Larkin Poe

Larkin Poe is an American roots rock band led by sisters Rebecca Lovell and Megan Lovell. The band originated in north Georgia and is currently based in Nashville, Tennessee.[1] Larkin Poe is known for their strong southern harmonies, heavy electric guitar riffs, slide guitar, and their music often draws comparisons to the style of the Allman Brothers.[2] The Lovell sisters have gained recognition for their energetic performances and musical prowess.

Larkin Poe
Larkin Poe performing at Blacksheep Festival in 2014
Larkin Poe performing at Blacksheep Festival in 2014
Background information
OriginCalhoun, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
Labels
  • RH Music
  • Tricki-Woo
Members
  • Rebecca Lovell
  • Megan Lovell
  • Tarka Layman
  • Ben Satterlee
Websitelarkinpoe.com

The band's history began with the Lovell Sisters, an acoustic music trio formed in 2005 with their older sister, Jessica Lovell. After releasing independent albums and touring for four years, the Lovell Sisters disbanded in 2009. In 2010, Rebecca and Megan Lovell regrouped as Larkin Poe, taking their band name from their ancestor's name, Larkin Poe.

Larkin Poe's early years saw the release of several independent EPs and collaborative albums. They signed a recording contract with RH Music in late 2013 and released their debut studio album, Kin, in 2014. The band gained recognition for their collaboration with producer T Bone Burnett on the New Basement Tapes' album Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes. The band performed at the 2014 and 2016 Glastonbury Festival and were voted "Best Discovery of Glastonbury 2014" by the UK's The Observer.

Their musical journey continued with the release of albums like Peach in 2017, Venom & Faith in 2018, and Self Made Man in 2020, which achieved notable success on the Billboard blues album chart. In addition to their original music, Larkin Poe released a covers album titled Kindred Spirits in 2020, showcasing their interpretations of songs by various artists.

Rebecca Lovell at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada, February 2023
Megan Lovell kneeling to play at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada, February 2023

Career

Rebecca and Megan Lovell began their musical careers in 2005 as teenagers with the formation of acoustic music trio, the Lovell Sisters, with their older sister, Jessica Lovell.[3] After self-releasing two independent albums and touring successfully for four years – appearing on Garrison Keillor's A Prairie Home Companion, the Grand Ole Opry, and performing at Bonnaroo Music Festival – the group announced their disbandment in December 2009.[4] In January 2010, Rebecca and Megan regrouped as Larkin Poe.[5] "Larkin Poe" was the name of the sisters' great-great-great-great-grandfather.[6]

Over the course of 3 years (2010–2013), Larkin Poe self-released 5 independent EPs, 2 collaborative albums, and a live performance DVD. Spring EP (2010), Summer EP (2010), Fall EP (2010), Winter EP (2010), Thick as Thieves EP (2011), The Sound of the Ocean Sound a collaboration with Thom Hell (2013), Killing Time EP a collaboration with Blair Dunlop (2013).

In late 2013, Larkin Poe signed a recording contract with RH Music, the music division of San Francisco-based company Restoration Hardware. Following this signing, the band began work on their debut studio album, Kin, which was released in 2014.

In March 2014, producer T Bone Burnett tapped the sisters to record harmonies and instrumentation on the New Basement Tapes' album Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes alongside Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons, Elvis Costello, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, and Rhiannon Giddens. Rebecca and Megan also appear in the 2014 Showtime documentary Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued.[7]

In June 2014, Larkin Poe performed at the Glastonbury Festival, which resulted in them being named "best discovery of Glastonbury" by The Observer.[8]

In April 2016, Larkin Poe reissued their debut studio album under the title Reskinned, with a different order of songs and 5 new tracks replacing songs from the original version.[9][10] They performed their song "Trouble in Mind" on Conan.[11] They also appeared on Steven Tyler's studio album We're All Somebody from Somewhere, which was released in July of the same year.[12][13]

In February 2017, Larkin Poe performed as part of the backing band at the MusiCares tribute to Tom Petty in Los Angeles, accompanying such artists as Jackson Browne and Don Henley of the Eagles.[14][15]

Larkin Poe's cover version of the traditional song "John the Revelator" was used as the Series 3 episode 13 ending music for the Fox TV series Lucifer.

In 2017, Larkin Poe released their self-produced sophomore album, Peach, which was nominated for the Blues Foundation Best Emerging Artist Album in 2018.[16]

Larkin Poe released their third studio album, Venom & Faith, on November 9, 2018. The album was recorded in Nashville, produced by Rebecca and Megan, and engineered and mixed by Roger Alan Nichols.[17] Venom & Faith reached #1 on the Billboard blues album chart for the week of November 24, 2018.[18] The album was nominated for the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Blues Album.[19]

Larkin Poe played at the 2020 Mahindra Blues Festival in Mumbai, India. Relatively unknown in that part of the world, the duo impressed with their rendition of "When God Closes a Door", and premiered the title track from their next album.[20]

Larkin Poe's fourth studio album Self Made Man was released on June 12, 2020, on Tricki-Woo Records.[21] The lead single, "She's a Self Made Man", was released in March 2020.[22] Self Made Man reached #1 on the Billboard blues album chart for the week of June 27, 2020,[23] making it their second consecutive number-one album.[24]

On November 20, 2020, Larkin Poe released their fifth studio album, Kindred Spirits, a covers album featuring renditions of songs by Lenny Kravitz, Neil Young, Elvis Presley, Phil Collins, Elton John, and others.[25] On November 11, 2022, they released their sixth studio album, Blood Harmony.[26]

