“Because of [Columbia County’s] agriculture, none of us are rich, and we can say that we work for what we want. You have to work,” said Bucci. Finding their attraction to music also made Caleb Lionheart realize that, no matter where you go, you always bring people who normally wouldn’t listen to a particular genre of music together to experience the atmosphere and ambience of friends. Why? Simply because they embody a strong framework of friendship—at home and on the road. People are attracted to the stability of consistent values, and that carries through their music. “Anybody from a professor to a student to my grandma—our shows bring everyone together, between our acoustics shows to our electric shows,” said Bucci.

“We know generosity, especially compared to other bands we run into at shows,” said Wildermuth. Living together in an apartment, their community values extend to opening their door to other young musicians and establishing lifelong bonds. Their basement is like a lost ark, full of draped wires and dusty window sills, yet the mere idea that people gather to enjoy a wide range of music confirms their reputation as wholesome people. “We’re going to be doing this until we get kicked off our parents health insurance and have to get real jobs,” said Bucci.

Living in the Capital Region hasn’t limited the horizons for Caleb Lionheart. They’ve done national tour shows in venues from Virginia to Texas and Florida. They take their upstate New York roots with them no matter where they go. The microphone is their divining rod, helping them make sense of the world and transform the unknown into a familiar world of small fame and comfortable fortune.