That’s how far it is from Cincy to Graceland, according to the self-proclaimed “country punk” band. The singer Ryan Mallott and crew seem to take their role of country punk preservationists pretty seriously, as the wit of the fiddle matches the three-chord chunks. Though more than upbeat bar music, they definitely hold the key to being The Hold Steady country-fied. They need to add a few more dates in Nashville or try and score a gig with The Avett Brothers while in the Carolinas to get some momentum. What’s perplexing is how they got that old guy on board (but a great addition). More perplexing for 500 Miles to Memphis is why the heck Deep Elm would offer a contract to these guys. The ever-shifting sands of the once proud Deep Elm has left the label in a bit of a sinkhole or poised to take on the next gen in a way no one has imagined yet. Their MySpace says there is an album for download at their website. But MySpace is known as a haven for those prone to lie.
500 Miles to Memphis Upcoming Dates and a vid after the jump:
Apr 16 2009 10:00P The Longbranch Saloon Knoxville, Tennessee
Apr 17 2009 10:00P The Milestone Charlotte, North Carolina
Apr 18 2009 10:00P The Garage Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Apr 19 2009 9:00P Mansion 462 Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Apr 21 2009 10:00P The Palm Room Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
Apr 23 2009 9:00P Lenny’s Bar Atlanta, Georgia
Apr 24 2009 10:00P The Nick Birmingham, Alabama
Apr 25 2009 9:30P The Boiler Room Lexington, Kentucky
