NEWS4U JULY 2021 | MUSIC
THE
who had never played the blues start writing the blues." He
DOUBLE AUGHTS Vincennes-Evansville duo resurrects uniquely blues-based material for upcoming EP
was particularly impressed when Nelson dug even deeper into the old stuff like Blind Willy McTell and Blind Lemon Jefferson, with the swampy feel of those legendary early recordings slowly seeping into the mix. And yet, despite the promising nature of singular tracks like "Anyone's Doll" and "Laudanum Jar" - featuring thrillingly unorthodox guitar work by Nelson and Sobhani's intricate, pounding drums - the project stalled. Or more accurately, was shelved, as Nelson accepted a job in Evansville in 2016 and the pair began anew under a different name while residing in separate cities. A more punk-inspired outfit that made room for a bass player, the Paper Sweaters made a handful of appearances at local venues like PG Café and Wired before Nelson and Sobhani's employment situations made it difficult to continue; they pulled the plug in 2018. But just a year later, there was talk of resurrecting the 2013
One day back in 2013, Rama Sobhani was going about his
material; the abandoned project even had a name: The Double
normal work day at the state park up in Vincennes when a fellow
Aughts. Eager to move forward, Nelson and Sobhani contacted
employee began proudly discussing her son's musical abilities.
local producer Steve Tyner at Black Cat Recording to document
A musician himself - a kickass drummer, in fact - he inquired
the blues-based 5-song collection, but due to the pandemic it
about a possible introduction and in short order, Sobhani came
would take nearly two years to complete the EP with final mixes
face-to-face with his future collaborator, ace
recently approved. Aforementioned tracks
guitarist Joshua Nelson. The two became
"Anyone's Doll" and "Laudanum Jar" are
fast friends and found common ground
complemented by "In Drag," "Summer
artistically thanks to a mutual interest in the
Thing" and "The Girl Who Cries" - each
2000-era garage rock band The Hives, both
featuring lyrics and vocal melodies by
taken by the Swedish quintet's stripped
Sobhani that are interpreted and sung
down approach. But despite the shared
by Nelson. Truly, this is one of the most
influence, Sobhani and Nelson's playing
compelling original releases of late taking
styles differed dramatically. The former was
into account its merging of blues, metal,
entrenched in the sound of the Delta while
punk and 90s rock. It's just a shame that
the latter mostly focused on the punk side of things. But that just
it took eight years to see the light of day. Nelson concurs: "It's
made their proposed musical alliance all the more intriguing -
been a long journey to get here, to record the music at a price
especially when Sobhani's vision of a raw, blues-based project
that we could afford. There's no one in Vincennes that we could
began to take shape.
go to for a finished product like this."
"When we started writing these songs, Joshua was coming at
Keep an eye out for the Double Aughts EP - coming soon
it with a blank slate of experience with anything blues-based,"
with artwork by Stephen Horning (who also plays bass on the
Sobhani explains. "It was really interesting to hear someone
recording).
For more info, follow The Double Aughts on Facebook.
34 | JULY 2021
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