by Dean Curtis 
Jan 31 08

Far from the bright, hot stage lights in Chicago, after being videotaped last week for NBC 5's "Going Green" segment of the 6pm news [Thursday February 7], The Giving Tree Band's Crooked Creek Studios can be found nestled away from the frantic traffic on Routes 47 and 71 among a stand of ancient, tall oaks and pines.

Although also a residence for band members Todd [and Eric] Fink, the colonial-style structure, in addition, is home to several recording studios as well as a number of classrooms in which music lessons are taught by the band's members.

Bob Salihar (acoustic guitar), Pat Burke (mandolin), Todd Fink (banjo) and Eric Fink (upright bass) comprise The Giving Tree Band. They also are variously proficient at each other's instruments as well as slide dobro, harmonica, harmonium, ukulele and cello.

Their debut, the 2007 double-CD release, "Unified Folk Theory," received rave reviews from all over the country.

The band's name is an emotional and environmental nod to author Shel Silverstein's children's book, "The Giving Tree," in which a tree befriends a young boy and remains his friend, even after the tree has been cut down.

The band sings in four-part harmony with each member taking his turn as lead vocalist. It is a smooth-yet-quirky, thoughtful-yet playful, always-lively sound with solid singing and formidable instrumentation.

"I guess I'd say that our music can best be described as acoustic, folk, ..." Todd Fink's voice trailed off slightly. He squinted and gave a half-shrug. "It's really always evolving, mostly because we all write songs, and because we each have been influenced by a whole spectrum of music."

The Finks, Salihar and Burke met while playing for other bands. They developed friendships that grew into an acoustic "side project." That "side project" became The Giving Tree Band about three years ago.

"The whole idea for the band actually came up about five years ago, but it took us a while to get organized and launch things off on our own the way we wanted to do it," Todd said.

Burke generally agreed that the band sounded "sort of" like the popular "Newgrass" trio Nickel Creek that was mentored early on by bluegrass star and fiddle virtuoso Alison Krauss.

"We did play a lot of jazz," Burke said. "A lot of rock, too."

"But we also played a lot of Bach and other classical pieces, too," chimed in Salihar.

"OK, I think 'experimental' is the word we're looking for here," said Eric. "It's a kind of Americana sound with world music elements in it -"

"-That's really driven by our song-writing." said Todd.

Salihar recalled that one of the sound technicians said their style of playing is much like a dance.

"We all play into one stage microphone," Salihar said. "We tried using separate mikes for our voices and our instruments, but it sounded way too flat- there was no depth to the sound. The way we work it is to surround the single stage microphone in a half-circle and then we either move in or back as we play. That gives us that 'depth' and it also allows us to emphasize certain vocal and instrumental parts. It's like we're mixing our sound on the stage." Salihar smiled. "And this way, we use less electricity," he said.

"What we all think is funny is that in this great technological age, people tell us they've never heard anyone like us before and they want our CD's, and here we are, using almost as little technology as possible," Todd said.

"No amplifiers, nothing," Eric said. "Just simple acoustic music and our voices."

Concern for the environment has been a mainstay of the group.

"Many of our instruments were buildt from naturally-fallen trees and recycled woods and stained and varnished with environmentally-friendly materials," Todd said.

"The thing is, we don't see ourselves as being an environmental group that also happens to play music," Burke said. "What we are is a music group that also happens to be concerned about the environment, kind of like some people are also vegetarians. It's just part of what we are and what we do."

"First and foremost, though, we're musicians," Eric said.

"What we want to do- and what we believe is our 'duty,' I guess - is to try to inspire people, musically or otherwise, and maybe give them a little joy," Eric said. "We just want to connect with others, share some of the things we've seen and felt, and, with a good helping of positivity, we think we can make a difference."