Initially the solo project of singer/songwriter Jessica Larrabee, she recruited producer Andy LaPlant in 2006 to help record her songs and he eventually came aboard full-time as the band's drummer. Their debut LP, Minisink Hotel, arrived later that year and was met with a positive reception, drawing comparisons to artists like Cat Power, PJ Harvey, Patti Smith, and inevitably the White Stripes for their stripped-down guitar-and-drums setup. LaPlant's distinctive, atmospheric production lent itself well to Larrabee's soulful delivery and strong attitude. An EP followed in 2007, and in 2008 they issued their follow-up album, Nests. Now reaching a wider audience, the band hooked up with British indie Names Records for a 2009 EP and U.K. release of Nests, which they supported with a European tour. In keeping with their D.I.Y. aesthetic, they continued to release their music independently back in the U.S., delivering their 2011 LP, Dig On, followed by their second 7" single release a year later. Shifting their focus more toward their folk roots, Larrabee and LaPlant brought in producer Nicolas Vernhes (Spoon, Dirty Projectors, Deerhunter) to help make their fourth album, 2014's Eight Houses, which was released on L.A. indie Future Gods Records. ~ Timothy Monger