a.k.a. Belle and The Country Club will perform a special pre-release in-store at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at The Record Exchange (1105 W. Idaho St., Downtown Boise). The bands are holding a double release party on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Visual Arts Collective and we have tickets for sale at the store. As always, this Record Exchange in-store event is free and all ages!
a.k.a. Belle’s new album ‘The Devil Loves You’ and The Country Club’s new album ‘An Idaho Dozen’ will be available for purchase at the in-store — get a free ticket to the release party show at the VaC for each a.k.a. Belle and/or Country Club CD you purchase!
ABOUT A.K.A. BELLE
The seedlings of a.k.a Belle began in a land far, far away called Los Angeles, CA, where Sam and Catherine Crooks Merrick, Boise, ID natives, found themselves sharing a flat in pursuit of musical greatness. They didn’t know it then, but their paths would cross many times over subsequent decades and eventually their lives would converge in a very personal and musically magical way. In 2008, after Catherine returned home to Boise, ID from living and performing under the moniker of Belle of Les Bois in Manchester, England, she reunited with her former roomie (and soon to be husband) and a.k.a. Belle was born.
Catherine grew up in Boise, ID amongst some major musical talents. She played alongside Doug Martsch (Built to Spill) in Suiciety and in the B-sides with Curtis Stigers. Merrick’s overflowing with instrumental chops and is most often seen wailing on guitar or banjo, but it’s her voice that audiences find most captivating:
“… when you are blessed with a vocalist like Catherine Merrick, you’re light years ahead of the game. The singer and multi-instrumentalist for a.k.a. Belle has an alluring, lovely voice – the kind that stands out in any genre.” – Michael Deeds, The Idaho Statesman
Between LA and 2008, Sam was met with major musical success. He toured the US and Europe with The Leaving Trains (SST Records) and signed a multimillion dollar contract in blood with LA band The Nymphs (Geffen Records). He’s also played bad-ass guitar and lent vocals to a variety of of musical projects based in the US. a.k.a. Belle’s eclectic sound is elevated by the creative musical minds of Louis McFarland (percussion) and Chris Galli (stand up bass), who hear and interpret Merrick’s songs intuitively.
In 2012, a.k.a. Belle recorded and released their debut full-length record with Audio Lab Studios titled Disappearing Night. The album spent several weeks on the Top 20 best sellers at Boise’s independent record store, The Record Exchange, and came in at #6 for best selling records there in 2012. “Austin Calling”, from their debut CD, continues to get air play in Boise and its environs. “The Devil Loves You” is the Belle’s second full-length record set to release in February 2014. The new record is self proclaimed to be darker and more experimental than their debut album, exploring themes of time travel, serial killers, losers in love and evil trees.
a.k.a. Belle is a rock band that’s not afraid to play with different genres to get the desired effect in creating well-crafted, thoughtfully constructed songs. Collectively, these four musicians, playfully coined “The Magic Four,” have collaborated with and supported some big names in music including: John Doe & Exene Cervenka from LA band X; Iggy Pop; Elizabeth Cook; Holly Golightly, Lydia Loveless; Curtis Stigers; Bill Kirchen; Doug Martsch from Built to Spill, Pinto Bennett, William Coffey… and many more.
For a sneak peek of their new record, head on over to akabelle.bandcamp.com and listen to their single release “Mess You Up”.
ABOUT THE COUNTRY CLUB
The Country Club is a band from Boise, Idaho playing original and traditional music from the front lines of the nostalgia wars. While their sound is clearly drawn from the well of classic country, honky tonk, old time, and bluegrass, it rings and twangs with modernity and occasional urbanity. From dark and dirty to clean and pristine, the sound of the Country Club is as at home on the range, in a barn, as it is downtown, in the bar.
Happy Valentine’s Day! To celebrate, The Record Exchange and our friends at WEA have a Billie Joe & Norah/Everly Brothers prize pack up for grabs!