Meet the SXSW Band: Native Harrow

It’s here! Well, almost here anyway. Yeah SXSW is right around the corner you nerds and of course we are ready and prepping for the most exciting and enjoyable week of the year. We had a ton of fun with our “Meet the band” pieces last year and thought it’d be a great idea to carry on with them in 2024. Hopefully you find them as an interesting and brief peek into band life and what it means to play SXSW. We are super excited to kick these interviews off this week with responses from Philadelphia based outfit Native Harrow. You’ll find their responses, schedule, and tunes after the jump.

Answers below are from Devin Tuel & Stephen Harms of Native Harrow

ATH: What’s the name of the band/group? Where are you from?

Native Harrow.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

ATH: Give us a short pitch for your band, describing sound, ambiance or whatever you feel like.

Were a two-piece band with roots in the songwriting tradition, but presented in a folk-soul sound.

We love beat up guitars, keys through Leslies, and old tube amps.

ATH: What was your most recent release? Any planned releases for 2024?

We released our latest album, Old Kind of Magic, in October 2022.

We have a new album being announced in the coming weeks.

ATH: SXSW is often called a sort of initiation which can lead to increased exposure. As a band, why did you choose to play the festival? What’s your aim for the week?

SXSW is something we’ve been wanting to do for a long time. We tour constantly and spent the last three years living in the UK, so this is a big American homecoming for us. We are excited to reconnect with friends, US industry folk, and, of course, to play our songs. We are looking at SX as a launch for our new album campaign and a re-entry into touring in the States after three years abroad. And wed like to find a US booking agent.

ATH: What has everyone in the band been listening to, or, what plays in the tour van/car/bus?

We have a playlist we use for tours that runs from 60s Jazz, to Laurel Canyon Folk, Philly Soul, and good old fashioned Rock n Roll. We like everything. World music, musical theatre tunes, and classical. We always have music on and lately weve been on a Chris Stapleton kick.

ATH: If you’ve had a chance to check out any of the artists coming into town for the festival – Anyone you are excited about trying to see during the week?

We’re looking forward to all of it! We have a very full schedule each day and the lineups on the events we are doing are lookin’ grrrreat. If that’s any indication, its sure to be a swell time.

ATH: Disregarding the constructs of space, time, and availability – If you could construct a power group of artists to make the supreme, all powerful super group of a band, who would be in it? Pick as many members as you like. Who is on vocals, drums, guitar, etc.? All submissions will be judged with a winner awarded during the festival.

  • Lead Vocal 1 – Marvin Gaye (plays piano when Leon switches to guitar)
  • Lead Vocal 2 – Paul McCartney (plays bass when Wilton switches to sax)
  • Guitars – Stephen Stills & Cornell DuPree
  • Rhodes/Clavinet – Stevie Wonder
  • B3 – Billy Preston
  • Piano – Leon Russell
  • Bass/Tenor Sax – Wilton Felder
  • Drums – James Gadson
  • Percussion – Bobbye Hall
  • Backing Vocals – Rita Coolidge, David Crosby, Linda Ronstadt

ATH: Any road survival or SXSW survival tips for newbie bands? What are some must haves to survive the road?

For SXSW – Remember its just a few days. They will be long, socially and physically exhausting days, but you get to eat a lot of tacos and be surrounded by the madness and excitement of it all. Just be present and ride the wave.

For the road – Protein is a must on the road. Its what keeps the energy up to do long drives, radio shows, and then late night gigs. Water all day long. Don’t drink or do drugs, sorry. Exercise, journal, call friends and family back home to ground you and remind you why you do this. Have fun on stage, don’t take yourself too seriously.

For guitarists/bassists – If you switch to flat wound strings, you’ll save time and money in the long run, and they really do sound better.

ATH: What concerns do you have as a band or a human or both? In regards to music, the world, really…where does your mind tend to wander these days?

Wow. How do I even answer this? I have a lot of concerns. Both worldwide, music industry wise, personally, and all that. Its hard to be alive sometimes! There’s so much information flying around, opinions and stressors it can get real heavy real fast. I try to just do my bit – be kind and recycle, not buy plastic, help strangers, and speak up when something isn’t right. I write songs that help me cope with how heartbreaking life can be and hope that what we create as a band shines a little light on all the darkness out there.

Thanks again to the band for making the time to do this. Here are details for Native Harrow shows during SXSW:

Thu 14 @ 12pm — Music For Listeners Dayparty
@ Lazarus Brewing, 1902 E 6th St, Austin, TX 78702

Thu 14 @ 4pm — Nine Mile Records + Export Memphis Dayparty
@ The ABGB, 1305 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

Fri 15 @ 8pm — SXSW Official Showcase
@ Stephen F’s Bar at The Stephen F Austin Royal Sonesta Hotel, 701 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701

Sat 16 @ 1pm — Sign of the Times by To’Morrow Records + Rocky and The Hair Dayparty
@ The ABGB, 1305 W Oltorf St, Austin, TX 78704

Sat 16 @ 3:30 — New West Records Dayparty
@ Sagebrush, 5500 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78745

 

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