Erie Choir

In setting up tonight's EAR FARM Presents... show I asked Tripp from Schooner for a little help selecting the bands for the bill. The first one he mentioned was Erie Choir, a band I'd not heard of before and am now extremely excited to see live.

From what I can tell, Erie Choir is the work of Eric Roehrig and a revolving cast of musician friends. I can say 'friends' with a bit of confidence as, well, it comes across in the songs. There's this particular comfortable warmth in Erie Choir's music that feels like home and sounds like memories. You're thinking, "Greeting card sap begone!", but honestly I'm just getting started. After I see them at Bickett Gallery I might come back here and write sappy sonnets or something so you may as well stick with what I've got for you right now.

The songs I've been able to check out vary from country infused pop-rock (check out the song "Picture Equals Proof" on their MySpace page) to detached intelli-pop along the lines of the work of Stephin Merritt ("Pan Pan Where Did You Go?", also on MySpace). At each turn Erie Choir lets the listener peer through a different window of inspiration: the song "Trunion Pike" comes across as the work of a singer songwriter who can deftly work hushed campfire songs about loneliness without sounding derivative while "Lullaby For John Grives" finds Erie Choir moving towards Tom Petty and Tears for Fears territory (believe it or not) with a touch of those smart backing vocals we all love so much. The real standout of the songs I've posted though is "Favorite Fotos". In this song Erie Choir reaches a level of textured maturity that belies the number of profile views the band has had on their MySpace page and sets the course for the song to help the band reach a broader audience via television, film, or simple word of mouth.

Oh, and supposedly they sometimes do a kick ass Prince cover.

Listen:
"Favorite Fotos"
"Lullaby For John Grives"
"Trunion Pike"

Visit Erie Choir on MySpace

Come see Erie Choir (and other swell bands) TONIGHT at the EAR FARM Presents... show @ Bickett Gallery.