screensucking

The Styrofoam Winos at Drkmttr (named from right to left): Trevor Nikrant, Joe Kenkel, Lou Turner, accompanied by Ross Collier.

Self-described “songwriting voltron / nice-rock” band, Styrofoam Winos are a group-writing project made up of songwriters, each with their own project. Though the writing is not tethered to each other, the Winos have something extremely special when their powers combine. Their recent self-titled record contains a myriad of extremely varied sounds all hinged on their unique connection to one another. Ross Collier, among others, is a frequent collaborator with the group, and often plays live with the band.

At this particular show, I saw the wide range of ability that this group has in action, executing songs off the LP in stylistically different ways, including a slowed-down, country version of “Stuck in a Museum,” (Nikrant).

LT’s delivery on “Skyline Top Removal,” achieves fun and chatty, while playing it super cool “isn’t it great?” The song is fun and driving, and breaks up the more pensive set.

The live rendition of “Maybe More,” Kenkel serves to strengthen the lyrical content and earnest nature of the songwriting. Without being overly sentimental, Kenkel describes his experience in a somber way, and writes about complex elements of the music industry, contextualizes the growth of kudzu with being a transplant in Nashville.

A dynamic set as always, the band played their classic instrument leap frog, seamlessly switching players as different voices come to the foreground to tell their stories. Each poet’s voice occupies its own space within the set, between LT’s airy, sultry alto, Trevor’s straight, post-punk delivery & Joe’s tender, gentle timbre, the feel of each song is quite different, although they are using all the same instruments, all played quite clean. The group’s twangy choral sections tie the songs together neatly, with clean four-part harmonies.

When I talk about live music as an experiential resource for inspiration, and way of finding pathways into music that is less accessible to you, the Winos have absolutely done that for me. This is a group of musicians that I have seen live in many different contexts, and who are constantly working to put music out on their own as well as together. I have never truly found my route to folk music as a genre until moving to Nashville, and seeing the love and admiration that the scene puts into the sound.