Scythian (band)

Scythian is a Celtic/Celtic rock band based in the DC Metro Area that formed in 2002.[1] Their latest studio album, "Old Tin Can," is the band's seventh album. The band's name, according to the members of Scythian, means "[a] bunch of pre-Mesopotamian barbarians who did not use forks or phonics," to describe a varying sound that encompasses everything from traditional jigs and reels to contemporary covers.[2] The UB Post describes their sound as a mix of Celtic, Klezmer, Gaelic, Gypsy and Rock.[3]

Not to be confused with Scythia (band).
Scythian
Scythian live concert in 2014
Background information
OriginWashington, D.C., USA
GenresCeltic, Celtic rock, Americana, Folk Rock, Gypsy Rock
Years active2002 - present
Websitehttp://www.scythianmusic.com/
MembersAlexander Fedoryka
Danylo Fedoryka
Ethan Dean
Johnny Rees
Past membersFritz McGirr
Nolan Ladewski
Larissa Fedoryka
Josef Crosby
Tim Hepburn
Alexander Kuldell
Michael Ounallah
Andrew Toy
Ben-David Warner

The band was named after Ukrainian nomads, Scythians, due to the Ukrainian ancestry of Alexander, and Danylo Fedoryka.

The band comprises brothers Alexander Fedoryka (Violin/Mandolin/Harmonica/Bass/Vocals) and Danylo Fedoryka (Rhythm Guitar/Accordion/Vocals), as well as band members Ethan Dean (Bass/Percussion/Vocals) and Johnny Rees (Percussion/Drums/Vocals). Since its inception, Scythian developed from a group of street performers in Alexandria, VA,[3] to the 2009 winner of Washington City Paper's Best of DC 'Best Local Band' competition.[4] In 2004 the band scored a brief appearance in the M. Night Shyamalan film The Village.[5] The band has toured extensively on the East Coast.[6] In 2011, Ben-David Warner began touring with Scythian, greatly strengthening their live sound. He left the band in 2014, returning to play once in 2015 while the band was on tour. He also makes an appearance on Old Tin Can. In July 2011, Michael Ounallah left the band. He was replaced by Andrew Toy as drummer who played through 2013, then replaced by Tim Hepburn until 2017. The band's current drummer is Johnny Rees. Founding member Josef Crosby (vocals, fiddle, bass) was replaced by Larissa Fedoryka in May 2016. Ethan Dean is the current bass player. Nolan Ladewski (whistles, flute, mandolin, banjo, guitar, vocals) was a member of the band from 2016 to 2019.

Band members
Alex Fedoryka of Scythian at the 2010 Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival
  • Alexander Fedoryka: Vocals, Violin, Mandolin, Harmonica, Bass
  • Danylo Fedoryka: Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Accordion
  • Ethan Dean: Vocals, Percussion, Bass
  • Johnny Rees: Drums, Percussion, Vocals

Past Band members
  • Fritz McGirr: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
  • Nolan Ladewski: Whistles, Flute, Vocals, Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Tenor Banjo
  • Larissa Fedoryka: Vocals, Cello, Bass
  • Josef Crosby: Vocals, Violin, Bass
  • Tim Hepburn: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
  • Alexander Kuldell: Drums, Percussion
  • Michael Ounallah: Vocals, Percussion, Drums, Banjo
  • Danny Schneible: Drums, Percussion, Guitar, Lead Vocals
  • Andrew Toy: Drums, Percussion, Vocals
  • Ben-David Warner: Banjo, Violin, Viola, Mandolin, Vocals, Guitar

Discography
  • Dance at the Crossroads, 2002
  • Aidan's Orbit, 2004
  • Immigrant Road Show, 2007
  • Scythian Live Vol. 1, 2009
  • Scythian Live Vol. 2, 2010
  • American Shanty, 2011
  • It's Not Too Late, 2012
  • Jump At The Sun, 2014
  • Old Tin Can, 2015

Controversy

In 2013, 3 members of Scythian agreed to perform at the "March for Marriage," a march opposing same-sex marriage, organized by the National Organization for Marriage (NOM). The march was to take place on the day of oral arguments before the Supreme Court on the matter of Hollingsworth v. Perry, the case concerning California Proposition 8. Scythian band members, Alexander Fedoryka, Danylo Fedoryka and Ben-David Warner started the new group Ultramontane. Scythian band member Josef Crosby was not part of Ultramontane, so the press photos that Ultramontane gave NOM included Scythian band photos that featured only the Fedoryka brothers and Warner. In response to his bandmates' plans to play at the march, Crosby released the following statement via his Facebook page:

"Dear Friends, The last few days have been really tough for me with the Ultramontane/Scythian/NOM controversy. I was completely unaware of this upcoming event and NOM in general. But I've since spent many hours researching this group and I'm saddened that now Scythian will be associated with an ideology I so strongly oppose. I'd like to sincerely apologize to all of my friends and all Scythian fans that have been hurt by recent circumstances. I know my bandmates' intention is not to harm, and their actions come from a place of faith, but I understand the response and concerns this has generated. I've always made it a point to leave politics at the door when it came to Scythian, but I feel I have to go on record as saying that I am completely in support of full equality for all couples, no matter their orientation. I can only hope the Supreme Court agrees. Joey" [7]

Scythian issued the following statement on its Facebook page:

"Like the country, the members of Scythian are divided on the definition of marriage, but, remaining great friends, we have the utmost respect for each others' freedoms of opinion."[8]

Drummer Andrew Toy also decided not to perform at the march.[8] Toy eventually left the band shortly afterward, though it is unclear if his leaving was connected with the controversy.[9]

In the end, Ultramontane decided not to perform and the concert was ultimately cancelled. Scythian has no affiliation with the NOM.

