It seems like everywhere we went before and after Those Darlins' homecoming at Mercy Lounge last Friday (more words on that shortly), we talked to someone who heard from a friend of a friend that it might be their last show together. The rumors are at least partly true: Per a statement posted to the band's Facebook profile and screen-capped above, Jessi Wariner, Nikki Kvarnes and Linwood Regensberg will be taking an indefinite hiatus following a run of shows in January.
"We've had a really great run together, but the time has come for us to move in different directions," says the band. "Wherever we are, we'll be out there doing something. Love Love Love to all you crazy awesome people who stuck with us so long."
The two-week tour covers most of the Eastern U.S., beginning Jan. 15 in Chattanooga and circling back to end Jan. 29 at The Basement East. Before they say their goodbyes, they've got one more parting gift for fans: a studio version of one of their live staples, a cover of Divine's "Female Trouble." After the jump, hear that and read a little reflection by yours truly about the impact Those Darlins have made on local rock 'n' roll.
Well, this is bittersweet. On the one hand, one of the bedrock acts of the local rock scene will be gone. But on the other, this is one more step in the constant evolution to which they owe their success. The original trio, born out of the friendship between one of the founders of the Southern Girls' Rock 'n' Roll Camp, a volunteer and a former camper, was already on its second iteration (having traded the clogging shoes and Carter Family covers for Sheriff Linwood and his swinging rockabilly drums) by the time they began to get positive national press. Think about that for a second — six years ago, a national media outlet like Rolling Stone writing about a Middle Tennessee rock band was unusual enough to warrant a blog post, and now they're among national publications with a branch office here.
The Darlins took their time building up their act and their original songs, ensuring that they were ready and able to put on the show they wanted to put on, even though that changed dramatically over time. With help from their management company, they established their own label, Oh Wow Dang, before releasing their first record. Calling their own shots has helped them take the ebb and flow of "It" in their stride and stay a strong, surprising band for almost a decade.
Through lineup shifts that included covering for broken bones and SGRRC co-founder and founding Darlin Kelley Anderson leaving the band, they've played a vital and visible role in shaping the dynamic of the rock scene we love so much, participating directly and indirectly in making it more welcoming for a diverse group of people. It's still harrowing to be a female artist, but that unfair burden gets the headline attention it deserves like never before.
So as we raise a glass to Those Darlins that were and future projects yet to come, let's remember the good times. Like when they brought a giant chicken piñata to Mercy Lounge. Or that time Screws Get Loose beat out a Radiohead album in indie record store sales. Or maybe those couple of days their bare asses caused a stir on Eighth Avenue — anytime you're ruffling feathers among Fox 17's Web commenters, you're doing something right. Or that time they brought in a group of ringers to help them blast "That Man" in our office. Bon voyage, Darlins!
