speed of dark

Back in December, I posted in my Best of 2006 Songs about Now It's Overhead. Now, I've become aware of a side project of Now It's Overhead guitarists Brad Register and Curtis Brown called Summerbirds in the Cellar. SITC first took shape in Florida, but is now a Athens-based band that has not one but two drummers, Tyson Bodiford and Yardley. Register, the lead vocalist, and Brown both provide the guitar and piano.

Summerbirds in the Cellar released With the Hands of the Hunter It All Becomes Dead in 2005, an excellent album that I have just discovered and have been listening to constantly over the last week. During 2006, Summerbirds in the Cellar were on tour with Now It's Overhead, with Register and Brown performing in both bands. Somehow, they managed to put together their upcoming album Druids, which will be released sometime in 2007.

The songs that I have been able to get my hands on from Druids are superb. Three of the songs from this album will feature a 30-piece children's choir and similar production of epic proportions. It is difficult to describe what the band sounds like, but I can definitely hear the influence of Radiohead, mixed with Interpol, if you can imagine that. The band truly does have a sound of its own, not blatantly stealing another bands' sound or techniques.

Fellow blogger My Old Kentucky Blog reviewed Summerbirds' first album way back in 2005, and described their sound as a cross between "Phil Collins/Genesis" and "current new wave pop/rock". Other reviews compare the band to R.E.M. Besides Now It's Overhead, the band has played with Hard-Fi, The Bravery, Rilo Kiley, and the Brian Jonestown Massacre, among others.

All tracks below are highly recommended!

from 2005's With the Hands of the Hunter It All Becomes Dead:
summerbirds in the cellar: behold the wolf

from the upcoming 2007's Druids:
summerbirds in the cellar: the night thief [demo]
summerbirds in the cellar: wicked world (move softly) [demo]
summerbirds in the cellar: the hero boys, the folding [demo]

Edit: Please note that the songs above from the upcoming album Druids are rough demos and will probably see some changes before the album comes out. However, I love "The Night Thief" and I hope the band doesn't change it too much. Thanks Curtis!

official website | myspace | buy the first album

Summerbirds in the Cellar are supposed to be spectacular live, and if you're lucky enough to live in the area where there upcoming shows are, check them out:

w/ Dear & Glorious Physician
Tues Apr 17- Tallahassee, FL @ Beta Bar
Wed Apr 18- Jacksonville, FL @ Jackrabbits
Thurs Apr 19 - Ybor, Florida @ Crowbar
Sat Apr 21 - Gainesville FL @ 1982

w/ Cinemechanica
Fri Apr 20 - Orlando, FL @ The Social
Fri Apr 27 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
Sat Apr 28 - Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club

Fri Apr 22 - Lakeland, FL @ Lillian's w/ Joon
Sun Apr 29 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 w/ Solillaquists of Sound
Mon Apr 30 - Washington, DC @ DC9 w/ Alphabetical Order
Tues May 1 - Philadelphia, PA @ Khyber
Wed May 2 - Boston, MA @ TT bear's w/ Televangelist and the Architect
Thurs May 3 - Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool
Sat May 5 - NYC, NY @ Piano's
Sun May 6 - Baltimore, MD @ Lo Fi Social Club w/ The Fallen One
Tues May 8 - Greenville, NC @ Spazzatorium
Wed May 9 - Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone w/ Via
Thurs May 10 - Atlanta, GA @ Smith's Olde Bar (500 Songs for Kids)
Fri May 11 - Athens, GA @ Caledonia Lounge w/ Dead Confederate