Many songs have been inspired by or written about the Adirondacks, drawing on the solitude, nature, adventure and revitalization that the region has to offer. “The ADK,” by Quantum Cosmic, channels all the Adirondacks has to offer in a rooted and enjoyable composition that is unique in every live performance.
Quantum Cosmic, comprised of a fluctuating rotation of players who join Michael Lashomb and Ted Grey (Raisinhead), includes, from time to time, various North Country musicians, including Annie in the Water members Chris Meier, Matt Richards and Josh West, and have welcomed Mowgli Giannitti (Satyrdagg, The Reflexions, Heavy Nettles) on bass, among others.
In 2018, Grey and Lashomb set out to create a band based around musical freedom and see what happens when they play, and given the interplay between these two, it led to the development of the broader Quantum Cosmic group.
Currently living in Schuylerville, Lashomb and many of his Annie in the Water bandmates are scattered among the small towns of the Adirondacks, bringing experiences with the environment and region to the stage. Among the members, Lashomb can be found kayaking on Lake Champlain in the summer, Richards hitting the high peaks, Richards and West skiing while Michael snowboards, and Meier fishing and hiking when time allows. All these rich exploits within the largest park in the lower 48 are channeled through their songwriting and live performances, “The ADK” being a hallmark of this geographic influence.
“The ADK” is an original Quantum Cosmic song, developed from an A-Major jam, and when working on it, “Everyone in the band thought, ‘Yeah this hits,’” according to Lashomb.
A celebration song, Lashomb loves playing it, while the lyrics to the song are fluid. The refrain “In the A-D-K” is a continuous thread in performances, and with each performance, the lyrics come through Lashomb based upon the situation and vibe of the show that evening. “I have a general concept – a meandering story, getting into the mountains, the environment, the community.” Similar to Dave Matthews freestyling lyrics, some lyrics from performances of “The ADK” have found themselves working into later compositions for Annie in the Water and Quantum Cosmic.
Catching a version of the song at Music on the Green in Saranac Lake earlier this month, the song echoed across Flower Lake and left an upbeat, adventurous vibe floating in the air as “The ADK” closed the evening’s performance. The reception of the song was positive in the North Country, just as it has been elsewhere; Lashomb recalls a performance of the song in Jackson, Wyoming, where the vibe of a mountain town resonated more than 2,000 miles away, a common thread branching out.
Watch a live performance of “The ADK” below, and don’t miss upcoming Annie in the Water performances this fall.
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