These United States - What Lasts

The Great River

Lucky enough to have scored an advanced release of These United States’ new album, which came as a surprise to me when up until recently I had not heard them.  Their new album, What Lasts, was written last summer after songwriter Jesse Elliott’s near death experience on Lake Michigan.  Befallen by this experience the album takes a decidedly darker, more heavy hearted turn.

As with the other albums they have written, there is a fantastic blend of folk, country. southern infused rock and even a tad of exploratory psychedelic.  Their single,  The Great River, features the country twang associated with J. Tom Hnatow’s pedal steel, Robby Cosenza’s rolling drums and Jesse Elliott’s solid songwriting.  This is song is a great benchmark for the sounds these guys are capable of.  It’s two and a half minutes of rollicking, fun music.

What Lasts seems to be an exploratory album full of ups and downs that makes for a great mix. The album just over 30 minutes is an intimate affair of introspections of and bursting moments of foot stomping rock goodness.  They walk this thin line and it makes for a fantastic journey that takes you from the melancholy to rowdy roadhouse like jams.

These guys are touring like mad so, check them out, they’ll definitely come to your area.

TOUR DATES

Sun, Jul 18…….Philadelphia, PA…….XPoNential Music Festival
Mon, Jul 19…..Hoboken, NJ…..Maxwell’s **
Tue, Jul 20…….Everywhere…….”What Lasts” release date
Fri, Jul 23…….Denver, CO…….Denver Post UMS
Sat, Jul 24…….Salt Lake City, UT…….Kilby Court
Sun, Jul 25…….Boise, ID…….The Bouquet
Tue. Jul 27…….Seattle, WA…….KEXP in-studio performance
Tue, Jul 27…….Seattle, WA…….Tractor Tavern
Thu, Jul 29…….Eugene, OR…….Sam Bond’s
Fri, Jul 30…….Davis, CA…….Sophia’s @
Sat, Jul 31…….Big Sur, CA…….Henry Miller Library  @ %
Mon, Aug 2…….Costa Mesa, CA…….Detroit Bar  @ %
Tue, Aug 3…….San Diego, CA…….Casbah  @ %
Fri, Aug 6…….Chicago, IL…….Lollapalooza
Sat, Aug 7…..Portland, OR…..Pickathon
Sun, Aug 8…….Portland, OR…….Pickathon
Tue, Aug 10…….Arcata, CA…….Humbrews
Wed, Aug 11…….Santa Cruz, CA…….Crepe Place ^^
Thu, Aug 12…….San Francisco, CA…….Bottom Of The Hill ^^
Fri, Aug 13…….Los Angeles, CA …….Spaceland ^^
Sat, Aug 14……Las Vegas, NV……Bunkhouse ^^
Mon, Aug 16…..Phoenix, AZ…..Rhythm Room ^^
Wed, Aug 18…….Telluride, CO…….Sunset Concert Series
Thu, Aug 19…….Aspen, CO…….Aspen Jazz Free Concert Series
Fri, Aug 20…..Steamboat Springs, CO…..Ghost Ranch Saloon
Sat, Aug 21…….Boulder, CO…….Fox Theatre  @
Thu, Aug 26…..Maumee, OH…..Village Idiot &
Fri, Aug 27…….Pittsburgh, PA…….WYEP Final Fridays – Schenley Plaza
Mon, Aug 30…..Washington, D.C……The Kennedy Center – Millenium Stage
@ = w/ The Fruit Bats
** = w/ Deer Tick
^^ = w/ Or, the Whale
& = w/ Hoots and Hellmouth
% = w/ Breathe Owl Breathe

The album releases from United Interests July 20. For more information, check their website at http://www.theseunitedstates.net/