Josef Crosby's "Departure" from Scythian

From the beginning of May 2016 through the end of 2016, Josef Crosby was not with the band. Larissa Fedoryka took over on bass. None of the band members mentioned Crosby's absence either from stage or online. Fans who questioned where Crosby was on Scythian's Facebook page often found their comments being deleted. Then on December 13, 2016, Josef Crosby posted this to his own Facebook band page:

Hey guys, it's been awhile I know. The last 7 months since my separation from Scythian have been the most difficult time of my life. But in all fairness, most of my struggles were self-induced long ago.

Many of you know I've struggled with addiction my whole adult life, so in early May I voluntarily checked myself into a 30-day in-patient drug and alcohol treatment center to finally try to do something about it. For years I've fought back just hard enough to keep it together and stay alive, but the on-again/off again lifestyle inevitably left me demoralized and broken, and negatively impacted everyone around me.

But unlike the bad dream it all seemed to be, addiction has consequences. Most of the people in my life hung with me, but some needed me gone. I don't blame those that needed their own fresh starts and I still have a lot to make right. I've been laying low and waiting for the complications of a separation like this to settle, which is why I've been so silent for so long. But you haven't been silent, and I appreciate that more than I can express in a Facebook post.

To all of you who have shown me so much unconditional support, thank you. So many of you went above and beyond to let me know that you still believe in me. That support has been what's kept my mind focused on music and made me determined to find my own voice and my own place. Sometimes you have to sink to the bottom to know which way is up, but I'm on my way and I hope you'll come with me.

I'd like to thank my amazing wife and daughter, my family and my dearest friends for helping me through this with unending love and support. And I will be forever grateful to Fr. Martin's Ashley Addiction Treatment Center, the MusiCares Foundation and Kolmac Outpatient Recovery Centers for believing in my recovery and giving me the tools to continue to do what I love to do in a healthy and sustainable way.

And a big shout out to either fate or circumstance for bringing an amazing musician like Victor Gagnon to my doorstep to inspire me to pick up my fiddle again, put my nose to the grindstone and create something I truly believe in. We have a great new project in the works, set to launch next year that I know you're going to love. Here's a little teaser, for all you Guitar Heroes out there: Cliffs of Dover

So please stay in virtual touch here for now, since this is where I'll be posting updates until we come up with a new band name, we're open to suggestions, please! And know that in-person reunion opportunities are in the works all over the country.

And please share this post far and wide. There are many people I no longer have direct access to via social media that I owe an explanation and thanks.

Wishing you all a warm holiday season and cheers to a bigger, better and brighter 2017! Love, Joey

In response to Josef's post, Scythian posted this on their own Facebook page later that same day:

Dear friends and best fans in the world, Many of you have been asking for the reason for Joey's absence from Scythian for the last seven months. At the request of Joey, we have been asked to remain silent on the issue of his absence from the band. We have respected his request for the sake of his privacy during a difficult time. Joey has recently made a public statement concerning the reason for this on his Facebook page, to which we direct anyone who would like to know and to show him support. We appreciate everyone's patience, discretion and support during what has been a very difficult time for all of us. Thank you all.

The fan response in support of Crosby was immediate. A deluge of supportive comments and messages flooded in, on both Crosby's post and on Scythian's post.

Josef Crosby joined forces with Victor Gagnon, formerly of Seven Nations, to create Pigeon Kings in 2017. Their first show was at Celtic Fling in PA June 2017 (the first year Scythian was not invited back to play since 2006). Check them out here: Pigeon Kings

The "missing comments" trend on Scythian's Facebook page continued into 2017, with fans still seeing their comments in support of Josef Crosby and Pigeon Kings being deleted or hidden. Some fans even found themselves being banned from the public Scythian Facebook page after voicing support for Crosby, and questioning why Scythian did not show their own support for their former bandmate in his new venture.

References
  1. "Immigrant Road Show review". CelticRadio.net. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  2. "Scythian". Leeway's HomeGrown Music Network. Retrieved 23 July 2010.
  3. "Scythian Delivers Celtic Music with Unique Twist, Contagious Zeal". The UB Post. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  4. "Washington City Paper's 2009 Best of D.C." Washington City Paper. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  5. Hahn, Fritz (6 August 2004). "Scythian, Gettin' Jiggy With It". The Washington Post. Retrieved 22 September 2010.
  6. "Adrenaline Peddlers: An Interview With the Band Scythian". Washingtonian. Retrieved 19 August 2010.
  7. "Members of band hurt by NOM speak out". Talk About Equality. Wordpress. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
  8. "More NOM 'March For Marriage' musical weirdness; why you won't find any Google hits for UltraMontane". Good As You. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  9. "NOM breaks up the band". Talk About Equality. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
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