The Feverfew

Bio:

Please send all booking inquiries to booking@thefeverfew.com

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The Feverfew has shared the stage with the likes of ::: M. Ward, Kimya Dawson, Elf Power, Johnathan Rice, Philip Glass, Patti Smith, Lenny Kaye, Murder by Death, Rainer Maria, Mates of State, Sarah Dougher, Lyn Breedlove, Kevin Devine, Bonfire Madigan, Paramore, Garrison Starr and even My Chemical Romance, back in the day.

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Feverfew's Bethany Spiers, Phantasm in the Drizzle

A rainy, raw weeknight at the end of a long holiday is hardly a recipe for a good turnout for live music, but a surprisingly decent crowd was on hand at the Warehouse Next Door to see promising indie-folk band the Feverfew on Monday. "Apparitions," the Brooklyn-based act's debut album, was recorded as a duo, but singer-guitarist Bethany Spiers went it alone during the too-brief set, mixing new songs with the delicate melodies that made the Feverfew's lone recording a haunting pleasure. "I've been writing all these weird country songs lately," Spiers said as introduction for a song that "nobody's ever heard before," but aside from a passing reference to Bakersfield, it was simply another of her tightly drawn dream-folk creations. When Spiers sang other songs, such as "The Night the Whole World Caught on Fire," she sounded nothing like Buck Owens but did strongly summon the spirit of Cat Power's Chan Marshall. With a confessional whisper, she made lines like "Now there's nothing left of you -- a tired ghost in hospital perfume" (from "Last Call") crackle with spooky static just as Marshall might. But Spiers's diaphanous acoustic guitar lines and writerly lyrical turns -- she studied creative writing at Pratt -- were entirely her own. There was a cover of Loudon Wainwright III's ("by way of Rufus," Spiers added) "One Man Guy," but it was Spiers's own compositions that were memorable, songs whose phantasmal sheen matched the night's drizzly backdrop. -- Patrick Foster, The Washington Post, Wednesday, January 4, 2006

CMJ '08 Anti-Hero: Sometimes one song is enough to make you fall in love - and The Feverfew's "Home Again" is one of those. Put it in your next right-mood-inducing mix tape. They even have a tune about "The Future of US economy"!!! Yeah, avoid that one for the tape... -- The Deli Magazine, October 2008

It's not surprising to see Bethany Spiers, leader of this duo, cite Cat Power as an influence; they seem to have a similar quavering vocal tone that accents the secret-sharing quality in their breathy singing. Also recalled at times are the tightly condensed yet controversial-seeming lyrics on Suzanne Vega's first album and Iron and Wine's melodic sense and rivetingly intimate, largely acoustic arrangements and guitar style (especially on the instrumental "Perfect Ugly Amateur" but also for the structure and contours of "The Gift"). A significant debut by an artist I'm already telling all my friends about. -- Steve Holtje, The Big Take-Over 56

With an overwhelming pile of awful singer-songwriters out there, this is a breath of fresh air. The Feverfew is Bethany Spiers with a few others pitching in. Her voice reminds me a lot of Mirah. After reading the lyrics, I'm not surprised that she was a creative writing major in college. Top notch. Musically it's melodic and gentle, the perfect thing to play while staring out the window on a dark and rainy Saturday afternoon. It's rare that a release comes to me anonymously and completely blows me away, but Apparitions achieves that. -- Dan Agacki, Punk Planet 67, May/June 2005

An aptly titled album dealing with ghosts of dead dreams and defunct relationships, Apparitions haunts with its gorgeous guitars and striking images, before it vanishes like a specter slinking into shadows. Bethany Spiers' wispy vocals float appealingly into the air before evaporating, leaving behind faint echoes and poetic lyrics that stand up to scrutiny. Her songs are ethereal yet ephemeral, burning lovely and leaving inscrutable ash. When Apparitions ends, listeners might feel dazed, as if they just awoke from a fantastic dream without being able to recall any details. -- Andrew Miller, Alternative Press Issue 200, March 2005

The Feverfew's album, Apparitions (Eyeball), has a snowy-morning feel, brightened by Bethany Spiers's softly unassuming voice and delicate guitar work. -- Time Out New York 498, April 14-20, 2005

