Being an obsessive, it seems like I should know what artist/band I’ve seen live the most number of times. But middle-aged memory can be a bit of a blur sometimes and at the end of the day I stopped trying to keep track. What I do know, however, is somewhere near the top of that list is The Devil Makes Three, a band I’ve seen roughly a half dozen times including two shows at the fabled Red Rocks Amphitheatre.1 I’ve been on the DM3 train for close to 20 years now, which seems hard to believe. But here we are. And here they are with their first studio album since Chains Are Broken seven years ago.
It’s hard to drop a genre label on The Devil Makes Three. The trio (and various supporting players) combine bluegrass and blues with a dose of punk attitude. If the phrase “punk Americana” has a sound, that might be close. The songs are populated with the the down-and-out, criminals, drunks, mystics, gamblers, addicts, and people who live on other people’s sofas for years at a time, but described without judgement and with more than a hint of empathy and understanding. Painful memories, never-realized dreams, and past mistakes are all fair game here, but you never come away sad or even melancholy – somehow there’s always just a bit of hope to be heard in Pete Bernhard’s voice (and occasionally Cooper McBean’s, though his songs tend to be a bit funnier), or perhaps of a lesson imparted to someone in need of hearing it.
I try so hard, but sometimes the devil wins, Bernhard sings on “The Devil Wins”, and if that doesn’t encapsulate the overall feel of Spirits nothing does. Spirits brings us a new cast of characters to love and laugh at and cry with – druggies and drunks, hypocrites and seekers, the beaten down and the forgotten. It’s hard hard hard times, they’ll charge you dollars while they’re paying you in dimes, McBean intones with an uncharacteristic twinge of resignation in his voice on “Hard Times,” something that seems to be more and more relatable these days. The lyrics are poignant, the instrumentation impeccable. Spirits is DM3 at their very best. Sure, it’ll be hard to knock their loved self-titled debut off it’s pedestal, but this record will give it a run for its money.
I absolutely love the two tracks sung by McBean. “Hard Times” is a lament for the common man, while the “I Love Doing Drugs” is hilarious while retaining an undercurrent of sadness. Seems to me reality ain’t no good, he sings. I’d run away nearly everyday buddy if I thought I could. The whole damn town can burn down right now, and the most I’d do was shrug. Cuz I’m on drugs. For those new to DM3, I’d encourage you to go down the Cooper McBean rabbit hole. “Robot” and “Uncle Harvey’s Plane” from A Little Bit Faster and a Little Bit Worse are absolute banjo bangers, and Do Wrong Right‘s “Gracefully Facedown” and Redemption & Ruin‘s “I Gotta Get Drunk” are relatable to anyone who has ever gotten way too shitfaced. There’s an album worth of McBean DM3 songs and they’re all a blast.
Spirits won’t be released on streaming platforms until February 28, but vinyl pre-orders have already been shipped – mine arrived a few days ago. And let me tell you, it sounds fantastic – no noise, a rich low end, and a true sense of depth. The instruments and vocals aren’t in competition but instead mixed in perfect harmony, everything in its place and with the utmost clarity. This is one of the best sounding vinyl releases I’ve heard in some time, so don’t hesitate to pick up a copy. You won’t be disappointed.
- Other contenders for the top spot are Agent Fresco, FM Belfast, Gusgus, and Sugar Ray. ↩︎