Interview: Sarah Shook

Combining powerful vocals, searingly raw lyrics, and tight instrumentation, Sarah Shook & The Disarmers deliver a compelling style of Southern-tinged rock that’s decidedly their own.

Ahead of their Friday, Dec. 17, show at The Grey Eagle, the Raleigh-based singer/songwriter spoke with Asheville Stages about the year that was, delayed album releases, and the saga of finding a new drummer.

Edwin Arnaudin: Being a North Carolina musician, how do you feel Asheville has evolved over the years?

Sarah Shook: Well, when I was first starting to play shows and book shows for my first band [Sarah Shook and the Devil], I remember thinking of Asheville as this sort of Mecca, because we started with nothing. We didn't have an album or merch or anything. We were very much a local band for a long time, so I had it in my head, "At the point that we book a show in Asheville, that means we've made it." [laughs] And, of course, there's a lot of wonderful venues there. The Grey Eagle has a special place in our heart, so we're really excited to be back.

EA: Do you have any favorite memories from past times playing here?

SS: Most of my Asheville memories are from my drinking days, so there aren't a lot of those that are clear. But there are people there that I really care about and love, and I'm looking forward to seeing them.

EA: The Grey Eagle show will be one of your last ones for 2021. What are some of your highlights from the past year?

SS: Man, that's a question. What a weird year! I mean, we played a few shows in the beginning of the year, like spring, early summer, and we were still booking very sparsely. Venues, at that point, hadn't banded together to make COVID policies into this cohesive thing, so there was still a lot of uncertainty and disjointed feelings from show to show. We did a short six day run in August, which was great. But that run was right before venues made the aforementioned COVID protocols, so it was still kind of like the wild west — especially shows in the Midwest and stuff. You just never really knew what you were going to get. 

There was this joy of being back on the road, coupled with this, "Well, I can't meet fans. I can't go to the merch table after the show. I have to be very isolated to make sure I don't get sick so I can get through this tour." And it was weird. I think we had maybe one or two shows in September, and then October, we did an almost month-long run.

It's been really odd. I feel like people kind of forgot how to go to shows. [laughs] It was funny. I mean, no complaints. It wasn't bad, but it was really odd. The first few shows we played, we'd finish a song and sometimes people would clap and be really excited, and sometimes they just kind of stood there, looking very excited for the next song, but not really doing anything. So, it's been an adjustment for all of us, on the fan side and on the performer side. 

EA: Has it been weird looking out into the crowd and seeing everyone in masks? Does that detract from the experience?

SS: I definitely feel a lot more comfortable knowing that most venues are requiring vaccines or proof of negative test. It's a huge bummer to me that so many people are taking this as a personal affront to their freedom, because they're being told that it is. At the end of the day, it's a public health emergency and, to me, in my estimation, if getting vaccinated is an infringement on my personal rights, I'll gladly do that if it means my neighbor's grandmother is going to live to see another day.

It's definitely different. If we're in a space where a lot of people are around, if we're loading in and there's people around, we'll wear masks. And it's definitely different to look out into the crowd and see masks. That's not something that two or three years ago I would have imagined would be happening. But I wouldn't say that it's had any sort of huge impact, per se, and usually it's pretty dark out there and kind of hard to see faces. [laughs] 

EA: It’s been kind of nice in some instances. The Orange Peel is often a place where people talk a lot during the show and are more there to be seen than to see a show. But with them requiring masks, it’s hard to talk, so people are actually paying attention to the music. It’s been great!

SS: [laughs] That’s amazing.

EA: Also with it being the end of the year, music writers like me are getting our Best of 2021 lists together. What are some of your favorite albums or songs from this year?

SS: That’s a really good question. I would have to think about that and get back to you. I consume music in a pretty odd fashion. [laughs] I wasn't allowed to listen to music as a kid and a teenager, so I feel like I'm constantly playing catchup. So, whereas all of my peers are like, "Oh, did you hear the newest so-and-so?" It's like, "No, I haven't even heard the first one.” [laughs]

EA: [laughs] No worries! I get curious about that stuff — it seems like some musicians are listening to albums all the time and others stay busy with other things. 

SS: Yeah, for sure. I follow The Black Angels pretty closely. They're in the top five favorites for sure. And I've heard rumors of a new album coming, but I'm not sure exactly when, so that is definitely a new album I'll be keeping my eyes out for.

