Hail Hail

We say

After two sold-out shows at the Slaughtered Lamb in March, Charleston super-couple Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent - aka Shovels & Rope - celebrated the UK release of their album O' Be Joyful last week by returning to London and blowing the roof off Dingwalls. Mariachi-inflected boot-stomper Hail Hail goes to radio on May 20. White Stripes comparisons are inevitable and not undeserved - Shovels & Rope are a boy/girl duo making waves with American roots-rock after all, with Jack White endorsement to boot - but we think their 'sloppy tonk' sound owes more to Loretta and Dolly than Jack and Meg. America is falling for them, not least David Letterman, as is the UK press - Mojo, Q, Uncut and even the Mirror all piling on the plaudits. Only the Guardian broke ranks, inexplicably denouncing them as 'authenticity fascists', which is a little like accusing Johnny and June of borrowing too heavily from the Carter Family. Make no mistake: Shovels & Rope are the real deal.

Contact

Label: Renata Chagrin, Decca - +44 (0)20 7149 1052
Press / Online: Jakub Blackman, Big Mouth Publicity - +44 (0)20 3189 4606
Radio / TV: Sarah Bates, Decca - +44 (0)20 7149 1047
Live: Paul Boswell, Free Trade Agency - +44 (0)20 7655 6900
Management: Paul Bannister, Electric Lady Management - +1 317 850 8566