Friday 15 December 2006
Elsah, fronted by songwriter Neil Werries, borrows its name from a river town in southern Illinois. Originally from St. Louis via a recent relocation to Baton Rouge, Elsah blurs the boundaries between old-time country and guitar-driven indie rock. They have had the pleasure of playing with such talented musicians as Okkervil River, The Myrtles, and Centro-Matic as well as more roots-oriented artists such as Chuck Prophet, Bob Schneider, and Jimbo Mathus (of Squirrel Nut Zippers fame). Werries’ vocals range from a howl to a whisper, backed by a twin-guitar assault and a watertight rhythm section. Often compared to bands such as Drive-By-Truckers or early Wilco, the band cites influences ranging from Lucinda Williams to Camper Van Beethoven. With a new CD released on July 1, Elsah has been touring the South and Midwest through most of this summer, and followed up with a series of shows in New York City and Brooklyn, NY in mid-August. They continue to build a following in and around Louisiana while having a great time meeting new friends and fans around the country.