Listening to The Fever Few's myspace tracks it's no surprise that singer songwriter, Bethany Spiers (once of the critically acclaimed Sleep Station), cites Chan Marshall (Cat Power) as one of her influences. The mesmerising, quavering voice dealing out sparse, angst-ridden and intimate songs of such fragile, brittle beauty that you expect them to shatter on impact is on a par with classic Cat Power. In addition to the obvious (and some may say lazy) comparisons with Chan Marshall , Fever Few songs also betray influences such as, The Red House Painters, Beth Orton , Suzanne Vega, Iron and Wine and Mazzy Star . Like fellow Brooklynites, Hem, The Fever Few are at the forefront of a young , and unfortunately rather beardy, progressive folk movement that shows no sign of running out of steam.-- The Devil Has the Best Tuna, June 17th, 2007

I'm not typically a "singer-songwriter" fan. I'm just not. But every once in a while, a singer-songwriter strikes me as something a little different. When Philadelphia native Bethany Spiers sets up as The Feverfew, she strikes a chord. Some may argue otherwise, but I am inclined to believe that perhaps there is never enough "pretty" music in the world, and The Feverfew does "pretty" very well. Sweet, haunting vocals, vivid lyrics, and a sound, casual guitar track combine to make you want to pop the CD in and go for a drive in the country with the windows down. -- Scenestars, 4/14/05

The Feverfew, an acoustic duo out of Brooklyn, NY, is led by singer/songwriter Bethany Spiers and evokes the same sleepy wonderment of female-fronted acts like Mazzy Star and Cat Power. -- Kate Bredimus, www.richmond.com, 11/1/04

As captivating as her voice is, “Apparitions” makes clear that Spiers is not just a singer. In fact, her voice may be secondary to her lyrics. What’s particularly interesting is that Spiers’ songs aren’t all self-focused; many of them delve into elaborate, captivating narratives. Standout track “Selby” was inspired by the retelling of serial-killer Aileen Wournos’s relationship with her lover “Selby” in “Monster.” Though the song isn’t a direct re-telling, it does vividly describe two desperate lovers who run into some trouble. This sort of entrancing story keeps “Apparitions” fresh. -- Casey Parks, Jackson Free Press, June 29, 2005

With the holidays and wintry weather fast approaching, Bethany Spiers has assembled a collection of nine songs that are as sunny and hopeful as they are cold and bleak. She blends equal parts Red House Painters and Lisa Loeb on her confessional debut. Lyrically captivating and just plain pretty, the debut from The Feverfew continues the string of amazing releases from the Eyeball camp. Keep an eye out for this girl, she's going places. -- Matt DiStefano, Rocking the Scene, 12/14/04

Immeasurable songwriting prowess and pristine production make this album a must-own for indie fans and audiophiles alike. -- PunkStop.com

What really stands out and tugs at the heartstrings is the way pseudo-solo performer/songwriter Bethany Spiers uses her image-stories to place listeners in the center of tangible moments of developing sentiment. During her finest moments on Apparitions, Spiers embraces some of the finer lynchpins while avoiding the trappings of the singer/songwriter “genre,” crafting songs that are trembling but direct and emotive but alarmingly accessible to passing ears. -- Justin Vellucci, Delusions Of Adequacy, 1/17/05

Member Since:

June 24, 2004

Members:

with guests including

Jonathon Linaberry, David Debiak, Rebecca Schlappich, Pat Lemothe, Mike Abiuso, Jared Karns, Chris Enriquez, Allison Grey, Josh Nichols, Meredith Godreau, Gina Young, Adam Christgau, Chris Covatta and more. ..

Influences:

The Dictionary, Airplanes, The Sea, Birds, Autumn, Winter, Alliteration, The Vowels, Anne Carson, Mary Shelley, Andre Breton, James Baldwin, Romaine Brooks, Elliott Smith, The Rolling Stones, PJ Harvey, Geoff Farina, Johnny Cash, Ryan Adams, Jeff Buckley, Patti Smith, Lucinda Williams, Pedro the Lion, Aimee Mann, Cat Power, David Bowie, Lou Reed, Paul Simon, The Decemberists, Gillian Welch, Joni Mitchell, M. Ward, The Mountain Goats, Neutral Milk Hotel, The Be Good Tanyas, Bob Dylan, Juliana Hatfield, Nick Drake, Wilco, Yo La Tengo, Mark Kozelek, Talking Heads, Bessie Smith, John Lennon, others...

Sounds Like:

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Record Label:

Eyeball Records

Label Type:

Indie