1. Newalbumreflectsthe darknessbefore the dawn
March 5, 2014
Fox and The Bird’snewestalbum“DarkestHours”starts withthe tale of a pennilessbeggarreflectingon
hislife andthe mistakeshe made afterrealizingthe crueltyof the world.The songis called“WhenI Was
Young,”and it beginsthe folk-popband’sexplorationintothe so-called“darknessbefore the dawn”and
theirexperience intryingtoanswerthe age oldquestionof “How didwe endup here?”
Fox and The Bird isa Dallas,Texasfolk-popbandwithlayeredvocalsinwhich,inlieuof atraditional folk-
popensemble,everybandmemberplaysmultipleinstrumentsandsings.
“We’ddescribe ourmusicas raucous folkanthemswithorchestration.Throw inviolin,trumpet,
accordionand a wall of harmonies,andyou’ve gota goodideaof us,” saidFox and the Bird’sfrontman
Dan Bowmaninan e-mail interview.
The traditional folksoundof Fox andThe Bird makesthe listenerfeel asthoughtheyare intheirliving
room or on the frontporch listeningtothe band.The lyricsof “Saints,”anothersongfromthe “Darkest
Hours” album,reflectfolk’soriginsof storytelling,struggle andthe strengthof prayerandfriendship.
“I’ll be honest,I’ll be patient,youcancounton me,”are some of the lyricsof encouragementinthe
song.
“Saints”takesa turn from traditional “frontporchpickin”musicandbringsina trumpet,addinga more
modernblendedtouchtothe original rootsof the folkgenre.
The struggle representedinthe songson“DarkestHours” reflectsthe heartbreakof the bandat the
time.
“‘DarkestHours’is aboutthe darkestmoments,justbefore the lightof dayreturns,”saidBowman.“The
membersof the bandwentthroughsome tryingtimes—death,divorce,questioning—the typesof things
that testyour endurance.The songsonthe albumdeal withthisdarkmaterial—albeitbrightandupbeat
musically—andhintatthe hope thatlife alwaysturnsaround.”
The dark momentsinlife,the melancholymomentsof one’sstorythatrepresenttheirjourneythrough
the humancondition,are somethingthateveryone canrelate to.Fox andThe Birdexpressesthisstory
insongs suchas “Valley,”whichincludesthe lyrics,“A southernmansingsa tiredsong,of those that
workwhenthe days are long.”
Whethersingingaboutpoormen,friendshipsorhard workers,the album’ssongslinktogethertotell a
complete storyof perseveranceinthe downtrodden.
“We hope thatpeople relate tothe strugglesandfindhope whentheyencountersimilarvalleys.It’sa
prettylushalbum (musically) withbroadthemesthatlinkthe songstogether.
We’drecommendfolksgive itafull listenfromtoptobottom,”saidBowman.

2. In the transitionfromFox andThe Bird’sfirstalbum, “FloatingFeather,”to“DarkestHours” the band
experiencedgrowthasmusiciansandasrecordingartists.
“Puttingoutour firstalbumfeltlike honeymooning,withdramaandexcitementateveryturn.We were
idealisticinsome ways.We learnedalotthroughmakingthat firstalbumandtravelingtosupportit,”
saidBowman.
The band alsogrewcloserto one another,helpingthemcome togetherasa bandand as people.
“Thistime aroundwe are puttinginthe work of furthergettingtoknow each other,tobuildingtrust
witheachother.Real rewardsare alwaysworthworking toward,”saidBowmanaboutthe band’stime
creating“DarkestHours.”
Thisgrowthamong the band alsoreflectsthe connectionsthatare sometimesstrengthenedbetween
people facingdifficultsituations,asshowninthe lyricsof the song“Saints,”whichsings,“Youcan pray
withme,I’ll be the miracle you’ve alwayswanted.Maybe we canbe bestof friends,bestof times,you’ll
getthe bestof me.”
The growth inthe band’srelationshipcanalsobe relatedtoRamble CreekRecordingStudios,where
theyrecordedthe album.Bowmandescribedthe settingas“pure magic,”reminiscingonsplittingbeers
and lyingouton couchesinthe game room duringbreaksfromthe music.
Fox and The Bird has beentogethersince 2008. Theirbandname comesfrom the song“Floating
Feather”intheirfirstalbumwiththe same name.
“The songisabout a relationshipbetweentwopeople thatmake nosense together,butmake some sort
of strange romance outof whattheyhave,”saidBowman.
Fox and The Bird’salbum“DarkestHours” is now available oniTunes.The bandplayedashow in
Louisville,KY.atZanzabaron Mar. 5, and will be performinginNashville,TN.andMemphis,TN.over
Mar. 6 and 7.