bass, and sarod; and Rogove played drums, percussion, piano, organ, flute, and the forks. Kemado released In Your Time on April 17, 2007, following a spring tour on which Priestbird supported the Sword. The group then spent a few weeks playing in Europe, followed by more American dates with Pit Er Pat.