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Elk
City
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Firebrand
Renée LoBue brings you on a freewheeling make-out
session after your worst break-up.
Elk City's Renée LoBue (singer/songwriter) and
Ray Ketchem (drummer/producer) have teamed with influential
ex-Luna guitarist Sean Eden and ex-Lovelies bassist Barbara
Endes on New Believers, the band's finest work to date.
When recording began for New Believers back in
2004, neither member of the NYC-based Elk City knew what
would become of it. LoBue had penned a notebook full of
confessional, imaginative songs following the tumultuous
departure of guitarist/vocalist Peter Langland-Hassan,
the male half of the boy/girl duets that had marked the
group’s first three releases. LoBue’s songs
described how the trio she’d been a part of for four
years had dissolved with little warning. She brought them
to longtime collaborator Ketchem's studio.
Upon hearing LoBue's newly inspired voice, Ketchem’s
mission was clear: the band would recall the soul of Dusty
Springfield, the power of Patti Smith, the big sound of
Phil Spector and the warped-pop sensibilities of The Breeders
on an album that brought LoBue to the front.
Ketchem began making calls to bands he'd produced. The
first was to psychedelic guitarist Brother JT (Drag City).
Ketchem knew that Brother JT would understand what the
pair were up to and be able to help them achieve it. Driving
170 miles to every session, JT played guitars and sang
backing vocals that brought out the best in LoBue's songs.
They put together a dynamic live act and played several
shows in New York and Brooklyn.
Soon, word came that the legendary dream-pop act Luna
were disbanding. Ketchem knew his friend, guitarist Sean
Eden, would be a perfect compliment to LoBue's adept pop
idiom. Eden had spent 13 years in Luna perfecting his
fluid style, an ideal counterpart to LoBue's voice. They
gave it a try during a residency at New York's Pianos
in the summer of 2005. Crackling onstage chemistry made
it unmistakable: this new group was something special.
When they added bassist and backing vocalist Barbara Endes
the new Elk City was complete. The quartet recorded three
new tracks for New Believers in late 2006.
Elk City's roots are deep: LoBue and Ketchem first paired
as Melting Hopefuls, a pioneering 1990's band that scored
two "Single of the Week" picks in England's
Melody Maker and a SPIN Top Ten Single.
In 1998, they became Elk City and recorded two critically
acclaimed albums: 2000's status (Hidden Agenda)
and 2002's Hold Tight the Ropes (WARM/Touch &
Go). The band criss-crossed the US and Europe endlessly
to promote their releases, touring with The Walkmen, Luna
and The National. Elk City became the first group to sign
with trailblazing French imprint Talitres and performed
for more than 450,000 listeners on French radio.
This new Elk City calls upon a wide palette of influences:
1960’s psychedelic bands such as Love, the girl
group sounds of classic Motown, 1970’s proto-punk
heroes John Cale and Television, and 1980’s alternative
rock such as The Smiths and The Pixies. Never fearful
of experimentation, these musicians are pushing new boundaries
with their work, weaving Ketchem's ace production and
LoBue's striking voice with the lyrical guitar of Eden
atop Endes' solid foundation.
New Believers closes with the promise "be
set for more." With New Believers as example,
there is much more in store for fans of Elk City. |
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