LESTER T. RAWW’S GRAVESIDE QUARTET
Lester T. Raww’s Graveside Quartet is a morbidly charming side‑project spun off from San Francisco’s horror‑bluegrass outfit The Pine Box Boys, fronted by Arkansas‑born Lester T. Raww. Originally formed to record what was meant to be a quaint children’s album, Sings Your Children to Sleep (released November 2014), it veered delightfully off course — delivering eerie, spooky lullabies more likely to induce nightmares than sweet dreams .
The Quartet retains core Pine Box Boys members — Lester (vocals, ukulele, trombone, kazoo), Alex “Possum” Carvidi (accordion, saxophone, and saw), Colonel Timothy Leather (upright bass), with Aaron Bonsall on drums — and adding a twist with “Gentleman” Jimmy Hadley on trumpet. On the road, however, Pine Box Boys’ drummer Slade Anderson occasionally takes charge of the percussive duties.
Performing under the umbrella of The Hollins & Hollins Mortuary Entertainment Show, this ensemble blends dark Tin‑Pan‑Alley charm with their signature macabre humor — think dancing skeletons, sinister lullabies, and tongue‑in‑cheek variety show interludes .
The best place to catch the Graveside Quartet is at their monthly residency at Madrone Art Bar in San Francisco. APOCALYPSE SUNDAY, as they call it, is on the first Sunday of every month (click the link to learn more). Each month, Lester invites a featured act to perform, but the Quartet also show up, sometimes as the Quartet, but also under their other guises/stylistic configurations as Malnomen, The Hollins & Hollins Kino Grupa, The Possum Carvidi Trio (plus One), or whatever project Lester is obsessed with at the time.
While Lester continues to juggle multiple alter‑egos — including Lonesome Lester T. Raww, the Hollins & Hollins Mortuary Horns, and Gentleman Jimmy’s Swindling Dwindlers — the Graveside Quartet remains his most focused current project. A spooky sophomore album is reportedly on the way .
Quick Highlights:
Origin: Spawned from Pine Box Boys to fulfill a creepy‑kiddo lullaby request.
Style: Haunted Tin‑Pan‑Alley meets Addams‑Family‑esque Americana.
Line‑up: Lester, Possum, Col. Leather, Bonsall, & Hadley.
Releases: Sings Your Children to Sleep (Nov 2014).
Performances: Bay Area shows (2016–2023).
Future: New album in production.