Photograph by Nate Burrell, beforetheblink.com
PopMatters called Magnolia Summer’s 2009 album, Lines from the Frame, “still another solid album from a band that seems to be on the cusp of something more.” Singer-songwriter Chris Grabau—the band’s one constant member—says it might seem like the band’s been “in a bit of a huddle” for the past few years, but they've actually been up to a lot. In 2011, Grabau toured the U.K., playing Bob Harris’ BBC Radio 2 Americana show; his new project with Danny Kathriner of Colonel Ford and Half Knots, called Cave States, released its first record this past fall. Earlier last year, Magnolia Summer opened for Counting Crows at Fair Saint Louis, and all the while, they've been busy writing and recording The Hill or The Climb, to be released this month at Off Broadway.
Grabau thinks the new record, featuring guest appearances by Kathriner and Chuck Berry’s piano player Robert Lohr, is the band’s best to date. “The goal for the record was to make three-minute songs with an emphasis on guitar,” he says. His approach to it was completely new: The songs were tracked live at St. Louis’ Sawhorse Studios, with an emphasis on “a four-piece band structure” of two guitars, bass, and drums. Bets are, this record will be greeted with the same critical praise seen by all of Magnolia Summer’s releases, dating back to its 2003 debut, Levers and Pulleys—and maybe break the band through to that “something more.” We'll be posting more from Grabau on our arts blog, Look/Listen, in the next couple of weeks.
Magnolia Summer's CD Release Show happens January 18 at Off Broadway (3509 Lemp). For more information, call 314-773-0744 or go to offbroadwaystl.com.
