Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

Saturday, October 8, 7pm

North Carolina’s Sarah Shook sings with a conviction and hard honesty sorely lacking in much of today’s Americana landscape. Always passionate, at times profane, Shook 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 it is that they have seen; world weary, lessons learned (or not) but always defiant. Writing with a blunt urgency, Shook’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 to Bakersfield and take Shook’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.

“Honest to a fault and as foul-mouthed as a drunken sailor,
they’re a nonconforming spitfire who’s proud of not fitting in
with mainstream country music.”

Rolling Stone