Floridian shoegazers Summerbirds in the Cellar are bringing their fuzzy, synth-laden indie rock to Richmond. The guitar/drum/synth trio will be playing Rumors Boutique on September 1 as part of their East Coast tour in support of their first full-length release, Druids.
 
There’s a big gap, geographically and otherwise, between playing a hip little clothing boutique in Virginia and opening for R.E.M. at South By Southwest, but that’s the journey the Summerbirds made this year. They were hand-picked by R.E.M. for the position after Andy LeMaster (Bright Eyes, Now It’s Overhead), who produced Druids, put the album in front of R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe and Mike Mills. Summerbirds in the Cellar will definitely appeal to R.E.M. fans, although their sound is distinctly more bass-heavy, synthy and technical: rocking, but still more drawing from electronica and dance than strictly rock and roll. Lead vocalist Brad Register lends his sometimes haunting, sometimes ethereal tenor to the works, contrasting with the often upbeat, complexly layered sound of their songs. Register is joined by his co-founder Curtis Brown’s fuzzed out but punishing guitar riffs, and Tyson Bodiford’s precision-force drumming to create a sound that combines the disparate sounds known as “indie rock” into something solid and listenable, yet still unique.
 
As if R.E.M. wasn’t enough, the band has also shared stages with Liars, Rilo Kiley, Bloc Party, Explosions in the Sky, and others from indie rock’s celebrated pantheon. The SXSW show also got them broadcast on NPR’s “All Things Considered” program.

With two releases under their belt (their 2005 debut was an EP titled With The Hands of the Hunter It All Becomes Dead) and a full touring schedule ahead of and behind them, Summerbirds In The Cellar have got the chops to sway you away from whatever barbecue you were planning for your Labor Day. Come celebrate your day off by dancing your ass off with Summerbirds in the Cellar at Rumors Boutique!                  

UPCOMING EVENTS
What: Summerbirds in the Cellar
With: Wade Jeffries, Kevin Kyle Riehl featuring Chris Farmer
When: Monday, September 1 8:30 p.m. - 11:30 p.m.
Where: Rumors Boutique 404 N. Harrison Street
Tickets: $5 donations

WEB | http://www.myspace.com/summerbirds