Name Sayers
Joyboys In The Grindhouse
"Where Devin James Fry's sprawling former outfit Salesman offered snapshots of a gently psychedelic Americana that seemed to blur at the edges, Name Sayers snaps into focus, wrapping tight, darkly offbeat pop arrangements around unlikely hooks." Austin dark-art-rockers, Name Sayers make a triumphant return! The album marks a pop evolution for the band, incorporating elements of psychedelic rock, hip hop, synth pop, and cumbia, and featuring guest appearances from guitarist Wayne Kramer of The MC5, Brooklyn rapper Chris Conde, and Orlando rapper E-Turn. The album was produced by Grammy nominee Grant Eppley (Spoon) and mastered by Calbi/Fallone at Sterling Sound. "We made some brutal pop songs," says Fry, "and celebrated everyone's creative input along the way. 'Joyboys' dips in and out of sonic worlds while still being very much a Name Sayers joint." The taut lyrics of 'Joyboys In The Grindhouse' touch on sex, psychonautic tour experiences, self-medication for social anxiety, and the resiliency which can result from sustained political resistance. The album's title nods to both a wry sense of camp that imbues the project and to Fry's hands-on profession as a surgical instrument sharpener. Fully 49 songs were written, demoed, and culled to the 11 that constitute 'Joyboys.' "In making a record, as in sharpening," says Fry, "you grind away what you don't need." Name Sayers has a history of organizing, producing, and promoting successful destination shows, including supporting the Bonnie 'Prince' Billy and Matt Sweeney collaboration, Superwolves, in the towering main chamber of Longhorn Caverns, and the Black Angels' Alex Maas, in the picturesque desolation of a Texas ghost town.