{Originally published in UR Chicago Magazine, April 2008}
THESE UNITED STATES MAKES PATRIOTS OF US ALL
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Once upon a time, America was a place of great optimism, hope, and spirit. We cynics tend to forget this notion, especially given our current state of affairs. Then something comes along – perhaps something musical – that in some way reminds us why our young country still inspires such sincere aspiration to so many envisioning their own Dream.
The aptly named These United States, is pure Americana. Their sound is a veritable melting pot of genres that boggles the pigeon-holing minds of music critics (is it folk? Alt-country? Jangle-pop?). Their whirlwind tour includes 33 shows over 38 days, and encompasses all 3,000 miles of purple mountain majesty and waving amber grains. And the band itself is a group of troubadours who have settled in the nation’s capitol.
Ringleader of These US is Jesse Elliott, singer/songwriter/poet and blogger. Lyrically, Elliott has already drawn justifiable comparisons to Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. But through the band’s Myspace page (http://myspace.com/theseunited) and blog (http://theseus.tumblr.com), he combines the stream-of-consciousness ramblings of Kerouac, the playfulness with language of ee cummings, and the disregard for the Queen’s English of a 13-year-old text-messager. Joining Elliott on tour and in recording their debut album, A Picture of the Three of Us At the Gate to the Garden of Eden, are Tom Hnatow, Robby Cosenza, and producer, David Strackany (aka Paleo). A most promising debut, they seamlessly slip from chamber pop to Appalachian stomp, anthemic sing-along to ardent love song.
Their current U.S. tour is unique in that they will be performing the 33 shows with 33 different backing bands, so to speak. Although, “backing band” isn’t the appropriate verbiage, as each act is not only on the same bill, but also performing with These US. Fortunately, maintaining consistency is hardly a concern; Elliott explains the idea “actually sprouts mostly from a disdain for consistency”.
What is assured is a singular performance each night for fans and the band alike. “We want them to leave with some new tiny polished button or ragged shore rock in the pocket of their mind,” Elliott says. “For ourselves, our minds’re filled up and over and ever by all the folks we meet along the way. It seems like a just trade. Information, communication, art, love, death, empathy – all were meant to be free; so here we are, just doing our small part to let one tiny yellow bird out of a cage every day!”
-JASON HORINE
{Read more about Jesse Elliott and These United States here on The middleCoast}
