Shane Smith & The Saints is playing at Bergenfest Wednesday, 11 of June.
"It ain’t black or white, babe; it’s all the greys between," sings Shane Smith in "The Greys Between", the first single from Norther. On the surface, it’s a love song about the ups and downs of a relationship, but on a deeper level, it becomes a motto for Shane Smith and the Saints, who have spent a decade blurring genre lines.
Norther is anything but one-sided. Written during breaks from touring, the album captures the band at their most colorful, with raw American roots music inspired by country, folk, and rock & roll. After a decade on the road building a loyal fanbase through intense performances, their hard work is paying off with sold-out shows at places like Red Rocks and the Ryman Auditorium, and an appearance on the TV show Yellowstone.
“If you spend years on small stages and talk to fans after every show, they become friends,” says Smith, who started the band in Austin. Norther, named after the cold winter winds in Texas, opens with “Book of Joe,” a song marked by fiddle, guitar, and Smith’s raw baritone. The band combines each member’s musical taste — from Appalachian folk to classic rock — to create a unique sound.
The band gained popularity with albums Coast (2013) and Geronimo (2015), and Hail Mary (2019) introduced a heavier sound that blended rock & roll with country elements. Norther continues this evolution, showcasing the band’s experience from the road. With songs like “1000 Wild Horses” for country fans and “Fire in the Sky” for rock fans, Smith proudly says the album “has a bit of everything.”
As an independent band, the work is never done. “It feels like we’re still being discovered,” says Smith. Norther is the sound of a band expanding its reach and building an ever-growing audience.