West of west, where the west never ends. This is the territory occupied by This Old Earthquake, an indie folk band based in Bolinas, California, an eccentric small town on the coast of Marin County just north of San Francisco. Described as “West Marinicana” and “sophisticated back porch music”, influences range from roots artists like Gillian Welch and The Band to indie pop artists like Bon Iver and Iron and Wine. The sound is intimate and sparse, a pick against a string, a breath anticipates a lyric.
2009 saw the release of the band’s debut album, Portuguese Murder Ballads, a record described as “spare, dark, elegant and contemporary” by Grateful Dead historian and author Dennis McNally. At the behest of long time Bonnie Raitt engineer Paul “Pappy” Middleton the band trekked thousands of miles to Palmer, Texas where Middleton’s Palmyra Studios is located. This is where the PMB sessions took place and when they were done Middleton described it as “one of the best albums I’ve heard in many, many years. To me it was the perfect marriage of people wanting to put heart and soul into the music so that it will translate for years to come, and I think it will.”
With plenty of new material to choose from, 2012 will see the sophomore effort from the band. Long time San Francisco engineer extraordinaire Damien Rasmussen will oversee the sessions which will take place at various locales in Bolinas. Expect drums, viloin and keyboards to go along with the core sound of two guitars and bass.
West of west, where the west never ends
Might not be best, to swim towards the sunset
No no not just yet...
This Old Earthquake is:
Steve Trivelpiece - Guitars, Vocals
Ethan Okamura - Guitars, Vocals
Taylor Cutcomb - Bass
Michael Pinkham - Drums
