Photo Credit: Alysse Gafkjen
An ode to last calls, lost love and long horizons, the new studio album ‘Wolves’ from Raleigh, NC’s American Aquarium will be released on February 3rd, 2015. ‘Wolves’ is the follow-up to the band’s last album, ‘Burn. Flicker. Die.,’ which was produced by Jason Isbell and was praised by fans and critics alike.
After spending countless hours honing their raw, rootsy brand of rock & roll playing for committed fans in small venues for close to a decade, front man BJ Barham was inspired to create Wolves, a 10-track album recorded over the course of 20 days at Echo Mountain Studios in Asheville, NC that he describes as the sound of a band firing on all cylinders.
A departure from their tried & true high-octane sound, the Brad Cook (of Megafaun)-produced Wolves is imaginative alternative rock that blends the twang of the pedal steel with the dark, dirty swirl of two electric guitars, creating a sound that’s fit for the roadhouse, the honky tonk and the dive bar.
Using elements of southern rock, complimented by bluegrass, and traces of funk, American Aquariums calculated sound is a journey through signature pieces of each genre, coming together into a powerful, authentic blend brought to life by Barhams sincere vocals. The bold, walking bass line of Family Problems thunders throughout the albums opening track, continuing through the soulful Southern Sadness and Ramblin Ways, and giving way to gentle organs and the soothing whine of pedal-steel guitar that highlight introspective blues cuts Man Im Supposed to Be and Wolves.
As heard on red-dirt southern rock cuts like Wichita Falls, and album closer Who Needs a Song, the time spent burning through U.S. highways, roadhouses, and dive bars countrywide has helped American Aquarium forge a southern rock style that is just as classic as it is alternative.
American Aquarium (singer-songwriter BJ Barham, guitarists Ryan Johnson, and Colin Dimeo, bassist Bill Corbin, drummer Kevin McClain, and Whit Wright on pedal-steel guitar) will also kick off their 30+ date tour on December 3 in Lubbock, TX.
12/03 Wild West Lubbock, TX
12/04 Billy Bobs Fort Worth, TX
12/05 Midnight Rodeo Amarillo, TX
12/06 Bayou Music Center Houston, TX
12/07 The White Water Tavern Little Rock, AR
12/31 – Wormy Dog Saloon – Oklahoma City, OK
1/2 – Iron Horse Pub – Wichita Falls, TX
1/3 – Marquis Theater – Denver, CO
1/6 – Slopeside Grill – Steamboat Springs, CO
1/7 – 1/9 – Steamboat Music Fest – Steamboat Springs, CO
1/10 – Hoot’s – Amarillo, TX
1/14 – Blaine’s Pub – San Angelo, TX
1/15 – The Silo – Abilene, TX
1/18 – Sam’s Burger Joint – San Antonio, TX
1/19 – House of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX
1/20 – Cheatham Street – San Marcos, TX
1/21 – Billy’s Ice – New Braunfels, TX
1/22 – Continental Club – Austin, TX
1/30 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
1/31 – Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, NC
2/5 – Capone’s – Johnson City, TN
2/6 – Barley’s – Knoxville, TN
2/7 – Blind Tiger – Greensboro, NC
2/12 – New Mountain – Asheville, NC
2/13 – Visulite Theatre – Charlotte, NC
2/18 – Rhythm and Brews – Chattanooga, TN
2/19 – The Bottletree – Birmingham, AL
2/20 – Ashley Street Station – Valdosta, GA
2/21 – The Jinx – Savannah, GA
2/26 – The Southgate House Revival – Newport, KY
2/27 – Weatherwax Hall – Jackson, MI
2/28 – Ignition Music Garage – Goshen, IN
3/4 – Off Broadway – St Louis, MO
3/5 – Knuckleheads – Kansas City, MO
3/6 – Single Barrel – Lincoln, NE
3/12 – Rockin’ Rodeo – Denton, TX
