Tag Archives: Those Darlins

RIP Jessi Zazu of Those Darlins

It’s with great sadness I share news of the passing of Jessi Zazu (aka Jessi Darlin) of Those Darlins.  The 28 year old lost her battle with cancer yesterday.

For those of you who have checked out this blog for many years, you’ll know I was a fan of Those Darlins from the start.  Having seen them not only in Cleveland multiple times but also at Bonnaroo, I got to interact with her more than once and she was always as nice as could be.

She never hid the fact that she had cancer and was very open about her fight with it.  This news came as a complete shock to me.

I’m lucky enough to say I saw her play in a band that she loved and was even able to capture some photos of her doing so.

RIP Jessi Darlin.

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Those Darlins Return To Cleveland This Fall

You know, it’s been a while since I mentioned the southern bell brat pack also known as Those Darlins…  Might as well pimp them out now for a moment while I have your attention.

Many Cleveland fans were bummed to learn that Those Darlins dropped off the bill last June.  They opted to do so in order to perform a benefit show, so I guess we can not be too mad at them. 

Regardless, they have yet to make a stop in Cleveland in 2011 and it looks like this Fall will be the next time they drop by.

On October 12th, Those Darlins will be playing a show at the Grog Shop with Peelander-Z.  Can you say awesome!?!?

Stay cool Cleveland.  The girls and Lynwood will see you in a few months…

Speaking of awesome…  Looks like the girls and Lynwood are getting some well-deserved attention:

Too bad I would never drive that toaster in public.

Album Review: Those Darlins – Screws Get Loose

Fueled with a new found (and very welcomed) sex appeal while looking ever so refreshed, Those Darlins are back with their all new sophomore album entitled Screws Get Loose.  Nikki, Jesse, Kelley, and  Linwood continue their quest to have constant fun, drink the stiff drinks, and tour the country all while leaving a lasting impression on all who join in their nightly rock n roll shambles.

Even amidst non-stop touring, minus a brief timeout due to pair of broken bones in Nikki Darlin’s forearm after she lost a battle with Ohio terrane, the band was quick to record a follow up to their 2009 debut.

Screws Get Loose, in reference to the screws used to hold Nikki’s bones in place last summer, was released once again on Oh Wow Dang Records.

Known for being a more of a country / punk / garage rock sounding act, the foursome have switched things up a tad and added a nice indie rock style to their sound in their mix.  One of the coolest aspects of this change is hearing Linwood, the band’s lone male drummer, lend his pipes on the album as well as help write some of the tracks.  The girls still trade off with vocals throughout the album keeping it catchy and all so fun.

The title track “Screws Get Loose” open up things with a song carrying a couple of references to why screws were needed in the first place.  The new sound coming from the quartet was good and quite the shock to hear.  It was almost as if Those Darlins left their country sounds on the porch in Murfreesboro and headed off to the big city for a entirely new prospect.

“Be Your Bro” hands down is my favorite track on the album. Having heard it months earlier at a live show of theirs last Fall, I fell in love with the Darlins a little harder because of this track.  Singing of how the girls just “wanna run and play in the dirt” while said guys “just wanna stick it in” just proved how real the girls are and how not afraid they are to tell it how it is.  Singing “I may have girly parts but I have a boy’s heart” hopefully will throw a hint at any Darlin chasing fellow, or will it?

“Let U Down” premiered Linwood’s vocals, an improvement in the direction of the band if you ask me.  Not that there was anything wrong with the girls taking vocal duties throughout the songs, but Linwood has himself a very fitting voice that goes perfectly with the music that they all create.  This is a track that needed to be heard.

“Mystic Mind” was a trippy track that didn’t necessarily fit the rest of the album but was hard not to listen to.  “$” was a step back for a moment into what I previously was used to coming from the Darlins and their group vocals.

“Starving for something and it ain’t your touch” start off the hilarious “Fatty Needs A Fix”.  The track easily is a continuation to “The Whole Damn Thing” off their debut album, as a drunken end to a night out required some immediate stomach pampering and nothing more than that.

