In 2013, the HearYa crew saw Roadkill Ghost Choir a few times at SXSW, in Chicago and did a HearYa session with them. At every turn, we’d try to disect them. And I think it was during the session, Shirk turned to me and said, “These guys are going to be unreal when they get it all figured out.”
Their PR piece lauds them as a blend of Tom Petty and Radiohead being influenced by Cormac McCarthy. Like their Southern brethren, The Futurebirds, their use of the steel guitar is liberal and a focal point of the band. While Futurebirds use of the steel tends to emphasize their Southern rock roots; Roadkill’s use of the steel guitar provides a ghostly & eerie backdrop.
In Tongues continues the forward progress that the Quiet Light EP began. In a group text between Oz, Shirk and myself we were talking about the stellar batch of new albums coming out and we brought up In Tongues. We were all lauding it as fantastic and a major step forward. While it might lack that single like a Funeral by Band Of Horses to really have them explode on the scene; the online response for their new stuff has been emphatically positive. But frankly as a fan (and this might be selfish) I am glad that they are growing in stages. We all want these bands to explode but, not at the cost of growing organically.
My personal favorite is the 4th track – A Blow To The Head. It subtly works in some of electronica elements that sounds absolutely stunning along with Kiffy Myers’ steel. Lead singer Andrew Sheppard slowly moves through the song before the transition about midway through when things begin to build before the band starts repetitively singing, “start running’ and Sheppard unleashes a blood-curdling scream which leads to a frenetic closing jam.
I read somewhere that Sheppard said a good chunk of this album is about their early struggles of touring to empty rooms and getting paid squat. The more I’ve listened to In Tongues, the more I can picture them playing in much bigger rooms. In Tongues is one of those albums that you enjoy more every time you listen to it and Roadkill Ghost Choir are one of those bands you enjoy the more time you spend with. Get on board early and enjoy the ride. I sure hope they do.
Our full session is here.
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Roadkill Ghost Choir is here
