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Arts & Music

Gimme Five! Nathan Tarr of Wood Ear

Nathan Tarr was a stranger in Pittsburgh.  Moving there from Greensboro in 2002 had meant not only losing his comfort, but also leaving behind two bands.  The uneasiness inspired him to put pen to paper, melody to guitar and churn out a string of songs that, though he kept them quiet for a while, ended up as the initial blast of Wood Ear. With a sound that tiptoes on the edges alt.country, Wood Ear nods in the direction of bands like Uncle Tupelo’s world weary nouveau traditionalism, but strays from their melancholic restraints. Combining straightforward licks, Tarr’s gnawing vocal, and lyrics obsessed with the ticking clock of time, Wood Ear’s music is a battle between apathy and ardor.

With only a 6 song EP to its record (released in 2006), it’s hard to tell where Wood Ear will go in the future, but with Tarr and his steady crew of accomplices (Nathan Golub [of Fontana, the Rosewood Bluff, etc], Frank Andolina [of Fontana], Nic Brown [Longwave, Skeleton Key, Snuzz], and Krystal Black [of Dirty Version, Killing Frost, Vireo]) to back him up, it promises to be an entertaining ride. Check in to hear how Wood Ear’s evolving on Thursday, April 8th at The Pinhook where they’ll be joined by (our friends) Butterflies and Cassis Orange.

Now just five little ole bitty questions:

1. If your band were one of The Golden Girls, which would it be?

I wish I could say Sofia, but Dorothy is probably most accurate.

2. When can listeners expect a new Wood Ear record?

Rather than releasing a proper record, I’m going to release a series of singles on the website (soon to come). I’ll have two new songs out by May and four or five more by the end of the year.

3. Describe your feelings about “alt.country.”

I could take it or leave it.  People know what sound you are describing when you use it but it seems pretty ridiculous in this day and age with the lines between genre’s being blurred as much as they are.

4. Who/what might be a few inspirations or influences that might really surprise people?

I’ve listened to a lot of Bad Brains and Born Against in my time.  Lately I can’t stop listening to Converge.  I also really like Carole King.

5. What did you dream of being when you were a kid? (How ’d that turn out?)

I don’t remember having strong ambitions for being anything as a kid but when asked I think I said biologist or rock star.  I guess it turned out all right since I’m a biologist and I’m sure to be a rock star after this interview.

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Walk on over to The Pinhook on April 8th to hear Wood Ear for yourself and come on back around these parts next week for the newest installment of five.  And by all means, be sure to give Nathan a high five when you see him!