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The “deadstrings” are on tour in Ireland in late Feb - Dates are:

Friday 25th February 2005: The Lobby, Cork
Saturday 26th February 2005: Cuba, Galway
Monday 28th February 2005: Whelan's, Dublin

From MOJO MAGAZINE:
“The real joy of the Deadstring Brothers is that they don't do what you expect them to do. For a start, they're from Detroit, but sound like neither the MC5 nor The White Stripes, no working-class bite or minimalist pride here. Instead the band's sound is rooted in country - The Jayhawks perhaps, or the twang of a gentle Rolling Stones - but even this is not without surprises. There is an urban edge, a whip across concrete in freezing winter. An idiot wind, if you like, with vocalist Kurt Marschke recalling an angry Bob Dylan in tones that suggest a denim jacketed Lyle Lovett. This is real steel, and plenty else too. A fine album from a band who sit uncomfortable and warm."

It may be a surprise to hear the wistful Americana sounds of the Deadstring Brothers coming from a city better known for loud rock but disillusionment can take many channels. Desolation, frustration and regret have always been present where great music was played, and from its bombed-out inner city to its sterile suburbs, Detroit has its share.

Deadstring Brothers began as two-piece in fall 2001 when singer / guitarist Kurt Marschke met pedal steel player Peter Ballard while doing session work. Discovering their mutual love of old country music, the duo began playing covers at any local dive that would have them. After they began writing rootsy original songs, they expanded the line-up to include the organ / electric piano of Aric Karpinski, and the rhythm section William King (drums) and Philip Skarich (bass).

Not unlike Exile-era Stones, The Deadstring Brothers deliver a menacing sound that draws equally on the melancholy of country ballads and the abandon of rock and blues. The band’s music is deeply rooted in the storytelling and instrumental traditions of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and the “Outlaw Movement”, but is also informed by the song structure and understated aggression commonly associated with Detroit bands.

Their haunting melodies reveal the influences of early 70s rock icons like Gram Parsons and The Band (“The Long Black Veil”, a song made famous by the Band closes this album), while Marschke’s vocals betray the more modern influence of outré singer / songwriters like Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen or Nick Cave.

Deadstring Brothers: Country Toughs from the Motor City

It may be a surprise to hear the wistful Americana sounds of Detroit's Deadstring Brothers coming from a city better known for loud rock, but disillusionment can take many channels. Desolation, frustration and regret
have always been present where great country music was played, and from its bombed-out inner city to its sterile suburbs, Detroit has its share.

Deadstring Brothers began as a two-piece in fall 2001. Since then, the Deadstring Brothers have worked to develop their own take on Americana, drawing influences from a variety of sources. "It's all in there somehow," declares Marschke, "but blues and country music just feel the most natural."

Not unlike Exile-era Stones, the Deadstring Brothers deliver a menacing sound that draws equally on the melancholy of country ballads and the abandon of rock and blues. The band's music is deeply rooted in the
storytelling and instrumental traditions of Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and the "Outlaw Movement," but is also informed by the song structure and understated aggression commonly associated with Detroit bands. Their haunting melodies reveal the influence of early '70s rock icons like The Band and Gram Parsons, while Marschke's vocals betray the more modern influence of outré singer/songwriters like Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen, and Nick Cave. Deadstring Brothers' live performances have the energy of lo-fi guitar rock, but sophisticated arrangements keep them from being "just another Detroit band."

In their hometown, the Deadstring Brothers have shared the stage with acts ranging from Cat Power and Eleni Mandell to Jesse Malin, the Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash and Jesse Sykes. In March of 2003, the quintet was invited for a second time to play the prestigious SXSW music conference in Austin, Texas. Future plans include a series of tours scheduled for the fall in support of their upcoming self-titled release.