Artist Spotlight: Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle

Courtesy of Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle

The Appalachian Preservation Project is proud to present Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle as this week’s artist spotlight.

The following answers are courtesy of Casey Campbell.

How did Buffalo Wabs & The Price Hill Hustle come together as a band? How long have you been together?

The band started as a couple friends jamming at the local open mic. In February of 2013 we were asked to open for a good friend of ours, Chicago Farmer, on the west side of Cincinnati. We’ve been going ever since—with a few personnel changes along the way. Matt Wabnitz(Buffalo Wabs) and Casey Campbell are the founding members.

What are the backgrounds of each of the members?

Casey Campbell was born and raised in Alabama and moved to the Cincinnati area after obtaining a theater degree. He’s played/sang various styles of music for nearly 30yrs. Matt Wabnitz is a true Cincinnati west-sider and has been heavily influenced in playing styles by the likes of Guy Clark, Mississippi John Hurt, John Prine, etc. Scott Risner is a multi-instrumentalist with a heavy focus on mandolin. He’s been a part of the bluegrass scene since the early 80s and had stints with JD Crowe and Allison Krauss. Bill Baldock is also a multi-instrumentalist with emphasis on the upright bass. He’s floated around the worlds of bluegrass, country, and gypsy jazz for over 40yrs.

What is the inspiration behind the Price Hill Hustle?

Price Hill is the westside neighborhood where Wabs and Casey would hang out, playing til all hours of the night at The Crow’s Nest. The first Cincinnatians Casey became friends with after moving to the area were all westsiders, including Wabs; so it became the de facto home of the band on its inception.

What artists are currently inspiring the band?

We've been sort of all over the board recently with inspirations. In the roots/country scene it’s been John R Miller, Darrin Hacquard, Terry Allen…while also never straying far from putting on some Guy Clark or Warren Zevon. Another big one as of late has been Jeff Lynn and ELO. Can’t get enough of the stuff.

How would you describe the band's sound/style?

That’s always a tough one for us. We don’t feel we land in particular area, mainly because we come from relatively diverse places. I like to say that we play American music—influenced by gospel, blues, old time, bluegrass, rock n roll, country. It’s not just one thing….but it’s American through-and-through.

How do you hope your music impacts people?

I hope to make people feel as though they’re not just spectators of a show but a real, integral part. I also hope to have folks go with us on the emotional journey that happens in any show. It’s constantly changing, sometimes maybe more serious than others, but we try to ultimately bring people an uplifting experience.

What life experiences inform your music?

The usual, I suppose. Love and loss, tragedy, and the urge to sometimes just tell an engaging story. To laugh, to cry, all in the same breath.

What is the importance of collaborating and engaging with other musicians?

No single person has the magic key when it comes to creation. Everyone you meet has their own set of eyes, lenses that inform their opinion of the world. Collaboration and conversation regarding art is essential if you want to keep growing.

Are you currently touring? Where can people find your show dates?

We are, this summer is shaping up to be a big one. All of our dates and information can be found on our website, pricehillhustle.com.

Are you working on a recording project? If so, tell me about it.

Yes, and we’re happy to say it’s in the can and getting ready for print. It’s been a long time coming, with the COVID pandemic imposing a hiatus on our initial efforts to get this material together. It’s an eclectic mix of songs that show where we’re moving in terms of a group; lots of varying sounds and textures, harmonies throughout, and some guest spots from some very good friends of ours. We’re excited to finally get this material out into the world, and we’re already hard at work on the follow-up. We feel like we’re still playing a little bit of catch-up after losing the better part of two years to the pandemic so it’s full speed ahead in camp.