Saintseneca, a band that taps into the dark, tangled roots of American folk, will headline Live Wire
Thursday, at the Clazel, 127 N. Main St., Bowling Green.
Led by singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Zac Little, Saintseneca follows in the footsteps of
heartland bands who have sought to twist the music of the old weird America into new shapes Saintseneca
perform songs that sound familiar and original, all at once.
While the group formed in Columbus, Little hails from the rural hills of Appalachia, a solitary and
dramatic landscape that has infused the band’s songs with a sense of introspection and striking
narratives. "I was raised on farms in Appalachia," Little explains, "And I think that my
perspective on music was shaped by where I grew up. It was twenty minutes to see the nearest person.
Being so isolated forced me to be introspective and resourceful. As a kid I would explore these
abandoned houses and barns and wonder what had happened in those places."
With a diverse assemblage of influences, the band’s poetic lyricism and folk instrumentation is
consistently enhanced by elements of pop, post-punk and psychedelia. It is a sound that evolved from
playing alongside an array of electrified bands at DIY house shows. "The scene in Columbus is
really vibrant and diverse," Little explains. "The connecting thread has less to do with
musical style than a shared ethos. We were this quiet folk band playing with punk and hardcore bands so
we would try to channel as much volume and power from those instruments."
Saintseneca’s second album "Dark Arc" is informed by change. While previous records documented
the band’s live show, the new record is the result of both a revamped lineup and an expanded recording
process. Dark Arc conveys an exhilarating mix of darkness and light. Lyrics of disintegration play out
against arrangements brimming with buoyant folk, post punk and pop.
Appearing with Saintseneca are Swarming Branch and Lake Philadelphia. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10
in advance at wbgufm.com, Finder’s Records in Bowling Green and Culture Clash in Toledo and $12 at the
door.
Live Wire concerts are taped for future broadcast on WBGU-TV.
