The Districts Will Not Disappoint You [stream]

The Districts – Funeral Beds SoundCloud

I’ve seen The Districts five times in the past three months and have not once been disappointed. Since January, this gang of youngsters has taken their grungy, blues-infused folk rock from the streets, garages and backyards of Lititz, Pennsylvania to places all over the country, supporting for the likes of Dr. Dog and White Denim, plus headlining their own national tour. They’re one of those bands whose music feels like something you’ve known all your life, with a sense of comfort and wisdom that exceeds their years. Both live and recorded, there’s a sense of passionate urgency that builds to a scream-a-long frenzy.

“Funeral Beds” is the powerful, folk rock anthem that started it all and continues to carry them. As the harmonica and subtle bass drum fade quietly in over the opening guitar riff, a sense of excitement builds just in time for lead singer, Rob Grote, to preach in his signature rasp, “These great fields are stretching/Taking me oh so far.” The pace slows then returns with strength and energy as the bass comes thumping underneath, while his vocals begin to verge on screaming. By the climax of the song, the instrumentation reaches its height of power and speed in a chaotic hysteria. Onstage, this is the point where you can no longer see the members faces as they thrash about, microphone stands cascading around them. The song echoes out quietly on the the same line it entered.

“Funeral Beds” is the first single off their self-titled EP, which was released in January on Fat Possum Records. It’s worth a listen, and probably more than once.