It might seem strange to call folk-rockers Cartright one of the best bands in North Texas—after all, they moved to Austin more than a year ago—but that's exactly what the former Denton residents have been in recent months, playing North Texas shows every few weeks (or 10 times more often than Midlake) and winning over new fans with every sweat-soaked, beer-hoisting set.
The ever-bearded, ever-wandering Cartright returns home.
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Cartright, Will E. Lee and Tartufi perform Friday, May 4, at Secret Headquarters, Denton.
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Birthed in Denton's infamous Yellow House (ground zero for scores of house shows and parties), Cartright formed when singer-songwriter Ben "Bearcat" Russell took up with siblings Nick, Lou and Joe Cornetti. "At the time I was playing alone," Russell says, "and when I decided to patch together a band, three Italian brothers happened to be there to suffice." Fleshing out Russell's shout-along folk anthems with bare bones arrangements, ferocious drumming and manly facial hair, the group quickly became a formidable live force, with tunes such as "Sailor Song" and "Necessarily Afraid" whipping crowds into a frenzy before the band's debut EP—A Tall Tale Comes of Age—was even released.
Though it may be short in length (the EP's five songs roll by in less than 20 minutes), the band's debut is a front-to-back stunner, with fully formed songs that recall indie-folk luminaries such as Two Gallants and Denton's late, great Little Grizzly. It's Russell's nicotine-addled vocals that leave the greatest impression, however, croaking like floor boards under the band's foot-stomping racket and rendering fist-pump-worthy lyrics such as "She broke my wrists/But I'm still making fists!" nearly indecipherable.
Unfortunately for local fans, the band had already split town by the time of the EP's release, feeling a move to Austin was necessary to continue their evolution. "We viewed it more like a logical business decision," Russell says. "Of course there are all kinds of ways we could have stayed, but we don't like to get stale...move till you can't." It may be too early to say, but the move seems to be paying off—since relocating down Interstate 35, Cartright has already completed one tour and found a new guitarist, as well as running their first SXSW gantlet, playing six shows in spite of being declined by the official festival.
The band has also quickly grown accustomed to touring, with the advantages of youth (a few members of the band have yet to see the drinking side of 21) allowing them to take up life on the road without the burdens of wives, kids and mortgages. Sure, they've experienced the usual indie-tour low points—a broken axle once left the group stranded for days in Barstow, California, for instance—but the group can't help but be encouraged by the enthusiastic response of the converted.
"We all end up having a big time with everybody," Russell says. "It's like a mobile shindig." And with dates booked through August and plans to record a full-length in the fall—all without the aid of a record label—Cartright has no plans of slowing down their party anytime soon.
