Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to go to Newport Folk Festival for the first time. I was very excited to go, with notables such as Decemberists, Gillian Welch, Tegan & Sara, and Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three amongst the acts. It would be a good time for me to get to know bands I had heard of through my tour manager buddy, David Wax Museum and Brown Bird. Those six alone would make it worth it for a weekend away with my wife, plus there were countless others that I sure wouldn't mind seeing if I had the chance, M. Ward, EmmyLou Harris, and Elvis Costello.
As time got closer to the festival, I was beyond excited. I had started to learn more about the other bands, such as Freelance Whales, the Civil Wars, and The Head and The Heart. Once the schedule was released I was in full blown chaos level excitement. Except for one thing, now there were too many bands I was excited to see. The worst was Saturday afternoon, who would I see amongst Indie twins Tegan & Sara, folk superstar Gillian Welch, or this intriguing trio Devil Makes Three? I assumed it would Be Tegan & Sara since I liked the online studio sessions I saw, but in the month before the show I heard the Daytrotter.com session for Devil Makes Three. Even, by the time I wrote my post previewing the show, I was still undecided but DM3 were really my dark horse pick.The deciding factor really came down to the fact, that I scored some killer seats in the second row for Pokey LaFarge and the South City Three on the Harbor Stage. Why leave, if I was undecided. Half of my party left for Tegan and Sara, but the wife & I stuck through. Instantly this folk crowd seemed to have turned into the Folsom Prison set for Walk The Line. The number of tattoos went up exponentially as, Devil Makes Three took the stage.
Winner! The show was incredible, even if I had only known a few of their songs prior. Regrettably, as the other sets just weren't as good, I did bounce around the other stages quickly. I did make my way back to the Harbor Stage, in time to catch 'For Good Again' and 'Black Irish' near the end of the Devil Makes Three set.
Long Story short, the Devil Makes Three phenomenon took me in this latter half of 2011. I was lucky enough to catch the full download of the Newport show via NPR.org right after the weekend festival, picked up the KEXP E.P. Live In Studio EP,, but I was beyond thrilled when I got the news in late September that a new Live album Stomp and Smash was in the works, as well as a new tour with my other Newport Folk Festival Harbor stage favorites Brown Bird. Devil Makes Three - 'Black Irish'
Video by jcinla76
Unfortunately, the closest Devil Makes Three and Brown Bird are coming to Philadelphia is Asbury Park, NJ next Friday (I'm going to another show in Philly that night), but the album exceeds expectations.This new album, might not be what you expect from Blue Grass music with songs mentioning hell, the devil, food poisoning overheating engines, sexually experimenting, Tennessee Whiskey, Meth, charlatans, church fairs, and Scientology. However, it wasn't your Grand Daddy's country when Johnny Cash was singing about murder and infidelity. The Devil Makes Three brings their live shows singing about living a full life ('Help Yourself' and 'Do Wrong Right'), while admitting "this life might not be right for everybody" ('This Life'). Meanwhile, as you embrace the album you find yourself listening to familiar tunes of drinking ('Old # 7') and scrapping and clawing through life ('For Good Again')
Don't confuse Stomp and Smash with a best of, as the album is notably missing 'Aces and Twos', 'Bangor & Mash', and 'Beneath the Piano'. It's a great collection nonetheless, representing previous albums and including two new songs. The album was recorded during a two night, sold out stand at The Mystic Theater in Petaluma by Kark Derfler best known for his work with Tom Waits. The LP focuses on long time fan favorites and also includes new tracks 'This Life' and the fun 'They Call That Religion' a Mississippi Sheiks cover.
The Devil Makes Three - "This Life" (from STOMP & SMASH - live album) by dm3milanrecord
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| photo credit: Max Blau |
Since independently releasing their first album in 2002, the self-titledThe Devil Makes Three followed by the 2004 self-released offering Longjohn, Boots and a Belt, the band garnered ardent fans the old school way by constantly touring and selling out dates across the country. Propelled by word of mouth without the help of any press, radio or label, the trio started arriving at venues to fans waiting outside for tickets and packed houses.
The Devil Makes Three signed to Milan Records to release Do Wrong Right in 2009. The album introduced them to a larger audience through festival performances at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. “We like shows where people can dance,” says Bernhard, “and it isn’t about how great the musicianship is as much as the energy of the crowd and the songs themselves.” They also made their live television debut on IFC’s Dinner With The Band.
The trio is also hard at work on their fourth studio album with plans to release in 2012.
To purchase Stomp and Smash try the Devil Makes Three Store
I would recommend the Limited edition RED vinyl LP + Download - $17.00
Devil Makes Three - 'Do Wrong Right'
They may say, "it isn’t about how great the musicianship is as much as the energy of the crowd and the songs themselves" but musicianship is there along with high-energy fun.
ReplyDeleteI saw them for the first time a couple of months ago at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass after last.fm suggested them to me because I like Old Crow Medicine Show - and I now like DM3 more which is saying a lot for me. After seeing them I bought a ticket to see them again the next night. They are fantastic! I'm looking forward to their show this month in Santa Cruz.
I like their studio albums a lot but LOVE their live stuff and if you like bluegrass, country and/or old-timey (for lack of a better word) music DM3 is a show not to be missed. Especially good with bourbon.