An Invitation from the Cave Singers

In January of this year, the Weekly's Brian J. Barr described local trio the Cave Singers as "an updated version of the Anthology of American Folk Music. Not the graduate-student, learned interpretations of folk music circa 1962, but folk music approached by way of punk rock. It's sparse, melodic, and simultaneously creepy and alluring, like the widow mourning graveside in Johnny Cash's 'Long Black Veil'." That was enough to get Matador Records interested, who signed the band in May and released their debut album Invitation Songs last month.

The Cave Singers' collective previous experience speaks for itself; the band's comprised of former Pretty Girls Make Graves/Murder City Devils bassist Derek Fudesco (now on guitar and bass pedal), former Hint Hint frontman Pete Quirk (still fronting), and former Cobra High percussionist Marty Lund (on drums and guitar). And yet their sound is less post-punk and more post-Civil War. Quirk's nasally vocals narrate tales of lost love and/or religion, while the band is prone to breaking out the harmonica, the melodica, even the occasional washboard. Now *that's* kicking it old school.

The Cave Singers open for Black Mountain at the Crocodile Cafe this Saturday night. Seattlest has a pair of tickets to give away to the 21+ show. Enter to win by filling out the form below. No worries: Your info is safe with us and will not be shared with advertisers and/or the government, yadda yadda yadda. We'll be drawing one winner Friday at 10am.