original photo courtesy of Superfan Records • Photo by Lincoln Hancock
Starmount was formed in 2007 by Greg Elkins who was once the principal songwriter and a guitarist with Vanilla Trainwreck, a Raleigh group that released three records on the Mammoth label in the early 1990’s (other members included Chris Jones, now of The Loners and Brian Quast, now with the reunited Polvo). Since then, he has spent much of his time producing records for other bands. He also runs Desolation Row Recording. A growing passion for the pedal steel guitar and a desire to challenge its boundaries inspired Elkins to begin to learn the instrument and form a new band. He assembled a cadre of talented musicians he admired, including Dave Pitts (Overproof, Sexual Harris) on upright bass, Brian J. Donohoe (Razor Wire Safety Net, STRANGE) on drums, and Rob Davis (Le Margeaux Kidders) on synthesizers.
Starmount has been stunning audiences since their inception. Perhaps you caught one of their earlier performances at the 2nd RebusFest. They’ve recently played the Pour House and Slims. They’re making the rounds around Raleigh. Friends and fans of the band have been waiting for awhile to be able to take home some Starmount. They will soon get their wish. Superfan Records will release Starmount’s debut album, “Tyranny of the Sphere” on October 27th. Starmount will be performing as part of MusicSpark this Thursday night at WKNC’s Local Beer Local Bands at Tir Na Nog.
When asked of how the relationship between the band and the label came to be, drummer Brian Donohoe said that “Our partnership with Superfan came at just the right time, infusing the project with energy and enthusiasm. They have become like another band member, giving time, ideas and support towards our end goal of getting our music out into the world.”
Katrina Lamberto, one of three friends who started Superfan Records says that “Starmount is an exciting addition to our already diverse catalogue. Their music is smart and approachable. The beautiful compositions paired with unorthodox instrumentation and the depth of musicianship makes listening to Starmount a joyful experience in any setting. This record really captures their essence. Plus, they are great guys.”
To hear the strange and wonderful sounds of Starmount, go to their page at Superfan’s website.
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