The Devil Makes Three is a very popular band, and for that reason only you probably won’t find me writing about them much in this space (although they are popular despite the fact that they get little to no press or radio attention in these parts, so I guess I could make the case that they’re unhyped enough for the Blog of Wax). However, their various members are just too talented to be constrained by the output and touring schedule of one band. Pete Bernhard (heard on Ball of Wax 16) has an excellent couple of solo albums, and now Cooper McBean, the somewhat-less-frontmanly of the band’s two guitarists/banjists/singers, has a soloish project of his own, Cooper McBean and the Vested Interests. Their free/pay-what-you-will debut EP is a fine little collection of rough and ready country folk, half instrumental and half with Cooper’s down-home baritone carrying the tunes just beautifully.
Cooper and the boys will be playing tonight at Conor Byrne Pub in Ballard with Old Man Markley and the Whisky Swillers (that’s two different bands). I will be there with a beer in my hand and a smile on my face. Maybe I’ll see you there?