On fiddle, mandolin, guitar and vocals, Colin Murphy adds an eclectic and energetic flavor to Uses for Wood. Colin was musically inspired at a young age by his father’s bluegrass accolades. While still in diapers, he could occasionally be seen with a blue plastic guitar and chopstick, mimicking the fiddle player and singing bass parts with his father’s bluegrass band at Chicago area bluegrass festivals. Early musical inspirations developed into full-blown obsessions incorporating numerous ensembles, recordings, instruments, road miles, overdrawn bank statements, etc. All in the name of a good jam.

Much of Colin’s style can be traced back to his roots of acoustic living room jamming with parents, neighbors and friends. Jamming on tunes by such artists as the Grateful Dead, The Eagles, Marshall Tucker Band, The Band, Bill Monroe, and The Allman Brothers Band to name a few. Later infatuations with rock, jazz, blues, funk, zydeco, classical, heavy metal, klesmer, traditional murder ballads, and spoon rhythms blended with his folk/roots background to create a truly versatile and unique style. Whether ripping a solo, belting a melody, or dancing like a stroke victim, Colin always brings a high energy, eclectic flavor to every show he plays.

Also joined by John Latini for select shows