“Waste Away” put a halt to the party with a direct message to a certain someone to knock off the hardcore partying.  This track reached back to material from their previous album.  “BUMD” closed the album with what sounded like to me something pulled from the 60’s.  The song differed from the others with more proof of how much talent these four musicians possess.

It was almost a shock to hardly hear any country driven tracks on this album, but it’s just proof that Those Darlins are maturing into an even more of an amazing act.  Shorter than I would have liked, Screws Get Loose is a great album from start to finish with plenty of tracks to help you shake your baby-maker throughout thanks to all of the members coming together and doing what they like to do best.  If you were not a fan of their first release, you might just want to pop this one in and see if it catches your fancy.

The Awesome: Those Darlins Share “Be Your Bro” For All To Hear

I am not sure where you are from, but I hale from Ohio and the weather SUCKS here today!!!!  Seriously, it is raining ice.  It looks like someone kicked over a gigantic Slushie machine and all the ice covered the area.  The roads are horrible, I am stuck inside and am getting restless.

So what do I do?  I sit at my computer and look for distractions.  I go through countless emails about nothing special and suddenly I saw this – a message from Those Darlins:

We finally get to share with you some music off our new LP Screws Get Loose.
We want to feel your excitement as we unleash all that we have worked so hard on.
Hope it turns you on.
xoxxx
Darlins

I stopped everything I was doing and checked out the song.

Suddenly I am forgetting about how craptastic it is outside and I am not worried about how long it will take me to get to work in the morning (who am I kidding, yes I am).  I love their new sound and have the feeling that this is the release that will skyrocket this kick-ass foursome into the spotlight they oh so deserve.

The new album drops in March and I can not wait to hear it. If you are as crazy as I am about Those Darlins, you can pre-order your copy today!

Screws Get Loose drops on 03/29/2011

“Be Your Bro” With Those Darlins

Next Tuesday, Those Darlins will be releasing a 7-inch of two new new album songs entitled “Be Your Bro” and “Let U Down.” This is the first taste from their sophomore album Screws Get Loose that is dropping at the end of March on OH WOW DANG Records.

It is safe to say I am excited. If anyone knows anything about me, I am a big big Those Darlins fan.  After seeing them last Fall, it is safe to say I am stoked to hear their new release.  They changed their sound up a little and it sounds amazing.

7″ Track list
Side A) Be Your Bro
Side B) Let U Down

Those Darlins are currently touring in support of their new release. When these girls (and Linwood) tour, they tour…

Photo by Veta&Theo for Ovvio Arte

TOUR DATES:

JANUARY
27 – Oxford, MS – Proud Larry’s
28 – Hattiesburg, MS – Thirsty Hippo
29 – Auburn, AL – The Independent

FEBRUARY
17 – Fayetteville, AR – George’s Majestic #
18 – St Louis, MO – Pageant #
19 – Chicago, IL – The Vic #
20 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue #
22 – Louisville, KY – Headliners #
23 – Cincinnati, OH – Southgate House #
24 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel #
25 – Atlanta, GA – Buckhead #
26 – Charleston, SC _ Music Farm #
27– Jacksonville, FL – Freebird #

MARCH
1 – Orlando, FL – Plaza Theater #
2 – Tampa, FL Skipper’s #
3 – Tallahassee, FL – The Moon #
4 – New Orleans – Tipitina’s #
5 – Houston, TX – House of Blues #
17th-20th — Austin, TX — SXSW
24 – Washington, DC – The Black Cat +
25 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom +
26 – New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom +
27 – Boston, MA – Middle East +
29 – Providence, RI – Firehouse 13
30 – New Haven, CT – BAR
31 – Baltimore, MD – Golden West

APRIL
1 – Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall +
4 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room +
6 – Denver, CO – the Bluebird +
7 – Salt Lake City, UT – the Urban Lounge +
8 – Boise, ID – Neurolux +
9 – Seattle, WA – the Crocodile +
10 – Portland, OR – Dante’s +
13 – San Francisco, CA – the Independent +
14 – Santa Cruz, CA – the Rio Theatre +
16 – Santa Barbara, CA – the Mercury Lounge

JUNE
2 – Ozark, AR – Wakarusa Festival

# w/Old 97’s
+ w/Black Joe Lewis