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We had scoped A Northern Drawl in concert once before at Lee's Palace back in like July, and they were pretty dope. They engaged us back then with some semi neo-psychedelic, hard rock vibes. This time around the served up the same vibe with a very heavy, balls to the wall, basement jam band, hard rock feel. This is the kind of music that we here at TBR can't get enough of.
If you've never seen AND play, I can describe them in three words, talented, diverse and humble.
We had scoped A Northern Drawl in concert once before at Lee's Palace back in like July, and they were pretty dope. They engaged us back then with some semi neo-psychedelic, hard rock vibes. This time around the served up the same vibe with a very heavy, balls to the wall, basement jam band, hard rock feel. This is the kind of music that we here at TBR can't get enough of.
If you've never seen AND play, I can describe them in three words, talented, diverse and humble.
A Northern Drawl is a pretty fun band to see live. Lead singer/lead guitarist Mike Scarlett is a CRAZY musician, who consistently displayed some seriously virtuous guitar skills that almost outshone his soulful singing chops. The dude is so on top of his game and in-tune with his guitar that he's a sight to behold during solos. His fury of a hand leads him to completely zone out when playing; at one point almost completely crashing into drummer Mike Carter's kit. Drummer Mike Carter is a beast who waged a psych rock war on his helpless tubs. Guitarist, Tim Snack and Bassist, Tom Watkins were also hella in-sync with their material as well, performing their duties admirably.
Visually and stylistically, all the guys in A Northern Drawl seem so different, but they all work so well together and that seems to be what makes the difference with their sound. They all visually appear to have different styles and interests; we could tell simply by the way they held their instruments and by the way that they all carried themselves that they are very different guys. Visually, drummer Mike Carter seems carefree and very open when he plays and it was an enlightening thing to witness, he plays with this visible fury in his chest that's just refreshingly beautiful. Bassist, Tom Watkins seemed very dedicated, reserved and collected as he made love to his instrument on stage. Tim Snack, kept the rhythm and the vibe going in an almost calculating way that definitely displayed skill and style simultaneously. Frontman, Mike Scarlett encompassed the traits of all of his fellow members while still remaining somewhat shy yet wild and intense.
All in all yo, A Northern Drawl put on a pretty dope show. They've got this very fun jam band feel and you can tell that they probably have tons of fun at home practicing and jamming together fusing their sounds. You can also tell that they probably have a great time chilling together and working on the atmosphere that they bring to the stage during their shows.
This was TBR's second, but far from last time seeing them and at this event they were much more sonically overt and direct than the last time we saw em. The last time we saw them at Lee's Palace they had a much more mellow drawl. This time around, they showed up and showed out for their crowd at the Silver Dollar, pulling very little punches and hitting us with some serious shredding and some totally sick alt rock excellence.
A great time had indeed.
- Chantel & Christine Nouseforaname
Remember when Pearl Jam and Alice In Chains broke all the rules? Probably not. But that feeling has been reclaimed by A Northern Drawl, a snapshot of early 90’s gritty rock and roll, chunky back-to-basics guitars, moody Eddie Vedder-esque vocals, with songs that unravel with bits of Pavement fuzz and ragged Neil Young twang. Simple but focused, here’s a band that rolls out spliffed-out rock like a vintage hot-rod revving-up the engines. - Lonely Vagabond
Discography
A Northern Drawl - EP 2009
A Northern Drawl - EP II 2011
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Bio
A Northern Drawl started as a psych/improv band in Montreal. In 2007, after experiencing personal tragedy, four lifelong friends regrouped in Toronto to work on some song ideas. The result was an inspiring blend of songwriting and adventure. A Northern Drawl is "both electrifying and ambitious, constantly giving their all on stage. You can't ask for more" (Lonely Vagabond, 2011).
With influences like Pavement, The Who, The Verve, and Spiritualized, the band developed its own unique sound and started playing shows, the first at Rancho Relaxo in December, 2008. Since then, they have been exciting audiences with their own unique brand of rock that is "a snapshot of early 90's gritty rock and roll, weaving through My Morning Jacket, Neil Young, and the Allman Brothers...a band that rolls out spliffed-out rock like a vintage hot-rod revving up the engines" (Lonely Vagabond, 2009). A Northern Drawl recaptures and recreates the vital intensity of another time, evoking an authenticity rarely exhibited today.
The band entered the studio in the summer of '09 and recorded a batch of songs live off the floor that made up their first EP, which features "There She Goes" and "Fortunes." In 2010, the band stayed busy playing shows, self recording, and producing a single; released in 2011, it features new songs "Thought," "Restless Heart," and "Almonds." In late 2011, the band added keyboards into the mix, a move that has expanded on their brand of sonic rock. In April of 2012, they finished work on new recordings and released a single, "Fisherman's Whiskey Blues". Driven by a dynamic riff, its energy is contagious and will surely become a staple of their exciting live show. ?
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