Photo by Chad Cochran

EA: And with Nightroamer [out Feb. 18], you’ve got a strong candidate for Best of 2022 lists. What’s it been like sitting on this album for almost two years?

SS: It’s been pretty surreal, honestly. I think it was early, right around the time that we put Years out…it was maybe a month later that I messaged the band and was like, "All right, we gotta start planning the next. We gotta stay ahead of this." It's so easy to get caught up in touring, especially if you're on the road 150 days a year.

Getting into the studio and making that record was just so validating and it was the culmination of so much hard work on everybody's part. And then, you know, 10 days after we got back from making the record, everything shut down. I remember being in the studio and reading about the first reported [COVID] cases and I was just like, "Damn, they're going to have to cancel South by Southwest. If this thing is as transmissible as they're saying it is, then a lot of shit going to close." 

From a business point of view, there really is no point in releasing an album if you can't tour to support it. So, the logic of it I certainly agree with, but emotionally, it's been really weird. Usually when I'm putting out a record, it's something that I feel really connected to. I still definitely feel connected to Nightroamer. The only difference being just this enormous amount of time that has passed since we recorded it.

EA: And over that time, have any of the songs taken on new meanings for you?

SS: I wouldn't say new meanings, but I would definitely say that some of them have popped into my head to serve as a sort of reminder, which is interesting. The first track, "Somebody Else," is about patterns of abuse and how abusers work — how their brain works, how they use their charm and their wiles to manipulate you. And if it's not you, it doesn't matter. They're always going to be looking until they find somebody to do this to. That's the cycle. I actually just ended a very short friendship. It wasn't very long — there were a lot of red flags, but it was the same kind of situation where I was aware that my boundaries were being crossed and I was being manipulated and I wasn't really sure how to handle it for a little bit. And then I was just like, "Dude, you've been through this before. You know how to deal with this!” [laughs] You say goodbye and you move on, and it's final boundary time.

EA: Also over that time, you’ve added Jack Foster on drums. What about him stood out to you and your bandmates and made you feel like he’d be a great addition?

SS: That is actually a great story. We auditioned Jack when our last drummer Kevin [McClain] left, and he drove all the way from Nashville to Chapel Hill to audition. And I was so impressed with him as a player and as a person — his entire vibe. I went home and said to my partner, "This is the guy we're supposed to be playing with.” That's how I phrased it.

And then logistically, things came up that prevented him from playing with us. And I was like, "Man, usually those gut instincts are spot on." And then, some time passes and we had a drummer for...[laughs] This poor guy played literally a show with us March 13th in Greenville, South Carolina. And then it was just like, "Well, see in a year or two. Obviously, if an opportunity comes up, take it." So, the stars aligned and we actually went out to Nashville this time to audition drummers and Jack was there again in the mix and it was just unanimous. 

EA: Sounds like it’s been pretty seamless working him into the band.

SS: He’s such a good, level-headed dude. And we all have the same work ethic where we're responsible for our own shit, but if we see a bandmate in need of a hand, you help. And everybody helps load in, everybody helps load out until it's done. It's not this selfish, begrudging, piecemeal thing. It's a group effort. I know that it seems like a small detail, but I feel that that really sets the tone for the vibe of the band family.

EA: Glad to hear that! Well, now that he’s aboard, even though y’all have been busy playing a good amount of shows, have you had a chance to all sit down and work on new songs with the current lineup?

SS: Not yet. And I'm really looking forward to that. We had Will Rigby on drums for Nightroamer and I'm really excited to have a practice at some point where we're working up some new material for the next record.

EA: I’ll be excited to hear that, too. Well, to close things out, I’ve got a dumb question, so please indulge me: Are you familiar with the actress Sarah Snook on the HBO show Succession?

SS: I am not. I don't watch a lot of TV. [laughs]

EA: No worries! Since you two have only one letter different in your names, I was just curious if there were any funny stories about getting mixed up or some search engine horror stories — things like that.

SS: [laughs] There was actually a coder on Twitter, and her and I have had some funny instances of people mistaking us for the other — which is, you know, somebody asking her about some show or asking me about some coding thing. I'm like, "Oh, man. Wrong person." [laughs] 

IF YOU GO

Who: Sarah Shook & The Disarmers with Bex and The Maggie Valley Band
When: Friday, Dec. 17, 9 p.m.
Where: The Grey Eagle, 185 Clingman Ave., thegreyeagle.com
Tickets: $15

(Photo by Harvey Robinson)