"Mike G once again takes us on a journey into his world via his long standing outfit St Huckleberry, and as always the ride is chock full of wistful lyrics, sweeping melodies, and lush soundscapes. The latest batch of 15 tunes take elements of The Beatles, Steely Dan, and Van Morrison, and adds Mike G's stellar guitar work and gritty Tom Waites-esque delivery, with tongue firmly in cheek and sarcastic wit rightfully in tow. For a lesson in well crafted songwriting that is performed with the right amount of roughness around the edges, do yourself a favor and check out one of Long Island's premiere bands...."

"Long Way Home is a fine debut from St. Huck...a rather savory blend of roots rock with a touch of blues and a twist of Celtic. The songwriting is tight, and the musicianship crisp. What really makes the sound distinctive, however, is the contrast between the vocals and the viola (some of the tastiest viola to be heard around these parts for a long time)...."

"The idiosyncratic ingenuity known as St. Huckleberry... Gallucci, an outspoken artist, paints vivid lyrical portraits while the music conjures up images of Eire as seen through the eyes of gypsy minstrels. They are one of those cases where comparisons are extremely odious, but imagine Dylan going through a Celtic phase and you'll begin to get a handle on this group... maybe."

"Staying true to its alt-country roots, St. Huck's debut CD manages to mirror the essence of Dylan's most powerful '70s albums, Desire and Infidels. Violas, keyboards and saxophones weave around beautiful guitar work, as singer/songwriter Mike Gallucci paints lyrical landscapes with his soft and desperate rasp...."

"St. Huck's rockin' folk fusion, blended with a melodious cutting-edge electrified viola, harmonious sax, and all punctuated with biting Dylan/Springsteenesque vocals and lyrics, this band delivers a unique twist, with an underlying Celtic vibe...."

"...each track is a little different than the next, but, none of them compromise St. Huck's originality and musicianship. Long Way Home sounds mature without coming across archaic, raw sounding without stealing from grunge, nor even any pop familiarity...."

"Critics have described St. Huck as everything from country to Celtic, and yes, there are these eclectic nuances, but it doesn't define their sound. The band has infused their bustling retro-rock with Laura Gallucci's enticing bowed viola, but that doesn't make them sound Irish – just unique and unusually complex. While St. Huck explores some world beat instrumentation, the music is deeply rooted in classic rock experimentation (like hooking that viola to a wah-wah pedal). "Cages" is propelled by some contagiously soaring lead guitar from Mike DeMaria, while Mike Gallucci's scratchy vox assumes the role of storyteller. The title track feature rather sad string arrangements wrapped around contemplative lyrics, though some jazzy sax by Don Johnson adds buoyancy. The band covers a lot of musical ground – the organ overtones and hillbilly funk of "Breathe," punkish garage rock of "Pinocchio's Later Years," the lyrical ravings of "Time To Pay the Piper" and "Whatever," and the fairy-tale orchestrations of "Boneparte's Crossing" – making them one of LI's hot new prospects."

"It would be easy to lump St. Huck in with other raspy voiced storytellers, but there's a lot more going on here that contributes to a really unique sound. The vocal style has a depth that goes into uncharted territory, and there are beautiful viola/keyboard arrangements that add a Celtic flavoring...."

"Polished and focused... Michael Gallucci's sandpaper vocals stride confidently above the rising and ebbing electric folk music.... St. Huckleberry bring the Bob Dylan school of singer-songwriting into the late 1990s with a nice blend of humor and heart... [A] work-of-art...."

"St. Huckleberry appears to be the little band that could. With crotchety Mike Gallucci at the helm, the band's unswerving idealism has hatched an inspiring, idiosyncratic sound."

“Compelling imagery, intense and passionate from start to finish. After listening, I mean really listening to this disc (how does four complete run-throughs in succession strike you?) I’ve arrived at the conclusion that St Huck ranks among the most iconoclastic, unique groups that call Long Island home. Vocalist/guitarist/lyricist Michael Gallucci possesses the ability to knock you square between the eyes with his uncompromis ing, no holds barred, often haunting take on this thing we call human existence….the resultant sound is quite unlike anything I’ve heard, on this Island or anywhere else for that matter. Idiosyncratic yet superior arrangements grace each and every track. Additionally, to this pair of ears, it’s a perfectly sequenced album (a vital element of the overall process that’s not always given the careful attention it deserves). For those who take particular delight in discovering what lies far from the beaten path, this CD is definitely for you.”

“St Huckleberry is an interesting band to see. In addition to their tight musicianship, they are notable for the dramatic tension in their music created by the contrast of Mike’s gruff raspy vocals, with Laura’s pure elegant electric viola”

“From the upbeat sax-waxin’ grooves of Verdant Field, to the viola-fueled strum-along of They Think I’m On Drugs, Mike Gallucci and his fellow saints paint a beautifully troubled picture of 30-something life in turn-of-the-century Long Island. Though Desire-like Dylan immediately comes to mind on tracks like Sound Beach and Snow and Stars, there are elements of everything from the Waterboys and The Beautiful South, to Tom Waits and Captain Beefheart on the band’s latest offering. With gorgeous arrangements, spiraling strings, willowy woodwinds, and profound honest lyricism, St Huck gracefully lives up to its “Irish folk fusion” reputation and then some. Their second release of the year serves as a reminder that just because an album’s cover art isn’t done by the latest Andy Warhol, doesn’t mean the music isn’t amazing and the sound quality way above average”

“St Huckleberry thrilled the young crowd with their sophisticated, yet high energy musical ramblings. Lead singer Mike Gallucci’s voice was in its finest Dylanesque form, while Don NYVice Johnson’s sax rang forth , and Laura’s viola was as always elegant and beautiful.”

