It has been almost three years now since The Everybodyfields played together on the same stage. The alt-country band from Johnson City, Tenn. broke up just as they were about to break through to a wider audience. No doubt this caused minor waves of panic throughout the Paste Magazine offices.
The band comprised of Sam Quinn and Jill Andrews on soaring boy-girl harmonies, with keyboardist Josh Oliver, pedal steel guitarist Tom Pryor and drummer Jamie Cook rounding out their stew of Americana, bluegrass. Andrews has one of the best voices in all of music. Admittedly, the announcement of two reunion shows (Music City Roots in Nashville on 9/14 and at Rhythm and Roots in Bristol, Tenn. on 9/17) is not much to hang one’s hat upon. Longtime fans of the band are certainly hoping this leads to a thawing of relations and more shows in the future. Music City Roots will stream their show here for people’s listening pleasure. Here’s five reasons why you should be down with The Everybodyfields whether their reunion last two shows or a hundred.
Lonely Anywhere
“Lonely Anywhere” is a plain and simple song off of their 2008 album Nothing is Okay which showcases Andrews’ vocal range. As with many of the songs on this album, “Lonely Anywhere” is a sad one that Andrews wrote about her crumbling relationship with Sam Quinn. Talk about awkward.
Dream
Here they are in September of 2008 at Rhythm & Brews in Chattanooga covering the Everly Brother’s seminal tune “Dream.”
The Red Rose
This tune starts off as an upbeat bluegrass ditty, but then quickly segues into a somber and literate story perfect for when the fall days get darker, the leaves begin to drop and the coldness seeps into everything around you. It’s the second cut off the slightly happier Halfway There: Electricity of the South album.
Everything is Okay
If The Everybodyfields had a hit song, surely it would be “Everything is Okay” off of the Nothing is Okay album. It’s a bit upbeat, there are great boy-girl harmonies between Sam and Jill and the strange line about saltine crackers is hard to forget. It’s not everyday someone writes a song referencing dirty old saltines.
Aeroplane
Tom Pryor is one of the best pedal steel guitarists in the country music scene and “Aeroplane” serves as a great showcase and reminder of that.