A darkly honest and wry singer/songwriter out of Charleston, South Carolina, Don Merckle’s tunes have one foot in the foot-stompin’ Celtic punk of The Pogues and Dropkick Murphy’s and another firmly planted in the alt-country tradition popularized by Uncle Tupelo, Whiskeytown, and the Drive-by Truckers, capable of both rock and roll growl and smoky barroom introspection. In the past, he’s led the popular Appalachian/Irish-indebted outfit Loch Ness Johnny as well as co-fronted the rambunctious alt-country leaning American Gun, and between the two bands he’s served as an opening act for Drivin’ N Cryin’, Lucero, Shooter Jennings, The Avett Brothers, and Cracker. His latest backing band, The Blacksmiths, deftly mix the disparate approaches of his previous acts into a sound and feel that ably captures the ineffable blend of roots music and rock and roll at the heart of Merckle’s songs.
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