The Theater Fire is what Texas Music should sound like, but rarely does." - Gorilla Vs. Bear
The Theater Fire, a seven-piece, roots-influenced, indie-pop band from Texas is releasing its third LP Matter and Light on December 9th, 2008. Formed in 2001, The Theater Fire draws on influences ranging from Bob Willis, Mississippi John Hurt, George Jones, The Velvet Underground, Will Oldham and Lambchop, the two singer songwriters, Don Feagin and Curtis Heath, have a fondness for the old and the new. Their songs, combined with the creative talents of the rest of the band, are like a trip through the annals of music that is neither novelty nor derivative.
As with the band's previous albums, their newest release, Matter and Light, contains a wide range of traditional instruments. Horns, pedal steel, banjo, piano, fiddle, accordion, found percussion and singing saw are just a few of the sounds that can be found to accompany the standard bass, drum and guitar lineup of a band that fuses country, jazz, zydeco, folk, blues, and rock into its own distinct sound.
Their first album, The Theater Fire - released in 2003 - won the band a best avant-garde act award in the Forth Worth Weekly and made them a staple on yearly "best of" nominations in both alt-country and experimental/avant-garde categories for the Forth Worth Weekly and the Dallas Observer. Their second release, Everybody Has A Darkside - released in 2006 - won awards for best new act, best album, and best song for "These Tears Could Rust A Train." This album also prompted a group of local filmmakers to create music videos for every song, which were then shown as the band performed live at the second installment of "Film is Love," a charity event benefiting families displaced by war. In 2005, they we're asked to record with Neil Michael Haggerty on his latest incarnation of The Howling Hex for the album You Can't Beat Tomorrow, released that same year by Drag City.
The Theater Fire has been fortunate to play with such great acts as Daniel Johnston, Low, Centro-matic, Bill Callahan (Smog), Neil Michael Haggerty, Devendra Banhart, The Radar Bros, Okkervil River, The Starlight Mints, The Earlies, The Dodos, American Analog Set and The Baptist Generals.
Previous Press for The Theater Fire:
The Theater Fire sing songs that are similar to the smoldering embers of a campfire - rich and luninous. Their tales of love and loss are a good time and a good cry."
- Under The Radar
As sweet as a jar of homemade strawberry preserves. Through ghost towns, over mountains and beneath blue moons, it's alt-country for the part of the country you only see on your way up."
- Magnet
The Theatre Fire create a sonic landscape throughout the album that genuinely pulls you back in for a second and third listen. Look for this to be in the running for An Aquarium Drunkard’s best of 2006 list.
- Aquarium Drunkard
The Candy Bars will not cause cavities. And the Theatre Fire won't threaten your safety. They're two young bands whose music offers proof of an independent rock renaissance.
- NPR
Tour Dates
(More dates to be announced.)
10.16.08 - Elgin, IL - Gasthaus
10.17.08 - Brooklyn, NY - Union Pool
10.19.08 - Athens, GA - Kingpin's
11.19.08 - Los Angeles, CA - The Echo Curio
11.20.08 - San Francisco, CA - The Hemlock Tavern
11.23.08 - Seattle, WA - The Rendezvous/Jewel Box Theater
Track Listing for Matter and Light
01 - Beatrice (Dirge)
02 - It's All The Same
03 - Uncle Wayne
04 - Swashbuckler Blues
05 - Beatrice (Ode)
06 - Dahl Parts
07 - Say Yes *
08 - Coyote
09 - God Was A Child
10 - The Testicle Song
11 - Cease
12 - Beatrice (Coda)
13 - It's A Secret
14 - As To Mouth
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