Song of the Day: Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers - You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying

James Bailey

Every Monday through Friday, we deliver a different song as part our Song of the Day podcast subscription. This podcast features exclusive KEXP in-studio performances, unreleased songs, and recordings from independent artists that our DJs think you should hear. Each and every Friday we offer songs by local artists. Today’s featured selection, chosen by Afternoon Show host Kevin Cole is “You Only Believe Me When I’m Lying” by Zoe Muth & the Lost High Rollers available on their self-titled, self-released debut.

I don’t consider myself a big country music fan-sure Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline have their space in my music collection, but it was more of a one-off thing rather than a genre that I ever set out to explore. Years of being forced to listen to “new country” at the hands of my father whose simple rule was “When you drive, you get to pick the station.” Needless to say, once I got my license, it was on to grunge (okay, so I dated myself there; let’s move on) and I never looked back. Being exposed to travesties like Travis Tritt and (gasp) Billy Ray Cyrus turned me blind to a rich tradition of music that has veritable roots in much of the music that I listen to today. I will have to admit, that Roots and Americana, and even a little country music is slowly seeping into my iPod and I find myself seeking it out more and more. Today’s song, for example, may have initially raised my shackles, but once I allowed myself to pause, take a deep breath, and actually listen to the music, I found myself really enjoying it and setting it on loop.

Zoe and the Lost High Rollers are part of a close-knit community of musicians who make up and increasingly respected roots, folk, country and Americana scene that has seen bands like The Cave Singers, The Moondoggies, Sera Cahoone, and Neko Case break into the national spotlight. Zoe was recently part of the No Depression music festival as part of the All-Star revue of the Northwest’s best Roots musicians which included Star Anna, Mark Pickerel, Kristen Ward, Sera Cahoone, and members of The Maldives and North Twin. Initially a solo artist, Zoe Murth has compiled a cadre of seasoned musicians in a group that takes its name from a Townes Van Zandt song “No Lonesome Time.” Zoe has been compared to county legend Emmy Lou Harris by Seattle Weekly and finds inspiration in Bob Dylan and Woodie Guthrie when it comes to writing music. Her unhurried lyrics have a strong narrative and are complimented by her lilted and confident voice.

Zoe Muth and crew have a couple of shows coming up including The Maldives CD release party with The Moondoggies at The Tractor Tavern on August 28th. For more info and dates check out their MySpace page. In the meantime, check out a video of them at The Blue Moon playing “If I Can’t Trust You with a Quarter, How Can I Trust You with My Heart?”