The Myrtles bring energy to the Shaw Center

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By Charles Nunmaker

The Myrtles is a family name that is familiar with Louisiana folklore mostly because of the infamous Myrtles Plantation in St. Francisville. The band The Myrtles, though, has started to become equally as famous in the Louisiana area as well.

The Myrtles are a southern, folk and indie rock band featuring members from many different bands and background experiences. Some of the Myrtles' band members also play in different band projects presently such as the New Orleans Bingo! Show; however, they all have had a previous background of being in several different bands such as Becky Sharp and Girl Scout Heroin. All of these experiences with different bands brought the band together in Baton Rouge.

"Dave Daigle, the singer, and I were in a previous band on MCA records called Becky Sharp. After a couple of years of touring and doing the label thing, we decided to just take some time off," said drummer John Kaufman. "I moved to Atlanta for a couple of years, and when I moved back from Atlanta, we decided to start playing again."

Kaufman continued, "We pulled in some fellow musicians from other bands in town and other people we knew, and it kind of just clicked immediately; so, we recorded some songs and put out a record."

The Myrtles' record, which Kaufman is talking about, made the band popular among the indie and college radio scene. The album, titled Nowhere To Be Found, received positive reviews from many different magazines and stayed on the number one spot of many different college radios in the east, including WYBC of Yale University.

The song "All Your Precious Things" also received positive reviews and was featured on SPIN magazine's college radio show.

One thing that makes this band so popular is their unique sound. The Myrtles bring together country elements, such as lap steel guitar and mandolins, to meet and conform with the unique sound of guitar effects similar to those of shoe gaze.

"I guess the general term would be post-punk, alt-country to describe our music," said Kaufman about the band's music. "There are definitely some country influences, but then we also draw from other different influences such as Sonic Youth and the Replacements."

The Myrtles is playing the River Terrace of the Shaw Center on June 11. This special show is all ages so that everyone may enjoy the Myrtles. To find out more about their performance, visit ManshipTheatre.org.

Originally Published: Issue 803 - June 10, 2009

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