Screen Door Porch

The amalgam of geographic roots represented by Seadar Rose and Aaron Davis sonically manifest throughout Screen Door Porch’s Ramble Creek-recorded eponymous debut. The local duo’s former haunt of Jackson Hole, Wyo., lends an easy Western flair to their more prominent native influences of North Carolina and Kentucky, a combination that goes down as smoothly as top-shelf bourbon. Rose’s voice triangulates the soulful grit of Lucinda Williams, the easy twang of Gillian Welch, and the acoustic indie intensity of new songstresses like Sera Cahoone, melding well with Davis’ understated drawl on opener “Wrong the Right” and dark balladry of “Cold Mountain Breath.” Davis’ lead on “From Sea” could have been mined straight from locals Frank Smith’s Big Strike in Silver City. The Tin Pan jazz lope of “Zemurray” and “Two More Than You” and swingin’ “Jivin'” balance the beautifully mournful “Blow Away” and “Gold,” a diversity that will situate the twosome well among Austin’s like-minded alt-folkers.

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This article appears in May 7 • 2010.

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Doug Freeman has been writing for the Austin Chronicle since 2007, covering the arts and music scene in the city. He is originally from Virginia and earned his Masters Degree from the University of Texas. He is also co-editor of The Austin Chronicle Music Anthology, published by UT Press.