ABOUT US
Through gently rollicking rhythms and heartfelt melodies, St. Rangers paints vignettes of lost eras, hometown fables, and antique-store nostalgia. Drawing upon the poignant simplicity of Gillian Welch, the shoulder-punch familiarity of John Prine, and the multilayered harmonies of I'm With Her, the band delivers songs that fit like a well-worn glove.
Founded by Garret Nasset of Anoka, MN and Rachel Bearinger of Oelwein, IA, the quartet coalesced from the vibrant Minneapolis-St. Paul songwriter scene. After meeting at the first-ever Twin Cities Songwriter Rounds, Nasset and Bearinger have gradually assembled their musical community since 2020. The pals frequently convene at Nasset’s woodshop, a well-known local hotspot for intimate live performances and good hangs. The tranquil, tactile nature of Nasset’s woodworking practice can be felt deeply in the material of St. Rangers—each song feels as personal as one of his heirloom hand tools. Through its evolving lineup, the band’s collaborative spirit has remained unmissable.
Like old friends around a campfire, these spotlight-sharing songwriters trade off storytelling duties with grace. They make room for one another, allowing Nasset’s earnest twang and Bearinger’s formidable fast-picking skills to take respective turns at the center of attention. Atop Olivia May’s low-end foundation, Josh Peterson soars into the stratosphere on his hand-built five-string viola. Crafted with the precision of a chisel, the band’s arrangements lock into place with satisfying comfort.
-Bryn Battani
About our music
“In woodworking, “Witness Marks” are the small grooves carved to guide pieces back into place once they’ve been taken apart. It’s a simple act of craftsmanship, quiet, purposeful, and rooted in care. That same idea shapes Witness Marks, the debut EP from Twin Cities folk quartet St. Rangers. Across six songs and a brief spoken introduction, the band explores how people, too, are held together by the traces we leave on one another. These songs carry the patience of steady hands and the intimacy of shared work, finding beauty in the evidence of time well spent.
St. Rangers makes room for grief yet fills that space with grace, creating music that doesn’t cling to the past but quietly gives thanks before moving forward. Throughout Witness Marks, the four musicians play with quiet empathy. Nasset’s distinctive voice and banjo keep time like a pulse; May’s upright bass grounds the songs in warmth; Peterson’s viola paints edges of dancing melancholy; and Bearinger’s guitar and strong vocals hold the stories steady. Their harmonies never compete; they converse. The result is a rare kind of calm, music that trusts you to meet it halfway.”
-Katy tessman, melodic noise media
