I assumed being the way they often present themselves on promotional material and social media (and album cover)that Dari was a person. Dari is a band but at the same time also is largely centered around vocalist/ guitarist/drummer (as well as producer/songwriter) Zack James. James also plays drums for Unknown Mortal Orchestra.
It feels like this may be the biggest artist to come out of Vermont, but when I read interviews, I think that state may be more fertile than I realize. Burlington has become a thriving scene with Dari Bay one of many artists making wave.
I was introduced to the band as an alt country act but that seems to be such a vague term. In my introduction to the band I heard they were Neil Young influenced. Of course, saying “they sound like Neil” doesn’t really narrow things down any.
But Dari Bay exist in that world where indie folk, alt country and indie pop meet. There’s elements of all those. There’s a bit of a straight line from Pavement as much as anything. I have seen Teenage Fanclub mentioned in their reviews and I have seen Camper Van Beethoven mentioned. (I don’t really think they sound like CVB but the idea intrigues me since there are similar alt “everything” vibes. They have opened for MJ Lenderman, which is probably the best comparison I can think of. In can’t case, the space occupied by bands like Big Thief that is indie with Americana influences.
When I saw Dari Bay was coming to town. It was a no brainer. They were opening for a band named Florry, that I don’t know a ton about but Uncut Magazine raved about them and they sounded unique.
I don’t like to go to concerts by myself so I told my friend to take a listen and he fell in love with them right away. With tickets being relatively cheap, it was easy to get another friend to join in.
Dari Bay in concert aren’t really an alt country band at all, and I realized why, though there were a few country sounding guitar chords, there was no pedal steel or banjo which features on quite a few songs on the album.
They are touring with Florry though and Jon “Tiltin” Cox of that band came out to play pedal steel on “Walk On Down”. “Walk On Down” is a favorite song- the highlight of the album and one of the best songs anyone has recorded in recent years.
The band are young - a fact often noted upon and noticeable in concert but they are also very talented.
James plays drums and sings which is an unusual setup and certainly challenging for the sound guy. He’s charismatic enough and band is great too.
I go back to the reviewer that compared them to “early Teenage Fanclub” and that’s more of the live vibe than anything. There really is a 90s indie rock feel. Although not sound alikes, bands like Dinosaur Jr, Pavement, and Superchunk came to my mind.
While James is largely credited with most all instruments on Longest Day of the Year, the band onstage is a four piece with two guitars and Nina Cates plays bass and adds occasional vocals (and is shown in the promotional video here). Cates and James play together in a band (that Cates leads) called Robber Robber.
I got to talk to her after the show but I didn’t know much to say except words of encouragement and buying some merch.
I don’t know what the future holds for this very talented group of artists but Longest Day of the Year stands as one of the great “under the radar” albums of recent years.
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