The good folks at Daytrotter left the safe confines of the Midwest to bring Barnstormer 5 to the East Coast. melophobe caught the first stop in Kittery, Maine, and despite power problems and the venue shutting down before White Rabbits could play, we had a fantastic time. Check out our other coverage of the night: Doug Paisley and Guards.
* * *When you watch Billy McCarthy perform, you occasionally catch a warm, sweet smile, usually directed towards one of his bandmates. There's joy there, in the brief rests between songs. Perhaps catharsis breeds this joy, as We Are Augustine's songs are intense, earnest recitations. And McCarthy has a lot to be earnest about. The band's debut Rise Ye Sunken Ships comes after the painful break-up of McCarthy's and bassist Eric Sanderson's beloved band Pela and after the suicide of McCarthy's brother. These are songs you want to sing at the pub after a funeral--sadness paired with joy, ballads paired with anthems, catharsis paired with rest. When we saw We Are Augustines at Barnstormer, the power cut out just a few songs in. Though our introduction was brief, we know we'll see these guys again. Check out their music below.
We Are Augustines: official site
Download "Book of James"
This player (topspin.net) didn’t survive.
Check out the video for "Chapel Song"
We Are Augustines "Chapel Song" from Matthew Mills on Vimeo.
