Pickathon 2010: Artist Spotlight – These United States

The 1st day at Pickathon 2010 went off without a hitch. Perfect weather, a great vibe & some amazing music all resulted in a picture perfect day out at Pendarvis Farm. Day #2 looks to be even better with the music starting @ 11am and we welcome a bunch of cool bands today including T-Model Ford, Heartless Bastards, Prince Bonnie Billy, Roadside Graves & more!

These United States are a kick-ass band hailing from Lexington, KY. They have become press darlings after many laps around the country and putting in their dues the national live music circuit. We are excited to have them at this year’s Pickathon & they will be playing 3 sets over the next 2 days:

Aug. 7 – The Galaxy Barn – 7:00-8:00pm
Aug. 8 – Workshop Barn – 2:00-3:00pm
Aug. 8 – Fir Meadows Stage – 8:00-8:45pm

MP3/Download: These United States ‒ “Water & Wheat”
MP3/Download: These United States – The Great Rivers

BIO: Five dudes from Lexington, Ky., make up the scrappy-sounding, rootsy folk-pop group These United States. The band is already three albums into their career; A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden and its far more economically named follow-up, Crimes, both came out in 2008, and Everything Touches Everything was released last year. Their fourth album is being released this year. The quintet also has managed to pack in an astounding number of tour dates. Describing the band’s sound to AOL’s Spinner, singer and guitarist Jesse Elliott said, “It sort of takes it back a little more to some of the moodier, introspective bedroom bullshit, but then it’s still a decent amount of over-the-top, bombastic bullshit thrown in, too. So it’s the best of both bullshits, you know?” With positive press from Paste, Spin and The New York Times, it seems that listeners firmly agree.

“These United States’ intoxicating third album brilliantly captures the overwhelming jolt of simply being alive … swings between a sleazy leer and a dreamy purr … deftly blurring the line between carnal and cosmic. [8 of 10 stars]“ — SPIN –

“Superb … equally at home with quiet, morose tales and galloping punky-tonk adventures … a rambunctious alt-country band with story-songs that are both tangled and aphoristic.” — New York Times –

“One of indie-rock’s – no, make that American rock’s – best kept secrets.” — WXPN –

“Labyrinthine and grandiose … the 12-song cycle coils around itself in tales that rage and lull in turns. An impressive achievement … a rousing, communal affair befitting its epic and twisted ambition.” — Paste –