Sarah Shook & the Disarmers

Sarah Shook & the Disarmers are an alt country band based in Chapel Hill, North Carolina led by River (aka Sarah) Shook that plays it close to the indie rock border, which is where they seem to be these days, having started an indie rock band on the side recently. The band was far more country oriented in their earlier albums, with many of their songs comfortably settled in the honky-tonk lane. The Disarmers are a versatile ensemble that can play on both sides of the fence, rocking it up as needed, while Phil Sullivan's lovely pedal steel work keeps them grounded in country. Their songs deal with a lot of the usual country music themes of love, loss, and other life-changing events, except with a rougher and grungier edge. They sing with a smoky voice that is as salt of the earth as it gets.