It's unfair to call The Overnight Lows' "City of Rotten Eyes" a debut. It's more a culmination--a mail bomb packed tightly with a decade's worth of hand-scrawled show flyers and tallboy cans. The Lows are a Jackson musical institution, albeit a subterranean stronghold.
As the bandwagons came and went, they stuck to their guns. Four drum clicks, a couple of chords and blam! By the time your fist hits the air, it's already over. But you might as well keep it there, 'cause here comes your new favorite song. Maximum minimalism. With most songs clocking in at less than two minutes, The Overnight Lows have no time for trends.
Their longstanding history seems at odds with their damn-the-torpedoes aesthetic. But it also serves as a testament to their authenticity. Marsh and Daphne Nabors (guitar and bass/husband and wife) have been bashing out frantic anthems together since 1995 (The Comas, RIP).
They haven't changed the formula because there is no formula. This is just what they do. You'd probably call it punk rock, but we're not talking mohawks and chains. There is no pretense here. If you like it, great; if not, they'd just as soon share gardening tips with you. And if you don't like homegrown tomatoes, well, then maybe you're the punk.
Sticking with what they know, the Belhaven Heights residents most often shout about home.
"'Bad Times' was the first song we wrote together. It was at the end of The Comas. But we kept playing it because we knew it. So even though we don't really play it live anymore, we wanted it on the record," Marsh says. "It was all about living at the 1046 house. It was just a wild house, and we were all broke. But it was a lot of fun."
Since original drummer Jamie Pittman left the Lows and the Heights to teach high school in Wiggins, The Overnight Lows have adopted a second home. New drummer Paul Artigues hails from New Orleans, and as Marsh explains: "Paul doesn't have a car. He lost it after Katrina. Not because of flooding. He just lost it."
So with their practice schedule dependent on Amtrak, the Lows have found themselves spending more and more time in New Orleans.
The commute has it perks. They've established themselves as local rock 'n' roll favorites, and as Daphne points out, "People always dance more in New Orleans." But brunch is perhaps the biggest fringe benefit. Chef Paul's boudin-andouille hash left Guy Fierri speechless on last season's "Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives" on the Food Network. Now, as co-owner of the Green Goddess restaurant in the French Quarter, Paul commands the mind-blowing morning menu. Pulled pork chilaquiles? Yes, thank you.
Back in Jackson, Marsh and Daphne are also creative professionals. A local photographer, Daphne's work appears in advertisements, magazines and gallery shows. Marsh crafts stained-glass windows at Pearl River Glass Studio. Next time you get bored during church, take a look around, and you'll probably spy his handiwork.
Following the release of "City of Rotten Eyes," they'll all cash in vacation time for national touring. Thanks to the revered reputation of their label, Goner Records, booking agents coast-to-coast are lining up for The Overnight Lows. And the record has deservedly made its way into rotation at New Jersey's taste- making WFMU.
Recorded over two Memphis weekends, the LP perfectly captures the visceral energy of The Overnight Lows on their best nights. By the time "Lipstick Burn" punches through the speakers, you can almost smell the spilled beer on the floor. As the guitar teeters on the verge of obliteration, Marsh salvages hook after hook. Meanwhile the rhythm section propels everything to a smoking heap of splinters and static. You're strapped to the rocket and can't let go. Might as well sing along.
You'll get your chance this Saturday night when The Overnight Lows celebrate their album release at Ole Tavern. And by album, they mean vinyl. The LP comes with MP3 download and CDs will also be on hand. But Marsh's art-class delinquent cover illustration is best enjoyed in the 12-inch format.
Fellow Goner Records alum King Louie shares the bill along with Black Black Evil Eye--the latest endeavor of Mississippi rock stalwart Jason Triplett.
Although they're also holding album release shows in Paul's New Orleans and Goner's Memphis, Marsh and Daphne insist The Overnight Lows are a Jackson band. This is their home. This is their chorus. Welcome to the "City of Rotten Eyes."
The Overnight Lows' album release party will be March 6 at 10 p.m. at Ole Tavern on George Street.
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