Writer of the Week: Futurebirds

“A rusty chainsaw dropped into tropical fish tank,” or “Frank Zappa’s Mother of Invention fronted by Gram Parsons,” are just a couple of the comparisons jokingly tossed around the American Songwriter offices as the Athens-based Futurebirds lug their gear up the rusty side stairs.

“A rusty chainsaw dropped into tropical fish tank,” or “Frank Zappa’s Mother of Invention fronted by Gram Parsons,” are just a couple of the comparisons jokingly tossed around the American Songwriter offices as the Athens-based Futurebirds lug their gear up the rusty side stairs.

All comparisons aside, it can’t be denied that the Futurebirds are writing their own brand of cosmic American music and taking it across the South’s highways and byways in the muggy summer heat.

The night before the Futurebirds played a raucous set at the Basement’s New Faces Night, and on this Wednesday night, they quickly rub the weariness from their eyes. Even though they’re all young, they’re as professional as any musicians who’ve played in our offices to this date. There are all also more of them; seven Futurebirds in all.

They quickly pick up their instruments, some cups of water and, like settling into a well-worn rocking chair, begin the folk-rock choral number “Breathe for Days.” Voices swell and swirl in the warm office air. And with that, the Futurebirds rock us back and forth through the golden hour of the Wednesday evening with harmony, pysch-rock solos and plucking banjoes.

Check out AmericanSongspace to hear some songs by these talented young troubadours and watch the video below shot during their session at American Songwriter.