Search - Dark Meat :: Universal Indians

"An Athens collective that's part blues-rock, part Motown, and part Mardi Gras parade." - TINY MIXTOPES Dark Meat is an Athens ensemble mixing elements of blues, punk, psychedelic jams, jazz, and Zappa/Beefheart-style explosions. Imagine The Stooges meets Crazy Horse with killer marching band horns, wailing gospel-style female backing vocals, ripping guitar leads, and free jazz freakouts. Singer/guitarist Jim McHugh and bassist Ben Clack moved to Athens from North Carolina two years ago and met guitarist Kris Deason and drummer Forrest Leffer while working together at a downtown restaurant. When second drummer Spirit Bird left town, cymbal master Jason Robira filled his chair. The group features a powerful backing vocal ensemble called the Subtweeters, which can rival the vocal intensity of the earth-shaking performances on Big Brother and the Holding Company's classic LP Cheap Thrills. The group's massive horn section, led by Charlie Estes and Aaron Jollay, comes across like a Salvation Army mariachi brass band-and with waves of reeds, the songs become wildly fluid in the exploratory sections. Dark Meat's debut, Universal Indians, showcases the wildly eclectic outfit at their full-throttle frenzied best.