The Weight

The Weight’s 2008 release Are Men marks an interesting evolution

of the group’s sound. What was once a singer-songwriter-with-

backingband is now simply a band. Of men.



Perhaps it was one too many shows with sensitive, weekend-warrior

singer-songwriters armed with acoustic guitars (and songs fit only

for girlfriends), or frustration with an interchangeable backing

band, but upon relocating to New York, Joseph Plunket set out to form

a proper band. He found a rhythm section with ease: Will Nolan on

bass (Joseph’s uncle, strangely only five years his senior), and J.

Ellis (friend via Atlanta, GA punk-rock formative years) on drums. A

few short-lived characters later, The Weight arrived at a solid

lineup with the addition of Fletcher C. Johnson on lead guitar and

Johnny Carpenter on pedal steel, with both contributing vocals. The

result is something quite different from previous lineups. Fletcher

brings his all-around wild style; Johnny, his multi-instrumentalism

and name-matching personality; Will and Jay, a newfound consistency

and craftsmen sensibility;

and Joseph, far more songs than any band could ever hope to learn

(an unusual problem.)



Are Men reveals a sound and feel very much different from 2004’s

10 Mile Grace, which found the group working within the framework of

earnest alt-country executed by post-punk kids. In contrast, Are Men

brings a sense of light-hearted fun-timin’ to the songwriting and

execution (more country-rock block party, less alt.) It’s the sound

of a band enjoying the process. Sing-along choruses, three-part

harmonies, psych guitar freak-outs, rowdy gang vocals – all things

people love… so The Weight have discovered. For the similarly post-

jaded kids, and honest fans of Americana, Are Men sounds like the

record you actually

enjoy listening to.



Jim Nicholas

Brooklyn, NY, January 2008



For Booking or Management please contact:

colonel@theweightaremen.com



For Press please contact:

scubasteve@theweightaremen.com