Glass Oaks formed in 2013 when singer/songwriter, Joel Kaiser, began to collaborate with guitarist Ben Anspach, bassist Taylor Thompson, and drummer Jon Smalt. Kaiser had only been a solo artist until he met Ben, Taylor, and Jon. After their first practice, this all changed. The four were immediately enamored by the musical mixture they were able to create. One reviewer describes their sound as a mixture of indie rock and Americana with the churning fury of 1970s psychedelia and the rugged soul of vintage R&B (Wells 2013). The mixture is unique, and they have found that people everywhere connect with their sound.
In May of 2013 Glass Oaks released their first record, a five song EP, fully funded by a hugely successful Kickstarter campaign. Since the release, the record has been well-received by audiences and critics alike. Glass Oaks EP was featured on the front page of NoiseTrade's website, where it received over 1,500 downloads in one week. The song "Middle of It" received constant play on WNRN's The Local Motive, Central Virginias premier local music station, and was named one of the Best Songs of 2013. The band was featured in The Burg, Lynchburg's culture magazine, as one of the best bands of 2013. The EP has also received multiple features on the nationally broadcasted Dave Ramsey Show alongside Pink Floyd, The Eagles, Foo Fighters, Delta Spirit, and others. In less than a year, the band has had the opportunity to provide direct support for nationally touring artists, The Vespers, Flagship, and Chris Schlarb. They believe their success will continue if they maintain their love for the music and for one another.
