(East Nashville, TN) “Our love is like the meth lab in your mother’s basement, crudely born from jugs far too willing to explode…” That is the opening line and a perfect set up for songwriter, Darrin Bradbury’s latest release aptly titled Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Audiobook.
Featured this year in Rolling Stones’ 10 New Country Artists You Need to Know,Bradbury’s narrative style and quick witted punchlines draw frequent comparisons to the great John Prine, which is fair, but there are also sonic nods to the slouched nonchalance of indie rock luminaries Pavement or Silver Jews. His spin on storytelling is a hard pill to swallow for the faint of heart as his stories dig deep into the groundlings at the bottom of humanity, however, something most people despite their level of class, can be moved by.
Recorded at Eastside Manor Studios in East Nashville, TN, and produced by Gabe Masterson, Bradbury is backed by a master band of artists and musicians deep in the EN scene: Laur Joamets (Sturgill Simpson) on electric guitar and organ, Meghan Palmer (an East Nashville favorite songwriter and thriving artist) on fiddle, Cameron Carrus (a longtime touring companion and collaborator with Bradbury) on bass, Aaron Schafer-Haiss (Margo Price) on drums, and a further list of cameos from songwriters such as Tim Easton and Brian Wright, and some fascinating spoken word moments about trespassing in a New Orleans cemetery with the Misfits by Johnny M. All in all, a profound representation of the EN family, music scene.
On September 9th, 2016, a newly formed record label cooperative, Cafe Rooster Records based out of East Nashville, released Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Audiobook and will follow up the release on September 24th with a launch concert for the label, sponsored by Little Harpeth Brewery and hosted at their facility. The concert will feature Bradbury, songwriter and CRR’s founder, Brian Wright, the duo Ladies Gun Club, who just released their new album, Take My Love Away, in July, and have also joined CRR, and special guest, New West recording artist, Aaron Lee Tasjan.
Breaking the traditional mold for career artists seeking record contracts with established labels, CRR sets out to take independent music to a new level by creating an umbrella of artists that agree on an artistic level and maintain a do-it-yourself spirit reminiscent of the punk/indie movement, a la Dischord Records, while collectively working for the whole to distribute their music without any middleman.
The idea was born when artist, Brian Wright after two record deals, global touring, and many records made in large scale professional studios, found himself one day piecing together a low budget studio in a shed in his backyard. That lead to a gang of other East Nashville musicians stopping by to collaborate, jam, write and hang in the shed, which many times included Bradbury, late night writing and recording.
“Brian and I got real drunk at shed-quarters one night. Seemed like a good idea. In this business it’s easy to be chicken, rooster’s got balls,” says Bradbury.
He goes on to say, “I dig the simplicity of it. We work together to grow and support each other’s craft. We pool collective resources to help spread the word and all of our meetings are held in a rad shed in Brian’s backyard. What more could you want? The ethos is an emphasis on quality, consistency and keeping it local. Run by artists, for artists. If ya ain’t having fun with your friends what’s the point?”
Following the release of Elmwood Park: A Slightly Melodic Audiobook and the CRR launch concert, Bradbury will be touring in support of current americana/classic country darling, Margo Price – a perfect fit in representing what the acclaimed East Nashville music scene has to offer.
Event: Cafe Rooster Presents
Who: Performances by Darrin Bradbury, Brian Wright, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Ladies Gun Club, Joe Purdy, Jon Latham, Tim Easton, Paul Luc
When: Sept. 24th, 2-7pm
Where: Little Harpeth Brewery, 30 Oldham St, Nashville, TN 37213
Darrin Bradbury Tour Dates:
- 9/21 – City Winery AMA Showcase – Nashville, TN
- 9/24 – Little Harpeth Brewery, Cafe Rooster Showcase – Nashville, TN
- 10/22 – Athens of the South Festival – Nashville, TN
- 10/26 – The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE*
- 10/27 – Turf Club – St Paul, MN*
- 10/28 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO*
- 10/29 – Old Rock House – St Louis, MO*
- 11/13 – Rockwood Music Hall – New York City, NY
*Supporting Margo Price
Elmwood Park Album Credits:
- Darrin Bradbury: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
- Laur Joamets: Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Organ
- Cameron Carrus: Standup & Electric Bass
- Megan Palmer: Fiddle & Back Up Vocals
- Aaron Schafer-Haiss: Drums, Various Percussion
- Josh Cobb: Percussion (Junkie Love)
- Brian Wright: Acoustic Guitar Back Up Vocals
- Jeff Crow: Piano
- Jay Rutherford: Electric Guitar (Joey)
- Tim Easton: Back Up Vocals
- Johnny M: Monologue on Joey
- Producer: Gabe Masterson
- Executive Producer: John Mccollum
- Recorded at Eastside Manor Studios in East Nashville.
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