Zen Mountain Poets are an evolving band, consisting of "who's here now" and "who hears now." Current members are: Billy Clayton (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Amaris Taylor (Vocals, Guitar, Violin), Anthony Roselli (Vocals, Kit Drums, Harmonica, Guitar), Adam McAlexander (Lead Guitar) Brent Dannell (Keys) and Jeremy Lemen (Bass). The band has played over 150 shows in 7 states, produced 2 EPs and recently released the full length album "Stellar Ignition".
In Spring of 2014 circa San Luis Obispo CA, Zen Mountain Poets evolved from a jam band that was comprised of various friends and players to a dedicated project attracting an amazing amount of talent and creativity. The sound began to change from groove jams to more intricate synergistic styling as each member contributed their gifts to the overall sound and feel. They are all writers and new songs are always emerging and being cultivated; the musicians co-create all of the arrangements.
Zen Mountain Poets are known for unique musical stylings, vocal harmonies, and taking audiences on unforgettable auditory journeys. As singer-songwriters, they call their music “psychedelic neo-prog folk jazz” since they play in a variety of styles, and people have likened their sound to Jefferson Airplane, The Doors, Fleetwood Mac, It’s a Beautiful Day, Grateful Dead, Pink Martini, Traffic, Allman Brothers, The Eagles, The Beatles, Fairport Convention, The Who, and other bands of the psychedelic rock era. They also play covers of songs by bands and songwriters who have inspired them, including classic blues and jazz tunes, songs by Grateful Dead, Rolling Stones, Donovan, Marshall Tucker Band, and more.
Musical influences include: Grateful Dead, Robert Johnson, Pink Floyd, Heart, Santana, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Ella Fitzgerald, Jefferson Starship, The Doors, Stevie Wonder, Collective Soul, Janis Joplin, Traffic, Miles Davis, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Black Sabbath, Lynyrd Skynyrd, B52‘s, classical music, musical theatre, and many more...
The band has a 1954 Greyhound bus that has traveled over a million miles, called The Dragon. The Dragon Awakens tour in December 2016 carried the band from San Luis Obispo to Portland (OR); and during The Dragon's Red Dirt Tour in November 2017 the band traveled to Florida and back, playing in Flagstaff (AZ), Gallup (NM), Amarillo and Houston (TX), Norman (OK), New Orleans (LA), and back home in Morro Bay (CA).
Festivals that ZMP has performed at include Morro Bay Harbor Fest, Emerald Exchange (twice), Central Coast Art and Music Festival, Big Sur Jade Fest (four times), Good Vibe Tribe, Stoke the World, Life's a Peach, and SLO Village Building Convergence.
For information on current band members, upcoming and past performances, and more, visit www.zenmountainpoets.com. You can view videos of live performances on Facebook, Reverb Nation, and YouTube, and follow on Instagram and Twitter. Zen Mountain Poets recordings are available across all streaming platforms.
