Album Review - Streets Of Laredo

Nashville – There must be something in the water causing the musical renaissance “Down Under.” Add Streets of Laredo to a budding list of new bands from Australia and New Zealand who’ve come out recently. The Naked and Famous, Vance Joy, Tiny Ruins, Courtney Barnett, Hiatus Kaiyote, and Lorde (a contender in our Newbie Awards) are some of our favorites. Although we initially missed this band from New Zealand, we were bound to eventually discover the infectious song “Laredo.” It’s off Streets of Laredo Volume II, five songs that make up the second half of a full-length album. Both EPs, which together make one album, are currently available for free.

On Streets of Laredo, you’ll find folk-inspired instrumentation and harmonies à la Fleetwood Mac and Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros set amongst undeniably appealing pop structures. Songs about cowboys, thwarted love, and New York City intermingle. The Streets of Laredo members are part of the new, hybrid breed of songwriters who parallel the aspirations and danger of America’s western frontier to the dreams and ruthlessness of New York City. Their songs paint pictures of Brooklyn cowboys and bohemians, rolling stones and lovers.

The band of Kiwis relocated to New York City in the fall of 2012 from the beautiful beach town of Coromandel, New Zealand. Their move to New York and the city itself inspired most of the album. On their first official single, “Girlfriend,” lead singer Dave Gibson hollers, “Statue of Liberty, whatchu gonna give to me?”

Like so many immigrants who move to The Big Apple, the band members came with a dream of making it and one song in their pocket— “Girlfriend.” Dave’s wife Sarah, his brother Dan, and longtime friend/collaborator Si Moore comprised the original band. Tom Darlow, a fellow Kiwi, was soon after added to the family. With a rotating cast of other Brooklynite musicians on horns and percussion, they describe themselves as “a band of joy” and “finely crafted chaos.”

The truth of this is evident after listening to Streets of Laredo. The two EPs come together as one, uplifting shout. Along with “Laredo” and “Girlfriend,” Volume 1’s “Lonsdale Line” is another single deserving mention and certainly a listen. Punchy drums boost the bright, jangling acoustic guitar, harmonica, and semi-electric guitar line. It’s easy to mistake Dave Gibson’s voice for Alex Ebert’s (Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros) on this song especially. This comparison will inevitably come up again and again as Streets of Laredo takes off.

In recent interviews, the band has promised to tour their tails off now that their album has been released. Keep up with them on Twitter for tour updates to come. Brooklyn and New York City have gotten all the Laredo love so far. Hopefully the rest of world won’t have to wait to too much longer to hear this New Zealand style folk-pop. Whatever they’re doing down there on the other side of the world, we hope they keep it up. Indie music could use more bands like Streets of Laredo.

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Caroline McDonald

My first memory is of singing Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” quietly to myself during preschool naptime. Perhaps it’s because I’m from Nashville where an instrument lives in every home, but music has gripped me for as long as I can remember.

After dabbling in many parts of the music industry—recording studios, PR, management, labels, publishing—I’m expanding into music journalism because I’m yet to find anything more rewarding that finding and sharing new music.

A longtime sucker for girls with guitars, my musical taste unabashedly follows the songwriting lineage of Dolly Parton and includes Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, and Neko Case. But not to pigeonhole myself, my music love is big love that stretches from R.L. Burnside to Animal Collective to Lord Huron.

I’ve recently moved home to Nashville after living in Boston and Big Sur for several years. I’d forgotten how music pours onto the streets ten hours a day, seven days a week. I’m honored to share the creative explosion happening here. If your band is in the area or of the area, please reach out!