“Curtis and Sutton are gifted songwriters who have taken cues from Cohen and Cash and fearlessly mix the old with the new in creative ways” – No Depression
“Curtis/Sutton & The Scavengers bare stringed instruments like timber wolves bare teeth” – American Standard Time
Curtis/Sutton & the Scavengers are an Americana/Folk Blues band based out of Boise, Idaho. Their sound is a hodgepodge of gritty-sweet roots music forged by the band’s two distinct songwriters, Charlie Sutton and Ryan Curtis. The revolving cast of characters known as “The Scavengers” are anchored by full-timers, Sam Alkire on upright bass and Adam Straubinger on Fiddle.
In August of 2017, the band released the follow up to their acclaimed 2016 self-titled EP. Whiskey Rain, the band’s first full length album marks a shift in their sound by adding drums, fiddle and keys into the mix. Sutton and Curtis share songwriting duties on the album’s 12 songs; weaving together a sonic narrative where Waits-esque barfly’s cross paths with psychedelic cowboys to sing dusty plains ballads and smoky barroom blues. The album’s soulful dozen are sure to burn into your head and keep you humming long after the record stops.
Whiskey Rain was recorded at Audio Lab Studios in Garden City, ID. The band enlisted Travis Ward from local stomp and holler Junkerdash legends, Hillfolk Noir to engineer and co-produce the album. In addition to his organic and near-low-fi production stamp, Travis can also be heard playing Jaw Harp on the record’s title track.
The Scavengers have spent the last few years carving out a name for themselves as an electrified, 3 piece string band but the recent addition of Florida native, Adam Straubinger on fiddle, has been a welcome one. Straubinger adds precision and texture to Sutton’s signature banjo, guitar and electric resonator slide. A special appearance of drummer Jason Beek (Eilen Jewell) helps take Whisky Rain over the top by providing the backbone for bassist Sam Alkire’s classic thump and steady slap.
You can catch the Scavengers out supporting the album and bringing their brand of high desert twang and swamp blues to the dives and haunts of Idaho and the greater Northwest.