Lone Official
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Lone Official

Band Rock Americana

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Music

The best kept secret in music

Press


"Lone Official - Tuckassee Take"

Sometimes you just have to take the plunge. When Matt Button moved to Nashville he found himself tending bar at the infamous Springwater Club until he took his guitar up on stage and began the chain of events which led to Lone Official. Once up and running they impressed local luminaries Lambchop so much that they named a song after them on their acclaimed "Aw C'mon" album and Lambchop frontman Kurt Wagner admits, "Lambchop was strongly affected (by Lone Official's sound) and I specifically set out to emulate those qualities". Thankfully Lambchop's efforts turned out unlike the master copy and leaves us thankful for this release. Among the songs is the intriguing "Monarchos", about the horse that won the 2001 Dentucky Derby (horse-racing being the other passion in Button's life). This is a confident record that firmly knows its place in the world and welcomes listeners into its homely range. - NME


"Lambchop chums, on Damon Albarn's label"

Produced by Mark Nevers and featuring fellow Lambchop man Paul Niehaus, this Nashville sextet borrow much of the 'chop's subtlety and nuance. Indeed, Kurt
Wagner was so taken with their countrified post-rock, he included tribute "The Lone Official" on 2004's "Aw C'mon". Yet despite singer Matt Button's Wagneresque inflections, their quiet/loud dynamic is more prosaic, rocking hard on "Fight Song" and "Le Coq Sportif". There's some lap steel and flourishes of brass (sweetest of all on "Monarchos" (a homage to a Kentucky Derby winner), but comparisons with Gastr Del Sol and Pavement are equally valid.

-Rob Hughes - Uncut


"Lone Official - Tuckasse Take"

When Matt Button moved from behind the bar to the mic at the infamous Springwater Club, he began an unexpected musical journey.

Having left Louisville Kentucky and relocated to Nashville looking for inspiration, he struck gold. His only friend in his new environment was musician Josh Garcia, with whom he’d written some songs.

Soon, Button was attracting attention, and was joined by ex-Lambchop drummer Ben Martin, followed by Sam El Amri (guitar), Brian Nicholls (lap steel), Ryan Norris (keys) and Eric Williams on bass. More people seem to be joining by the minute, it appears. Lambchop leader Kurt Wagner was so impressed with them he named a song after them.

Wagner said, "The way they put intricate melodies together was very interesting in a ‘post-rock’ kind of way."

When thoughts of an album materialised, they turned to Lambchop tweeker Mark Nevers to produce. The net result is a sublime album of jazz-country-rock influenced gems. Combining soft and easy sojourns and edgy rock riffs (occasionally cacophonous) it’s potent, but un-commercial stuff, possibly groundbreaking even, that musicians of alternative Americana fans will drool over.

Themes such as horseracing, rehab centres, dive bars, bitter-sweet nostalgia, both good and bad luck are spread over the wholesome 13 tracks.

Favourite bits: Fight Song, Aught Years and Sleepy Time Down South.
- Ely Roberts
- dvd fever


"Lone Official - Tuckassee Take - Album Review"

Tuckassee Take is the debut album from Nashville based band Lone Official. This imaginative and wonderfully alternative country/rock record is produced by Mark Nevers, the man who recently worked with the likes of the Silver Jews and Will Oldham.

This debut record demonstrates Lone Official’s ability to create a pallet of diverse songs, ranging from mellow country music to hard, frantic rock. The Nashville band have a very polished & cohesive sound which provides a solid base for Matt Button’s quirky, loose vocal style and varied lyrics. Chiming guitars, imaginative lead frolickings, tight & varied rhythms and warming textures carve out southern country soundcapes, resulting in a sound not too dissimilar to that of Nashville counterparts Silver Jews, Pavement and perhaps even Death Cab For Cutie to some extent.

The Standout track is the engaging “Country Strong” with its distorted guitar riff, crashing drums & odd electronics. Other highlights are “Le Coq Sportif” with its rocking guitar hook, and the contrasting “Amelia Earhart” again, with another meaty distorted riff and mellow country moments.

There is no doubting that Tuckassee Take is a strong debut. If you were expecting some typical country singalongs then think again, this record has more than it’s fair share of artistic and aggressive moments from a group of extremely accomplished musicians.

- Colin Burrill
- Contact Music


Discography

Lone Official - Self Titled - Set International Records 2003

Lone Official - Tuckassee Take - Honest Jon's/Astralwerks - 2006/2007

http://www.myspace.com/loneofficial

Photos

Feeling a bit camera shy

Bio

After the century turned, Matt Button left Louisville, Kentucky, where they make post-rock and baseball bats, and memorialise the birthplace of Muhammad Ali, and headed south to Nashville, in search of musical inspiration. He’d been working on a few songs with his only friend there at the time, Josh Garcia. Within weeks he was pulling beer at the infamous Springwater Club: one night Matt went to the microphone with his guitar, solo; soon after, he was joined by drummer Ben Martin (who’d played with Lambchop and Justin Earle), then others. This was the start of Lone Official.

Alongside Matt and Ben were Sam El Amri (guitar), Brian Nicholls (lap steel), Ryan Norris (keyboards), and Eric Williams (bass). Local luminaries Lambchop were so impressed they named a song after them.

After the hook-up with Honest Jon’s, and it came time to record the tales of Tuckassee Take, it was only natural for the group to knock on the door of Lambchop member and producer, Mark Nevers. For the album, Lone Official were joined by their friends – and stalwarts of Nevers’ Beech House set-up – Paul Niehaus, Pete Finney, William Tyler, Roy Agee and Tony Crow. The record was released in Europe on July 17, 2006 and Astralwerks will issue it in the states in January.