Three Indiana musicians have teamed with a Nashville native to form The Weakenders, releasing an Americana rock album that sounds like they have been together for years.
Recorded over the course of two weekends in Nashville and Indianapolis (the three most rocking tunes were done at the Static Shack), these are their first songs released as a band, and serve as a greasy, Faces-like introduction to The Weakenders.
“We tracked six songs as a four-piece and loved it; everyone got their shit together and we committed full time to the band,” says guitarist/singer Eli Chastain.
Chastain, Joshua Sales and Joel Lauver all hail from Indiana. Blair White is Nashville born and raised. It took a move to Nashville to get them together
“Joel and Josh toured in a band in 2004 called The Honesty. I ended up in a band with Joel in 2007 (Trenches),” said Chastain. “Lauver moved to Nashville and hooked up with Blair for a new band (Spero) that I ended up joining as well. We did some one-off recordings and came up with the name The Weakenders.”
Chastain’s pedigree includes a father who has been a longtime guitar tech for former Mellencamp guitarist Larry Crane; White’s father is a Dove-winning songwriter with 13 number one songs.
“We embraced vintage approaches including analog tape and limited the use of digital nonsense and excessive punching, overdubbing and repairs,” Chastain says. “We wanted to see where we stood and how to continue to find the sound we hear in our head; this album served its purpose, and we’re thankful (listeners) have it.”
A full length record is expected in December 2011.
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