In Athens, Georgia, the future can look a lot like the past. Often not too many changes down that way and Futurebirds certainly don’t mind. Some folks think good music comes from making a whole bunch of sounds no one’s ever heard before. Some folks think that you can sit back and take her easy for a little while without trying too damn hard. Some folks think you can have a little of both. If you push yourself every once in awhile, you might wind up in the right place around the right friends and come up with something worth playing on the porch-swing over an ice- cold beer. That’s exactly Futurebirds’ situation. Surrounded by a sleepy-living music community—more earnest than you’ll find elsewhere—the band works to set things right where they belong. Provide people with an infectious melody and a refreshing song about things they understand and they’ll sing with you.

Last spring saw the release of their eponymous EP, a euphoric backwoods sing- a-long that made the six guys in Futurebirds a lot of choir buddies. After only a short, hazy lifespan, the band signed with Autumn Tone Records. In January, the band recorded at Athens’ own Chase Park Transduction under the supervision of Drew Vandenburg. Hampton’s Lullaby sees Futurebirds harnessing the youthful exuberance of the EP to fashion songs of a grander scale. Listening to the full- length, one hears a band that finds faith in Flying Burrito Brothers and The Band. The group’s psychedelic fare is highlighted by ragged Stanley Brothers-styled harmonies, moonshining guitar work, and pedal steel playing which would impress the likes of Ralph Mooney.

On the heels of their extremely promising debut, this collection of hellions has spent the past months caravanning across the United States with friends and fellow Athens natives, Dead Confederate. In November, Futurebirds embarked on the Double Down Tour across the southeast and midwest with Jonny Corndawg.

Catch the Futurebirds (if you can) at the Filling Station on Wednesday Feb 29th. This is a Compound Production show. Tix at Cactus Records.