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The Theatre Fire
"Somebody is coming down the road / He's kicking up the darkness with his load / Should I block the gates or line the street? / Should we crush his head or kiss his feet?" These are words sung by Don Feagin in a world-weary, deep voice. Behind him, we hear morose trumpet, the shuffling of drums, a sweet steel guitar, and delicate chimes. What is this? Where did it come from? "Kicking Up the Darkness" sounds like an anachronism, or something unearthed from the national archives, lacking the self awareness and tenseness that other bands wear on their sleeves.
The Theatre Fire make banjo-picking, mariachi-horn Americana with a touch of the weird that's refreshingly cliche-free but warm and comforting. The seven piece-band possess a quiet, lush stateliness that's hard to fake, that reminds me of Lambchop or the more serene moments of Okkervil River. But even with a closet full of instruments at their disposal, the band deliberately adds them sparingly, creating an atmosphere of airiness, so that the songs feel strong but delicate.
With arrangements that swing and sway, Everybody has a Dark Side a friendly looseness that probably stems from the fact that the band's been together since 1995. It's true roots music that's a blend of "zydeco, bluegrass, mariachi, country, gospel and rock and roll," but filtered through a twisted Texas lens.
The Theatre Fire - Kicking Up The Darkness
The Theatre Fire - Members Of The Show 'em How It's Done (Centro-matic cover)
The Theatre Fire's official site. Buy Everybody Has a Dark Side from iTunes.
Posted by Queen of the Front Row at 03.01.07 at 8:28 AM
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