(HUDSON, N.Y.) – Johnny Irion’s roots-rocking outfit, U.S. Elevator, brings its brand-new collection of original tunes to Club Helsinki Hudson on Saturday, September 12, at 9pm. Perhaps best known as one-half of the husband-and-wife folk duo, Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion, Irion taps into his own roots as an alt-country rocker on his band’s upcoming eponymous debut album and comes out with a melodic blend of sounds that marry “Tonight’s the Night”-era Neil Young to the more psychedelic side of the Beatles.
Irion’s voice unmistakably reminds a listener of Neil Young, but a prettier Neil Young – perhaps the musical love child of Young and his one-time singing partner, Graham Nash, with a touch of George Harrison. And some of U.S. Elevator’s group harmonies will remind listeners of Crosby, Stills and Nash, or perhaps the Hollies. A few tunes on the upcoming album have the spiritual vibe of “All Thing Must Pass”-era George Harrison, while others rock hard like Neil Young with his band Crazy Horse.
The Santa Barbara-based band is the brainchild of Johnny Irion, musical partner and husband of Sarah Lee Guthrie. Following Sarah Lee and Johnny’s fifth album together, 2013’s acclaimed “Wassaic Way” (recorded at Wilco’s Loft studio in Chicago, produced by Jeff Tweedy and Patrick Sansone) and two earlier solo albums, Irion assembled U.S. Elevator as the rocking alter-ego to the couple’s eclectic and unbounded folk music.
For reservations in The Restaurant or in the club call 518.828.4800.