“As the audience clapped along, local alterna-rockers St Huckleberry prepared to unveil its new CD and seriously alter the vibe. In front of a roomful of friends, fans and relatives, singer/songwriter Mike G and company woke up the crowd with the near psychotic rant of Pinocchio’s Later Years, followed by a passionate set of originals from their self released CD debut Long Way Home. Beautifully delicate and intensely powerful, St Huck captivated the audience with what they refer to as Irish folk fusion. With the newly acquired Don Johnson on sax and flute, the Saints soared to majestic heights as the woodwinds caressed the lilting viola of Laura G and the intricate rhythms of drummer Paul Lutjen and bassist Frank Kinetos”

“Mike G and company are true artists in every sense of the word. This band is all about the music, all about the art of making music, and all about sharing their music. Gallucci is the bluesy front man who’s a cross between Bob Dylan and Dave Matthew’s. A poet whose songs take you into the fray of his often depressed outlook on life. The music is soulful with edgy lyrics spewed by a raspy gritty voice and backed up by a band whose impeccable style and professionalism are evident. Laura is fabulous on the viola and her harmonies blend perfectly with the mood of the music, as does Don Johnson’s well-blown saxophone. St Huck is a very well structured band that has much to offer. Their music is real and true which is a relief in this plastic business.”

“Before Mike Scott went off the self-indulgent deep end a decade ago, the Waterboys made some beautiful, nuanced folk-rock. St Huckleberry – the heart of which is husband and wife Mike and Laura Gallucci – proffers a Celtic-barroom smartness that’s at times reminiscent of Scott’s band, and vocally, The Pogues. So it’s no surprise that Long Way Home is really a punk record (maybe not in the three chord vein), and a good one at that. The anger in singer-guitarist Mike Gallucci’s rasp on Wolves in Wolves Clothing brings small town lust and death to the fore. Priorities zips along, as does most of this 12-song disc, with Laura’s viola flourishes and Paul Lutjen’s understated drumming. In one instance St Huck sounds like a hazy Velvet Underground (Pay the Piper and Whatever), then wanders back to Water boy territory, without the ego problems.”

“Isn’t it ironic? St Huckleberry’s recent long-player, titled We Had A Good Time, sounds at times as if it couldn’t be farther from the truth. Ah, artists and their visions. Principle songwriter Mike Gallucci songs with an affected Irish rasp, and wife Laura happily fiddles away or lends backing vocals on such gems as Tony’s Leaving Friendly’s and the wistful They Think I’m on Drugs (which may be the best song here). The underlying sadness is palpable…about Mike’s voice, some may consider it an acquired taste. But doubters should stick with it. St Huck has something to say, and if it is a tad sad (such as the closer Commissary), well, that’s life.”

“St. Huckleberry are pretty serious when it comes to songwriting. Sporting a lineup eclectic enough to challenge anything Jethro Tull ever fielded – viola, flute, saxophone, and mandolin, plus the standard rock trio – St. Huckleberry's arrangements are novel and elegant, whether they're playing densely layered funk ("Verdant Field") or southern-style rock ("Death Trap"). A pair of Pogue-esque Irish folk ballads, "They Think I'm on Drugs" and "Whistling Mike” provide some of We Had a Good Time’s most unexpected delights. In marked contrast to the studied musicianship of the instrumentalists are lead singer Mike Gallucci's vocals, which is something between a hoarse whisper and a scream, balances out the Yanni-like prettiness of the viola and flute; together with the Dude of Life-ish nonsense lyrics, it ensures that listeners won't take St. Huckleberry any more seriously than they take themselves.”

“This is an excellent offering from an uncompromising band of individuals…We Had A Good Time is a recording that will soon be on the tips of a lot of people’s tongues, mainly because it is just about the freshest thing to come out of Middle Island since God knows when. The songs are smacked with hipster style poetic lyrics…This is a must for anyone who wants to hear an excellent product created by a few bucks, hundreds of hours of work, and a lot of love and faith. I’ve not heard anything like this on any radio station. St Huck may be considered trendsetters, but I assure you they really won’t give one rat’s ass.”

“Mike Gallucci has shown himself to be a man of passionate convictions. This aspect of his personality came through in St Huck’s debut CD Long Way Home, and comes across even more clearly on the band’s newest effort Good Time. Good Time is a more artistically mature and more consistent effort than was its nonetheless fine predecessor. The vision line here is a little sharper, the themes are a little clearer, and the songs are mostly more memorable. St Huckleberry will probably never be the flavor of the month. The music is a bit too sophisticated, and Gallucci's tortured vocal style is definitely an acquired taste, not easily accessible at first listening. Unlike many CDs turned out today however, Good Time can legitimately be called a work of art. For a band like St Huck, this is more important than going triple platinum. If you want to hear a band that constantly maintains its artistic integrity, check them out.”

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