***Chicago "sultry dirge" duo REDGRAVE release their debut National Act this summer via Lovitt Records. Vocalist/guitarist ANGIE MEAD and drummer STEPHEN HOWARD generate a massive sound thanks to Mead's powerful, soaring voice and sludgy open tuned guitar blasting out of multiple amps backed by Howard's refined rhythmic stomp. Redgrave's songs have the sort of smoldering intensity shared by PJ Harvey and Led Zeppelin alike that is hard to categorize, but immediately easy to feel. National Act was recorded by revered engineer GREG NORMAN (Russian Circles, Pelican). Mead started writing and recording Redgrave songs in marathon stretches beginning August 2010 from her home in Chicago after furniture was moved into storage and replaced with recording equipment, drums and guitars. She sent these demos to Chicago musician Stephen Howard, whose work she'd admired as baritone guitarist and drummer in PINEBENDER. A working musician since the age of 13, Howard had grown up playing local Chicago blues clubs; his teachers included Willie Smith, John Primer and Eddie Clearwater, his classrooms in music included stages across the U.S., Europe and Africa. Being a lefty, Mead has always played a right-handed guitar upside down—a backwards mimicking of Albert King that roughens up her sound. But through playing with Howard, she discovered a way of singing that made her voice crest above his gale-storm drumming. They've been playing together as Redgrave since January 2011.
LP $17.75
06/19/2012
***REDGRAVE is ANGIE MEAD (guitar, vocals) and STEPHEN HOWARD (drums), a swamp blues, heavy rock duo that is already being touted in the Chicago media as the next band on the horizon to watch. One year ago the band never existed and the two players, Angie Mead and Stephen Howard, were mere acquaintances. Today, they are poised to release their first EP and have earned unexpected admirers from top tastemakers like Jesus Lizard frontman DAVID YOW (who did the art for the record) and Califone’s TIM RUTILI (who guests on guitar). Necessity made this happen. Mead is a behind-the-scenes veteran of Chicago’s music scene as a musician, talent buyer and publicist. Those roles allowed her fandom of PINEBENDER, Howard’s flagship band, to flourish. She gave away Pinebender albums to friends to spread the word about the now-famed indie trio. She heard in Howard’s baritone guitar and distinct drumming style the kind of gnarled beauty that gave her songs clarity. On sale 5% until 10/11/2011.
7" $7.75
09/27/2011