The New Familiars Promise Rowdy

North Carolina is becoming known nationally for its variety in bluegrass musings.  From The Avett Brothers, to The Steep Canyon Rangers, and The Carolina Chocolate Drops, the tarheel state has illustrated that bluegrass music is no longer a one liner.  It is no longer a musical style that can be stereotyped.  The label “thrash-grass” has been attached to many of these bands and they seem to deserve such a description.  The latest addition to this list of North Carolina not-so-tame bluegrass bands is Charlotte’s The New Familiars.  They use ‘thrash’ in their myspace musical description but ‘rowdy’ is the word they attest to the most.

“We’re a pretty rowdy band…” laughs band member Eric-Scott Guthrie. “In talking with the Pour House after our last gig about a follow-up show at the venue, they said they wanted to put us in front of the rowdiest crowd possible next time we came through. From what we hear of these mug nights that they have every Wednesday, we’re thinking things could get a little crazy… in a good way, of course! Honestly we’re just coming to have fun, play some great music, and send folks home with a smile on their faces.”  Although it’s just a coincidence that Guthrie shares a last name with a famous folk singer, he proudly wears the surname around his neck in the form of a harmonica and guitar/banjo while storming through a variety of tunes that owe a handful to the late Guthrie.  The four-piece (and sometimes five-piece) don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon and their songs are evidence.  After the first chord, the last chord is the only thing that will save Widespread Panic and Ryan Adams fans alike from stomping, clapping, and dancing to their “honest roots-derived rock n’ roll.” 

“A total injection of adrenaline,” says cellist Billy Jack, who has played alongside the band at past gigs. “Ask your average cellist how often he gets his bow re-haired, and I’ll guarantee it isn’t a quarter as often as when I’m shreddin’ through “The Storm,” “Song for Self-Construction,” “Ballad of the Mad Tea Party” or any of the other high-octane, energy-dialed-to-11 New Familiars tunes…Even those too cool to dance and holler are fighting the urge, and their feet don’t stop tapping the beat.” 

Having strings pop on stage is usually evidence of a hard rocking evening.  I’ve seen both Avett brothers go through multiple sets of banjo and guitar strings in a set, as well as Yo La Tengo’s bassist break a bass string at Austin City Limits, which I thought was impossible.  So if the words thrash, whiskey and rowdy all show up on stage Wednesday night, The New Familiars will definitely break a couple of strings while pleasing the crowd in route.

The New Familiars bring their unique blend of folk, blues, country, rock and bluegrass to The Pour House Music Hall on Wednesday, November 28th 2007 for mug night at the downtown tavern.  Balancing out the rowdy Familiars beforehand will be harmonic Durham/Chapel Hill foursome The Sweet By and By.  Four Women, Four Voices, Four Instruments, One Microphone.  Their performance will bring back memories of that fantastic radio station scene from O Brother Where Art Thou.  A tame start to a rowdy evening.  (If you miss Sweet By and By, they will open for the previously mentioned Steep Canyon Rangers at The Cradle on Friday). 

The New Familiars
Sweet By and By
Wednesday, November 28th at 9:00 pm
The Pour House
224 S. Blount Street, Raleigh NC, 27601
Tickets: $6

http://www.thenewfamiliars.com
http://www.sonicbids.com/thenewfamiliars

Contact info:

3529 Oakwood Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
704-277-1069
thenewfamiliars@gmail.com

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