Ears Wide Open: Folk Riot
Kevin Bronson on
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L.A. quintet Folk Riot are far from the explosion of twang their name might suggest. No, the a band trades in gothic Americana, with simmering songs rich in atmospherics and storytelling. The Silver Lakers are fronted by singer-guitarist Brandon McCulloch, once of the underrated band Silver and then at the helm of Brandon McCulloch and the Deadbirds. He’s joined by guitarist Mike Yarbrough, singer-percussionist Tyler Johnson, bassist Nicholas Morford and drummer Nathan Seyler. In late 2013, Folk Riot released a self-titled mini-album, and the band is readying the new three-song “September” EP, recorded with Bret Nolan at Sound Quest Studios in Van Nuys. The single “Bow and Arrow” seems ready for a Western tragedy, its burnished guitars opening to a gallop at the two-minute mark and McCulloch’s voice, when he reaches for a note, recalling the scratchy charm of Eels’ Mark Oliver Everett.
||| Stream: “Bow and Arrow”
||| Live: Folk Riot perform Saturday at the Piano Bar.
[…] Buzzbands LA – review of Folk Riot – February 2015 […]
[…] filmmaker, musician and steady presence on the Hollywood scene who fronts the L.A. band Folk Riot. While his band hasn’t released any music in a couple of years, McCulloch apparently has some […]