As we continue to shake off today’s Super Bowl stupor, we thought we’d turn to the lovely ladies of Those Darlins to help us get through the day. Last week, the country-punk act, who will release their sophomore album Screws Get Loose on March 29, dropped the Andy Warhol screen-test inspired video for Be Your Bro that prominently features Nikki, Jessi and Kelly in various states of undress…
Over the last few years Rilo Kiley has taken a backseat to front woman Jenny Lewis’ solo career. The ever adorable Lewis, who has put out two records on her own, has unveiled the details of her latest side-project dubbed Johnny & Jenny – which is a collaboration with her longtime boyfriend singer-songwriter Jonathan Rice. The duo, who will release their debut later this year, will hit the road in September for a month-long tour that includes two high profile dates opening for ’90s alt.rock act Pavement.
If you’re not into a night with the indie-rock sweethearts, than maybe you’ll be interested in hitting one of these recently announced tours…
Tom Tom Club to head out in support of their new album
Finally, last month Those Darlins were forced to cancel their Australian tour when Nikki Darlin, who happens to be married to John McCauley of Deer Tick, broke two bones in her left arm while running through a field. With Nikki on the road to recovery, the country-punk band, who put on a raucous live show, have announced the details for their fall tour which will kick off on September 8 at the Bottletree in Birmingham, AL.
Last weekend, I witnessed one of the coolest concert experiences ever. Hidden in the hills of McMinnville, Tennessee lies the Cumberland Caverns a national natural landmark. Inside the cavern lies the Volcano Room, which happens to be one of the best natural acoustic spaces on earth. A few months ago Bluegrass Underground – not to be confused with now defunct band Blueground Undergrass – launched.
Bluegrass Underground is a monthly concert held inside the cavern that is broadcast on the world famous WSM AM. This past Saturday, Those Darlins – along with Grand Old Opry legend Charlie Louvin – literally rocked the cave. Luckily, I had my camera in tow to capture the experience of a lifetime.
During my stay at the Southern Girls Rock’n'Roll Camp I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with the ladies of Tennessee’s own Those Darlins. The band’s roots run deep with the camp – Kelly Darlin founded it in 2003, Jessi was an original SGRRC participant that year and Nikki came along soon after and the rest as they say is herstory.
[Photo by Jennifer Kirk]
The band who’s self-titled album debut came earlier this summer is filled with raucous, rambunctious, rowdy and raw songs about love, life and drinking to consuming a whole damn chicken. To define them as one sound is troublesome, much like when the CMT announcer introduced Wilco at Farm Aid ’98 as “ya’llternative.” Nothing exactly fits like a glove, but they’re proud of that fact.
Jennifer Kirk: What was your favorite gig of the last tour?
Those Darlins: Minneapolis and Chicago. It was our third time playing in Chicago and that’s a great city to play. We also just played the SGGRC on Monday and it was really fun to see all the girls dancing on stage. The New York City gigs we’re good too. We played with John Spencer’s new project Heavy Trash one night and that was a great experience.
READ ON for more of Jen’s chat with Those Darlins…
debut came earlier this summer is filled with raucous, rambunctious, rowdy and raw songs about love, life and drinking to consuming a whole damn chicken. To define them as one sound is troublesome, much like when the CMT announcer introduced Wilco at Farm Aid ’98 as “ya’llternative.” Nothing exactly fits like a glove, but they’re proud of that fact.
