JACKSON HOLE, WYO – By now, Shovels and Rope (or ShoRo as they’re fervent fanbase has come to know them) have the funds to expand the band beyond a duo. Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent have made mountains out of molehills by way of meticulous multi-instrumentalism and damn good songs with tight vocal harmony. But adding members would change the “insular” vibe as Hearst once described it, one that shuns the competitive nature of the industry while self-producing records that don’t squash the perception of what the duo can accomplish together on stage.
Arguably, ShoRo is making some of the most raucously beautiful, sincere music of a generation, and doing it on their terms—an indie band homerun success story. Even after taking a brief hiatus to have their first child (now three years old), Shovels & Rope has the momentum to summit whatever they like. And while they’ve been lumped-in with the mound of Americana bands, they’re operating on more of the garage-grunge fringe these days while sporting raw electric guitar riffs and punked-out climaxes. But of course, they also have a tender side that’ll rejuvenate your goose bumps.
Last year saw the release of Busted Jukebox: Volume 2, a covers album which featured guests Brandi Carlile, Nicole Adkins, John Fullbright, Hayes Carll, and many more. Worth more of dig, though, for newbies and fans alike are recordings that Hearst and Trent made pre-ShoRo. This collection of solo albums and previously unreleased material, packaged now as a single release, Predecessors, is currently available for pre-order.
Here’s the make-up ShoRo show that was cancelled due to weather back in March.
Center for the Arts presents Shovels and Rope at 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Center Theater. This show is sold out. jhcenterforthearts.org.
