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![_Heat Things Up With <em>Desire</em> at the Blanton [Art Preview]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2010/02/minter-thumb-110x110-478584.jpg)
Heat Things Up With Desire at the Blanton [Art Preview]
Side A - The Georgian Company (Pants of Fate)
Local band The Georgian Company rose from the ashes of the promising alt-country act Just Guns. Just Guns released one EP in 2004 and a full-length in 2006 before calling it quits in 2007. Four of its members now form an integral part of The Georgian Company -- brothers Topher and Travis Hyink, Phil McJunkins, and the versatile George Irwin who is the primary vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and also manages Pants of Fate records.
Interestingly, the band also includes McJunkins’ wife Chris Nine on keys and Irwin’s soon-to-be wife Dixie Riddle (back-up vocals). Jenny Kroening and Adam Shallenberg round up the eight-piece. Follow the jump to learn more about the transition from Just Guns to The Georgian Company per our recent interview with Irwin.
The Georgian Company released its first EP, Side A last month. The album was recorded at Ramble Creek and produced by Britton Beisenhertz and that man Irwin. A follow-up (Side B) is in the works as well. Expect to see that later this year, followed by a full-length that will contain both Sides. Side A kicks off with the optimistic “Everything To Gain,” a gem of a song that evokes various emotions felt in that special relationship -- the initial tingle of excitement, comfort in the knowledge that love will find a way, and eternal hope for your future together. And yes, it was inspired by Irwin’s love for Riddle. The cream of the crop though is “Apology,” a moving ode we would have been proud to pen, complete with an infectious chorus that’ll stick with you for the rest of the day, if not the week.
Side A closer “Seventeen” is just another summation of The Georgian Company’s sound -- Irwin’s sincere vocals and equally earnest lyrics are impeccably complemented by the melancholy strains of the slide guitar; the assisting background vocals add a layer of soothing warmth to the aura. The Georgian Company harvest a sound true to Texas -- it’s the perfect soundtrack to the day when you play hooky from work and let the sunlight in through your open windows. And equally fitting for the long Saturday morning drive on the highway to your parents’ house after a month of turmoil. Or pick your own scenario and give this poignant EP a whirl.
[The Georgian Company Official] [The Georgian Company MySpace]
Local band The Georgian Company rose from the ashes of the promising alt-country act Just Guns. Just Guns released one EP in 2004 and a full-length in 2006 before calling it quits in 2007. Four of its members now form an integral part of The Georgian Company -- brothers Topher and Travis Hyink, Phil McJunkins, and the versatile George Irwin who is the primary vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, and also manages Pants of Fate records.
Interestingly, the band also includes McJunkins’ wife Chris Nine on keys and Irwin’s soon-to-be wife Dixie Riddle (back-up vocals). Jenny Kroening and Adam Shallenberg round up the eight-piece. Follow the jump to learn more about the transition from Just Guns to The Georgian Company per our recent interview with Irwin.
The Georgian Company released its first EP, Side A last month. The album was recorded at Ramble Creek and produced by Britton Beisenhertz and that man Irwin. A follow-up (Side B) is in the works as well. Expect to see that later this year, followed by a full-length that will contain both Sides. Side A kicks off with the optimistic “Everything To Gain,” a gem of a song that evokes various emotions felt in that special relationship -- the initial tingle of excitement, comfort in the knowledge that love will find a way, and eternal hope for your future together. And yes, it was inspired by Irwin’s love for Riddle. The cream of the crop though is “Apology,” a moving ode we would have been proud to pen, complete with an infectious chorus that’ll stick with you for the rest of the day, if not the week.
Side A closer “Seventeen” is just another summation of The Georgian Company’s sound -- Irwin’s sincere vocals and equally earnest lyrics are impeccably complemented by the melancholy strains of the slide guitar; the assisting background vocals add a layer of soothing warmth to the aura. The Georgian Company harvest a sound true to Texas -- it’s the perfect soundtrack to the day when you play hooky from work and let the sunlight in through your open windows. And equally fitting for the long Saturday morning drive on the highway to your parents’ house after a month of turmoil. Or pick your own scenario and give this poignant EP a whirl.
[The Georgian Company Official] [The Georgian Company MySpace]
When did Just Guns’ career end and why?
George Irwin: Just Guns' last show was a bad night at Trophy's during SXSW '07. We aren't hating on Trophy's; it was just a bad night. We were just dicked around and ended up playing at 1:30am, and then our bass head caught on fire a couple songs into our set. That wasn't really the only reason we stopped playing, but to me, it seemed like a sign from the gods to chill out for a while. I was pretty burnt out trying to manage, book, write and play for us while holding down a day job.
We never really called things off officially, but those songs have been retired for a long time now, and there are no plans to do anything new under that name.
Was The Georgian Co a logical and natural next step with the addition of more band members?
Kind of. There were a variety of conditions that led to the formation of The Georgian Company.
Just Guns had been discussing bringing Chris Nine into the band (she sings on "Off My Mind" from (Just Guns’ full-length) Secrets/Spotlights), but we hadn't actually done it before we played our last show. Meanwhile, I had started writing some softer, more laid-back songs, and I wasn't sure if they were right for Just Guns. I decided to debut some of these songs as a solo performance, with some friends (including Chris and Phil) backing me up one time when some members of Just Guns weren't available to play a show we were offered. We were billed as "George & Company."
Six months later, I was really feeling like I needed a musical outlet, and decided to make a fresh start. Both Hyinks and Phil were interested, Travis' friend, Adam was looking to play drums with someone, so we recruited him, and my vision was to have just tons of vocals, so we brought Chris Nine in to sing back-up and play keys. Then after the core group gelled, we brought in Jenny Kroening and Dixie Riddle as our doo-wop gals, to recreate some of the layered vocal parts we wrote while recording.
George Irwin: Just Guns' last show was a bad night at Trophy's during SXSW '07. We aren't hating on Trophy's; it was just a bad night. We were just dicked around and ended up playing at 1:30am, and then our bass head caught on fire a couple songs into our set. That wasn't really the only reason we stopped playing, but to me, it seemed like a sign from the gods to chill out for a while. I was pretty burnt out trying to manage, book, write and play for us while holding down a day job.
We never really called things off officially, but those songs have been retired for a long time now, and there are no plans to do anything new under that name.
Was The Georgian Co a logical and natural next step with the addition of more band members?
Kind of. There were a variety of conditions that led to the formation of The Georgian Company.
Just Guns had been discussing bringing Chris Nine into the band (she sings on "Off My Mind" from (Just Guns’ full-length) Secrets/Spotlights), but we hadn't actually done it before we played our last show. Meanwhile, I had started writing some softer, more laid-back songs, and I wasn't sure if they were right for Just Guns. I decided to debut some of these songs as a solo performance, with some friends (including Chris and Phil) backing me up one time when some members of Just Guns weren't available to play a show we were offered. We were billed as "George & Company."
Six months later, I was really feeling like I needed a musical outlet, and decided to make a fresh start. Both Hyinks and Phil were interested, Travis' friend, Adam was looking to play drums with someone, so we recruited him, and my vision was to have just tons of vocals, so we brought Chris Nine in to sing back-up and play keys. Then after the core group gelled, we brought in Jenny Kroening and Dixie Riddle as our doo-wop gals, to recreate some of the layered vocal parts we wrote while recording.
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Yeah, this new EP plus the new album from San Saba County are a real plus for Austin alt country.
"And equally fitting for the long Saturday morning drive on the highway to your parents’ house after a month of turmoil." - all good alt country should warrant that description.