These United States, Southeast Engine, Closely Watched Trains September 21, 2011

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These United States
These United States are the songs of Jesse Elliott, flipped, forged, phased, and fermented; stolen, re-taken, elongated and elevated, beaten and bruised, occasionally imbued, by an ever-battling band of music-mad robber-barons, enthused aesthetic thieves of the long and winding subway tunnels and underground railroads of our cacophonous nation.

In the opening chapter of our epic tale, an uncomfortable duo locks eyes in ninth grade English class. Their mutual admiration is frowned upon by the clan of each, springing forth as they do, one from a bohemian bevy of experience-gobbling yes-sayers – the other, from a covert cavern carved deep within the confines of his own mind, a recluse of reckless proportions. Binding them only, each one lonely, is the Written Word, which they will soon render Hummed, eventually Heard.

Flash forward seasons: the two have not talked since parting on unspoken terms, drifting off into the universe in disparate directions, one towards painting, the other politics, one then towards fossils, the other then film. They reunite in the blossoming bosom of a tiny town, somewhere in the east of Iowa. Memories stirred, a collective cohabitated, garages refashioned, and a Project born. Sparked, summoned, stoked, eventually though squandered and severed. Again. Off, again.
an empire gone Titanic.

After releasing 2 albums and playing 200 shows in 2008, the DC-Kentucky- psych-folk-lit-pop rockers are rumbling surely towards the next benchmarks in a long string of critical acclaim, including several Best of 2008 mentions for Crimes and A Picture of the Three of Us..., and features on NPR's "All Things Considered," Paste, Filter, Village Voice, Brooklyn Vegan,Daytrotter, My Old Kentucky Blog, The Onion, Jambase, KEXP, WOXY, and KCRW.
Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/theseunited

Southeast Engine
Southeast Engine was formed in 2000 by Adam “Rem” Remnant (lead vocals, guitar) and Leo DeLuca (drum kit, percussion). Both attended the same high school in Dayton, Ohio and grew up in “The Gem City” during its musical heyday of the 1990s. Underground bands like Guided By Voices, Brainiac, and Swearing At Motorists made significant and long-standing impressions upon the two youngsters.

Around 2000, the pair moved to Athens, Ohio and were equally inspired by the Appalachian old-timey and folk music of the area. Thus, Southeast Engine is a unique hybrid of the Dayton, Ohio musical underground and the Athens, Ohio folk scene.
Misra Records
Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/southeastengine

Closely Watched Trains
Closely Watched Trains’ broad influences and instrumentation work their way into a uniquely unified sound that runs the spectrum from distorted garage rock to quiet folk. Incorporating violin, loop pedals, vibraphones, distorted guitars and a driving rhythm section, CWT has cultivated a unique style that touches on 60s psychedelia & 70s punk/experimentalism with Americana & Indierock leanings.
Mp3s: http://www.myspace.com/closelywatchedtrainscwt

Official Website: http://manicproductions.org/shows/2084