Venues
Events
VideoMusic
CD Release Party at City Winery
Guthrie and Irion Celebrate The Release of Bright Examples
The husband and wife duo, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, will play a concert celebrating the release of their latest studio album Bright Examples at City Winery.
Guthrie and Irion first met briefly in the 90’s through mutual friend Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes in Raleigh, NC. After parting ways they ran into each other again when they both moved to Southern California.
Guthrie began to discover a latent musical talent and Irion had already been playing in bands. They found themselves mutually drawn to the music of country-rock pioneer Gram Parsons and his band The Flying Burrito Brothers, and Irion taught Guthrie some chords. Today they are proud parents and successful country musicians and songwriters.
With Bright Examples Guthrie and Irion explored new musical territory, adding a feel Guthrie described as “more atmospheric or psychedelic, sort of dreamy but colorful” to their signature country songwriting and harmonic vocals. The album gained its hybrid feel from the influence of Andy Cabic and Thom Monahan of the psych-rock band Vetiver, who produced the album.
Using a throwback style, all 12 original tracks were recorded live with up to 10 musicians playing together at a time. Along with Guthrie and Irion’s backing band, which is also the rhythm section of Tift Merrit’s band, several guests contributed.
Guest musicians included Vetiver’s drummer Otto Houser, Neal Casal on guitar, Kevin Barker and Charlie Rose on pedal steel guitar and flat pick guitar, and Rad Lorkovic on piano. Gary Louris and Mark Olson of The Jayhawks provided back-up vocals. Casal also did the album photography.
Since the 2005 release of the duo’s debut album Exploration they have toured extensively. They were featured members of the Guthrie Family Rides Again tour in 2009/10, and toured with Vetiver throughout March 2011. Following the debut concert Guthrie and Irion will play at the Clearwater Festival in Hudson, NY on June 18. They were recently added to the lineup of Wilco’s Solid Sound Festival at MASS MoCA in North Adams, MA from June 24-26.
Guthrie promised that fans will not have to wait as long for the duo to release another album. She said that Bright Examples used just 12 of the 50 songs her and Irion have been working on over the last five years. Guthrie said with the release of this album they are on a roll and cannot wait to get back into the studio.
Ticket info here.