Deadstring Brothers: Country Toughs from the Motor City
It may be a surprise to hear the country rock sounds of Detroits Deadstring Brothers coming from a city better known for loud rock and roll, but disillusionment can take many channels. Desolation, frustration and regret have always been present where great country music was played, and from its bombed-out inner city to its sterile suburbs, Detroit has its share.
Deadstring Brothers began in fall 2003. Since then, the band has worked to develop their own take on the American Sound, drawing influences from a variety of sources. Its all in there somehow, declares Kurt, but blues and country music just feel the most natural.
Not unlike Exile-era Stones, Deadstring Brothers deliver a menacing sound that draws equally on the melancholy of country ballads and the abandon of rock and blues. The bands music is deeply rooted in the storytelling and instrumental traditions of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and the American Outlaw Movement, but is also informed by the song structure and understated aggression commonly associated with Detroit bands. Their haunting melodies reveal the influence of early 70s rock icons like The Band and Gram Parsons and The Faces. Deadstring Brothers live performances have the energy of guitar rock, but sophisticated arrangements, Hammond Organ and a focus on traditional American music separate them from many of their Detroit contemporaries.
The band has been touring steadily since the 2004 release of their eponymous debut and
have shared the stage with acts ranging from Shooter Jennings, Cat Power and Jesse Sykes to Giant Sand, My Morning Jacket, Drive by Truckers and the Mekons. Look for for their latest release,
Silver Mountain, available Fall, 2007 on Bloodshot Records!
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The Deadstring Brothers are returning in 2009 -- and have JUST ANNOUNCED new US summer tour dates in support of their upcoming long player, São Paulo. The album's not out for a minute, but we can't wait for you to hear it cos it's hot. And, I mean, SMOKING HOT. Just check out that artwork, folks.
In celebration of the Walkabouts' 25th anniversary there is a tribute album released by Glitterhouse on September 25th containing Unholy Dreams by Gary Heffern & Beautiful People:
If you are partying in downtown Baltimore for Halloween, we are playing with Fools and Horses at The Quarter. Costume party and the whole 9. Best part about Halloween is its the only time of year Guys are allowed to stare at chicks outside of a strip club! Lucky us!
Just to let you know your single is inside one of our playlists, the one is gonna be broadcasted this week! and from thursday you can download the whole programa via http://elcuartelillo.lacotorra.org
The Deadstring Brothers live takes us on a musical tour through the backwater of Grand Rapids, up through Flint and along to the motor graveyard of Detroit. Stopping for gas station provisions of beef jerkery, cherry soda, a melted Hershey bar, plastic sunglasses and six pack of Paps Blue Ribbon we head on down toward West Virginia and stop for the night in a run down Kentucky motel. The ice dispenser doesn’t work but the 75c Pepsi machine sill has glass bottles. Its here we are joined by an Arkansas preacher who fills us with drunken stories of his Jacksonville lover and how she wrote him letters of hope when he was in his Louisiana jail cell. A pedal steel later were back on the road toward Dallas and the Texas farm for our Nuevo Laredo bbq where a mouth organ solo detours us nicely along the greased swamp roads to Alabama and home free to filthy Bowery Streets of New York City.
This year we still have our nominations open for our second annual "Best of The Web Talent" search. You may want to check it out at songhookers.com and consider a nomination or a submission.
BECOME A PART OF THE BIG CHANGE AND GET LAUNCHED ALONG WITH US IN 2010!
Our winner will receive Top Priority and Exclusive Promotion that will thrust them into the spotlight with the launch of our new site and music business technologies.
Deadline for nominations and submissions: November 1st, 2009.