Eventually the trio set up camp in the Raleigh, N.C., area and, inspired by the area’s history and geography, wrote and recorded their first releases (the Danger at Sea EP and the full-length Hymns for a Dark Horse).
An overwhelmingly positive Web review from the Mountain Goats’ John Darnielle attracted the interest of Bloomington’s Dead Oceans and the indie signed the Bowerbirds and reissued Hymns last year with a handful of bonus tracks, setting the stage for several months of transatlantic touring that was so hectic the band was forced to cancel several dates due to sheer exhaustion.
Now fully rested, the Bowerbirds are ready to take to the road again in support of their stunning new album, Upper Air, slated for release in early July and brimming with the rootsy Folkalachia appeal of Hymns with subtle shades of Nick Drake, Devendra Banhart, Clem Snide, Ron Sexsmith, Van Dyke Parks and Jeff Buckley running through the sparse but beautifully appointed arrangements. The Bowerbirds craft a sound that is equal parts bedroom Pop and front porch Americana, combined in a way that is both timeless and contemporary.
(Buy tickets, check out performance times and find nearby bars and restaurants here.)
