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The Thicket is a mostly acoustic band originally from Syracuse, NY that has played a multitude of venues in and around Central New York. The THICKET started as an original project consisting of musicians Ed Balduzzi and Brian Todd Wetmore. The Thicket formed in Syracuse, NY around 1998, and then officially in 2000, after playing for years in an acoustic trio The Tumbleweed Jones Band with Dave Walton. The Thicket's first album, "American Sunrise", consisted of founding members Ed Balduzzi and Todd Wetmore, along with percussionist Jamie Tankersley. The idea for the first album was to try to record each original track as a full band, and The Thicket had plenty of talented friends to help. Additional musicians included Chris Bronk on bass, Tom Barnes on lead electric guitar, Michelle Sears and Rebecca Keefe-Fitzsimmons on supporting vocals, and John Balduzzi and Chris Vanelli along with producer/engineer Gregg Wilson on horns. That's the vocal stylings of Michelle Sears that you hear on "For Granted", and on "American Sunrise" it's the powerful voice of Rebecca Keefe-Fitzsimmons lending a hand. The Thicket's second album, "Knock On", released in 2005 features original members Ed Balduzzi and Brian Todd Wetmore, along with Pat Walsh on percussion/accordian, who by this point had been playing live with the Thicket for years, and Denise Shuart - a most welcome, more recent addition, on viola and vocals. This newer album reveals a rootsier side to their sound and songwriting, with a less is more approach. "Waitress" is a hard-hitting acoustic romp with lyrics that tell the tale of a beautiful, yet troubled girl but includes a hopeful ending. "Ease My Soul" will help cure you on those rainy days and nights. "She" is about the girl who literally "flew" away, while "She:Reprise.." returns with a twist. Title track "Knock On", and the cut, "San Antonio" provide some serious groove. Mike Parker lends a hand on mandolin on "Dirty lake town," a tongue-in-cheek tune about longing to get-out of Dodge, but not being able to change the state of things. The Thicket has played everything from small cafes to large outdoor venues around Syracuse, NY. Nowadays, with Ed residing on the West coast, the band gets together a few times a year in it's favorite ol' hangs and tears the house down. The turn-outs, and the fun times, and especially the interest in the music both between the band and it's audience, is what makes the Thicket continue to grow. We thank you. The Thicket is still recording/playing and look for some new material and gigs in the near future. "Knock On" by The Thicket, independent recording (Acoustic rock). REVIEWS: The Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY)Author: MARK BIALCZAK MUSIC CRITIC August 7, 2005 "When The Thicket gets rolling, the smooth rock sounds snares you with its California-like cool. The Syracuse threesome of Ed Balduzzi and Todd Wetmore on guitars and vocals and Pat Walsh on percussion gets comfortable with this collection of eight original songs. What they do best comes in "Make Me High," with sweet sounding guitars coupled with vocal harmonies. Sometimes sparks fly, like on the acoustic guitar lines of the opening title cut. Other times there's a lyrical bite, like on the bit-of-bitter love song "She." "Dirty Lake Town" takes on an autobiographical tone that should sound familiar to fans of so many local bands that work hard to share their art. Guest stars Doug Henrie on upright bass, Tim Mack on fretless bass, Gregg Wilson on bass, Denise Shuart on vocals and Mike Parker on mandolin prove that The Thicket's got friends willing to help it chase those dreams."