Tomorrow night, Saturday, March 2, the Young Avenue Deli will host the CD-release show for one of Memphis’ best emerging bands, Dead Soldiers.
Dead Soldiers is a “supergroup” of sorts, combining members of well-regarded local bands such as the Unbeheld, Cremains, and the Memphis Dawls to form an Americana powerhouse that combines elements of outlaw country, bluegrass, and southern rock. The band cut its official debut effort, the forthcoming All the Things You Lose, with the help of local producer Scott Bomar, who recorded Dead Soldiers at his Electraphonic recording studio.
Co-founding members Ben Aviotti and Michael Jasud spoke to the Flyer this week about the band’s history, the new record, and more.
Memphis Flyer: Most of the members of band were in metal bands before Dead Soldiers – what inspired you guys to start a country band?
Jasud: We like country! But honestly that was just kind of a starting point. I think I had just been listening to a lot of roots music and wanted to try something different. I randomly got really into bluegrass just looking for new music probably five or six years ago. Then I got into old-time country after getting into some more contemporary stuff and tracing it backwards.
Aviotti: Mike and I started writing some songs outside of our bands at the time and it got progressively more serious as time pressed on.
