Sarah Shook & The Disarmers

North Carolina’s River Shook (fka Sarah Shook) sings with a conviction and hard honesty sorely lacking in much of today’s Americana landscape. Always passionate, at times profane, River stalks/walks the line between vulnerable and menacing, their voice strong and uneasy, country classic but with contemporary, earthy tension. You can hear in their voice what they've seen; world weary, lessons learned—or not—but always defiant. Writing with a blunt urgency, River's lyrics are in turn smart, funny, mean, and above all, uncompromising. Sly turns of phrase so spot on they feel as old and true as a hymn. Anger that's as confrontational as it is concise. Humor that's as wry and resigned as a park bench prophet. The Disarmers hit all the sweet spots from Nashville’s Lower Broad to Bakersfield and take River's unflinching tales out for some late-night kicks. At times, it’s as simple and muscular as Luther Perkins’ boom-chicka-boom, or as downtown as Johnny Thunders. The Disarmers keep in the pocket, tight and tough. This is a new voice for a new country.