Hit or miss, The Myrtles have a sound that combines the eclectic grooves of folk, roots rock ‘n’ roll, alternative-country and elements of a punk rock philosophy.
But, the band and their supporters unabashedly embrace that noise — a gamut of older country music fans and young punk kids can be seen intermingling at a Myrtles show on any given night.
The Myrtles’ debut album, “Nowhere to be Found” is a testament to their diverse following, which produces an unconventional melting pot of alt-country with old school punk ideals.
Forming some years ago in the midst of a jam session, The Myrtles are a conglomerate of Baton Rouge’s underground alternative music community, including Girl Scout Heroin, Bones, Becky Sharp and Liquidrone.
The band consists of vocalist/guitarist Gabe Daigle, guitarist Lee Barbier, drummer John Kaufman, violinist Talice Lee and bassist Michael Miller.
The super group fashioned “Nowhere to be Found” as a bleak collection of songs that explore themes of depression, abandonment and love’s calamity.
“The songs were written acoustically,” Daigle told The Advocate. “So I felt there was a lot more melody in these songs, and this time around I was a little older and had a few things to say.”
On “All your Precious Things,” Daigle reflects on the pain of a relationship gone awry singing, “So, lets pretend what should have been/… I don’t remember being strong/… I don’t remember being so alone/ I don’t remember being stoned.”
The radio-friendly single, “Devil in a Bottle,” is a grassroots guitar-laden dive into the pain of love’s growth and how the evolution can split people apart while drowning their sorrows in alcohol.
“Guess it seems I have outgrown you/ But girl I am missing you just the same,” Daigle sings.
The record is a mature and thought-provoking first outing for The Myrtles, but the themes of dejection run dormant, especially by the time the last track, “Empty (In Whiskey).”
Looming over a slow guitar melody and a melancholy violin arrangement, the tune sluggishly oozes along only to emerge into piercing distorted guitars and an eerie and maddening violin effect.
The song is epic, downtrodden and lyrically parallel to the music, but it seems overproduced and ideologically over-packed. With double tracked vocals, the tune sounds spooky and drawn out; the song is not allowed to take its natural course.
“Sorry you’re feeling so empty/ Raise your glass to mine/ Here’s to feeling so empty/ Here’s to a good friend of mine,” sings Daigle.
Daigle told The Advocate that the record was on the dark side, but that’s the norm for alt-country records.
“It’s a depressing record,” he said.
In entirety, “Nowhere to be Found” is a strong effort from the Myrtles. The examination of desolate experiences through a folk-rock and punk radiance works to the band’s advantage in excavating their truly original reverberation.
“Nowhere to be Found” is available at BeBop Music, the Compact Disc Store and the band’s Web site, www.themyrtles.com.