Jacob Darden Mike Bannerman Jeff Bechtel Isaac Crouch Anna Harris Mat Masterson Edwin Mericle Ben Welner
Influences
Aaron Weiss
Lenard Cohen
Etta Baker
The Microphones Broken Social Scene
Bert Jansch
Henry Darden
Conor Oberst The Apple Seed Caste
DOC W Sparkle Horse
Neutral Milk Hotel
Daniel Johnston
Elliot Smith Neva Dinova
Folk Culture
Wilco Minus Story Young gals with sweet smiles Shit talking fools And all that other poetic lethargic nonsense
We love music. We love being southern. The aftermath is what Israel Darling has become, an observation of the things we either love or hate. Come check us out in person.
New Record out. Will be playing shows in the NC and TN area in the next month or two. Hope to see all the beautiful faces out.
PRESS
"..one of the most compelling albums to come out of not only Greensboro this year, but the entire state.."-Ryan Synder, Yes! Weekly.
"Darden finds his greatest success in the gently strummed, fragile ballads that display the character in his voice and his well crafted and lonesome songwriting." - Stark Magazine
"It is an immediately engaging album that keeps its momentum up from the first track to the last, while taking great thematic risks in the material he chooses to explore — specifically religion and drug addiction — but doing so with utter care and to stirring effect." 90/100 Yes! Weekly
"The five piece is led by 21-year old singer songwriter Jacob Darden who vocally kind of reminds me of a young Ryan Adams on first listen." - The Velvet Rut
"Acoustic and jangly but the polar opposite of mellow, Hickory’s Israel Darling draws a little rock twang and swagger into their clever Cohen meets Bacharach meets Buckley stew, and it sure does work. Vocalist and songwriter Jacob Darden has a knack for delivering the damndest lyric at just the right time, with a voice somewhere in the area of Jump Little Children’s Jay Clifford and Andrew Bird, peppered with a tad of David Gray. Smart arrangements, crafty use of sound and no shortage of heartbreak in the material make for some great ingredients. Well worth a listen." - Chris Cooper, Smoky Mountain News
"North Carolina's Israel Darling have been sitting in my inbox for weeks, unlistened, because frankly the name made me think they were gonna be some Matisyahu bullshit. Instead, it was my pleasure to find of one of the more promising debuts of the summer in their Dinosaur Bones and Mechanical Hands" -
amfmpm
"[Lead singer and principal songwriter, Jacob Darden] is a revelation throughout this album. His songwriting is poignant and honest…Darden’s voice is striking and emotive, but it’s also very soothing at the same time. Israel Darling is not just trying to ape its way to the top, this band truly explores the sound and fills every inch of space with sound that matches their leaders emotive delivery. —
Poptarts
Hey guys, I know this is super short notice, but I have a show at CFBGs in Greensboro this Friday, October the 16th. The Trade Parade were headlining it, but they had to cancel. I’m really into the music you guys are making, and just thought I’d offer you the headlining slot for this Friday. Again, I know it’s short notice but if you could just let me know either way, even if you can’t do it.
I apologize for using your comment space to write this, but the myspace message system was glitching up. Look forward to hearing back from you.
I just was visiting my friend for the first time in Greensboro on friday and we decided to get some coffee at the Green Bean and had no clue a band was even playing. I had the best time watching you guys play and i ended up buying a cd that night. You guys really impressed me and i havnt stopped listening to the cd yet. Keep up that great music, you've got a new listener.
Can I just say that I was just in a coffee shop looking at all of the flyers when I find the one that says your coming to Greensboro on the 2nd. I cannot be more excited!! :)