Band members
Rebecca and Megan Lovell at Blacksheep Festival 2014
Rebecca Lovell at Rock im Park 2016
Megan Lovell at Rock im Park 2016
  • Rebecca Lovell – lead vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin, banjo, violin, piano; drum programming, bass and arrangements
  • Megan Lovell – harmony vocals, lapsteel, dobro

Discography

Studio albums
  • Kin (2014) RH Music
  • Reskinned (2016) RH Music; Vertigo/Universal/We Love Music; Tricki-Woo Records (reissue/re-release of Kin with 5 tracks replaced by new recordings)
  • Peach (2017) Tricki-Woo
  • Venom & Faith (2018) Tricki-Woo
  • Self Made Man (2020) Tricki-Woo
  • Kindred Spirits (2020) Tricki-Woo (all "covers" album)
  • Blood Harmony (2022) Tricki-Woo

Live albums
  • Paint the Roses with Nu Deco Ensemble (2021) Tricki-Woo Records

EPs
  • Spring (2010) Edvins Records (sold in the US as Larkin Poe via 2Defpig)
  • Summer (2010) Edvins
  • Fall (2010) Edvins
  • Winter (2010) Edvins
  • Thick as Thieves (2011) Edvins
  • Killing Time with Blair Dunlop (2013) Rooksmere Records
  • Audiotree Live (2017) Audiotree (digital release only)

Box sets
  • Band for All Seasons (2010) Edvins Records; 2Defpig (contains 4 EPs: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter)

DVDs
  • Thick as Thieves [Special Edition]: Live from Stongfjordenn (2012) Edvins Records

Collaborations
  • The Sound of the Ocean Sound with Thom Hell (2013) Edvins Records
  • Killing Time [EP] with Blair Dunlop (2013) Rooksmere Records
  • Paint the Roses with Nu Deco Ensemble (2021) Tricki-Woo Records[27]
  • Sweetwater (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (2023) Candid Records

Other appearances

References
  1. "Larkin Poe excited to appear in the Bluegrass State Thursday at Levitt", Middlesboro Daily News, 27 August 2019, retrieved September 1, 2019
  2. "Big Names in the Making at Maverick Festival 2014 - uDiscover Music". www.udiscovermusic.com. 7 July 2014.
  3. "An Interview With Larkin Poe | Baeble Music". YouTube.
  4. "Lovell Sisters call it quits as a trio". Country Standard Time. 17 December 2009.
  5. "The Lovell Sisters are now Larkin Poe!!". flyinshoes.ning.com. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2012..
  6. Michael Bialas (2015-02-22). "Larkin Poe: 'Co-Writing with Edgar Allan Poe Would be a Drag on the Band's Happy Levels'". No Depression. Archived from the original on 18 March 2015. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  7. "Lost Songs: The Basement Tapes Continued". Archived from the original on 2015-05-12. Retrieved 2015-05-29.
  8. Michael Bialas (2014-10-13). "Larkin Poe: How Megan and Rebecca Lovell Got Their Sister Act Together". Huffington Post. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  9. "Larkin Poe Releases New Album Reskinned". Grateful Web.
  10. "Larkin Poe Open Up About Their New Album 'Reskinned'". Cliche Mag. 22 June 2016.
  11. "Tour Diary: Larkin Poe Gets A "Surprise Call" From Conan". American Songwriter. 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  12. Zuro, Che (6 November 2016). "Larkin Poe Has Trouble In Mind". Guitar Girl Magazine.
  13. Ruggieri, Melissa (August 18, 2016). "Ages may differ, but music is a common tie for Atlantans of every generation". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  14. Willman, Chris; Newman, Melinda (February 11, 2017). "Tom Petty Joined by Foo Fighters, Stevie Nicks & Many More at Epic MusiCares Tribute Show". Billboard.
  15. Ruggieri, Melissa (February 11, 2017). "MusiCares Person of the Year tribute features Tom Petty, Stevie Nicks and Atlanta's Larkin Poe". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  16. "2018 Blues Music Award nominees announced: Taj Mahal, Mavis Staples, Keb' Mo', N. Mississippi Allstars among nominees". Blues Foundation. 2018-01-09. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
  17. Korstanje, Emma (August 24, 2018). "Larkin Poe Announce Fourth Album, Venom & Faith". Paste. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  18. "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart - Billboard". Billboard. 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-30.
  19. "See The Full List Of 2020 Grammy Nominations". NPR. 2019-11-20. Retrieved 2019-11-24.
  20. "Mahindra Blues Festival 2020 was filled with stellar performances, but it may be time to retire the all-star jam". Firstpost. 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  21. Johnson, Neil (March 30, 2020). "Larkin Poe – Announce New Single 'Holy Ghost Fire' | New Album 'Self Made Man' out 12th June". With Guitars. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  22. Stickler, Jon (March 13, 2020). "Larkin Poe To Release New Album 'Self Made Man' In May, Share New Song She's A Self Made Man". Stereoboard.com. Retrieved March 24, 2020.
  23. "Blues Music: Top Blues Albums Chart - Billboard". Billboard. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  24. "Larkin Poe Chart History - Billboard". Billboard. 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  25. "Larkin Poe - Kindred Spirits". Discogs. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
  26. "Larkin Poe announces new album Blood Harmony, releases "Bad Spell" video". Blues Rock Review. May 19, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
  27. Gulden, Andrewe (September 16, 2021). "Review: Larkin Poe "Paint The Roses: Live in Concert"". Americana Highways. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
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