Best of What's Next 2009: Those Darlins [Musicians]

Hometown: Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Album: Those Darlins
Band Members: Jessi Darlin (vocals, guitar), Kelley Darlin (vocals, bass), Nikki Darlin (vocals, baritone uke)
For Fans Of: Freakwater, Jenny Lewis, Loretta Lynn

"Country” is a loose label for this tattooed trio, whose debut is loaded with nods to The Rolling Stones, old-time bluegrass and garage rock—but the music is in their blood. Kelley, Nikki and Jessi Darlin met as teenagers and reassembled years later on the back porch of Nikki and Jessi’s tin-roofed house to play for fun. “We just started swapping songs,” Kelley says. “Like, ‘Do you know this Hank Williams song or this Carter Family song?’ It just grew really organically.”

These days, the three—who’ve taken the same last name, a la The Ramones—live together in Murfreesboro, Tenn., within spitting distance of Nashville. The Darlins tackle tough subjects in their cheeky tunes: They soberly shame deadbeat dads in “Mama’s Heart” and offer wry advice in “DUI or DIE,” singing, “Remember if you want to drink and drive / Better find a boy to take you home for the night.” But whether the Darlins are sharing barbecue, mending each others’ matching outfits or locking into three-part harmonies, sisterhood reigns supreme. They’ve got each others’ backs, Nikki says, “Like a gang, or something.”

What’s Next? They’ll tour cross-country to support their newly-released debut LP. “We dare all of you to come and get [your] idiot on without worrying that the environment will be intolerant, too cool, too lame, too indie, too country, too anything. The only thing there will be is too much fun,” the Darlins say. The band hopes to take its show to Europe in early 2010 after recovering from the Christmas bash held on its farm each year. “Hopefully, this year we won’t be wrapping up our own kitchen utensils, records, garbage, etc., just to fill the space under the tree,” they say. “We hope the same for you, too."

Listen to Those Darlins' "Red Light Love" on the Paste Station.

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