Southpaw

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE featuring Hymns / Spirit Family Reunion / Spitzer Space Telescope

Sunday, Nov 08, 2009 7:00 PM EST (7:00 PM Doors)
- Monday, Nov 09, 2009 4:00 AM EST
at Southpaw
in Brooklyn, NY

THE DEVIL MAKES THREE Max Goldberg - flavorpill.com: Like the Violent Femmes before them, Santa Cruz's the Devil Makes Three infuse their country-bluegrass swing with a raucous punk spirit. A popular group on the festival circuit, the trio spins its odes to Tennessee whiskey and brawling with acoustic guitar, banjo, and stand-up bass ? an economical set-up that makes for some surprisingly danceable music. Lead singer Pete Bernhard's voice is a little rough around the edges, but the group's harmonies go down smooth. Too restless to play the typical bluegrass venues and too musically sophisticated for your average bar band, Devil Makes Three are a rare breed: wild traditionalists. UCSF Synapse - Arul Thangavel: Another find was Devil Makes Three, who played before Built To Spill, a band that can only be described as party country music ? two guitars and a stand up bass relived whiskey-fueled mayhem of yore with a rhythm that begs a dance. Shotgunreviews.com: ...the Devil Makes Three bring a D.I.Y. aesthetic to ragtime, bluegrass, and classic folk music. Like the Violent Femmes, the Devil Makes Three can rock out with acoustic instruments yet remain engagingly melodic. -J. Poet, SF Weekly The Devil Makes Three doesn't have a drummer, but the band doesn't need one. Cooper McBean's percussive banjo accents and Lucia Turino's forceful slaps on her bass supply more than enough rhythm. Guitarist & lead singer Pete Bernhard completes the trio with a bluesy vocal style...part Louis Prima, part Merle Haggard. The group has been carving a niche since arriving on the scene six years ago, with a sound that combines bluegrass, old-time music, folk, rockabilly, and Piedmont blues and ragtime, all played with a blazing punk-rock attitude. HYMNS: If Pavement and Neil Young took a ride to Burritoville (SPIN)