Elsinore is a four piece pop-rock band from Champaign, Illinois whose music has been in flux over the past decade. Band leader Ryan Goff explained that the band has “been together, technically, since 2004.”
“We started out a little more acoustic, a little more folk/Americana,” Goff wrote in an email. “But after about two years we collectively realized we wanted to be more electric.”
The change was welcome, and their albums “TALK TALK TALK” and “PUSH/PULL” were warmly received by fans.
Helping the band hone their sound in their latest studio endeavors is Beau Sorenson, a producer known for working with big name bands like Death Cab for Cutie.
“It was, a big shot in the arm for our creative process and overall momentum,” Goff said. “He’s such a great ally for a band like us to have.”
This will be Elsinore’s first time playing in Jackson.Goff expressed his band’s excitement about playing for a college crowd.
“We’re definitely excited to be welcomed into the Union campus this Friday,” he said. “It’s always encouraging to get contacted out of the blue about shows and to have the person be genuinely excited to get us at their venue.”
For Jacob Bullard, the leader and creative force behind Major Murphy, this will be a return to Union University. Bullard played at Barefoots Joe two years ago with his other band, Antrim Dells. His Major Murphy project, however, is quite the departure from Antrim Dells’ hushed folk sound.
The music of Major Murphy ventures into dreamy electric rock and roll and is inspired by an array of genres ranging from “soul music” to indie artists Dirty Projectors and Kurt Vile.
The name Major Murphy comes from the misconception of a friend who believed that “Major Murphy was some kind of figure that was giving me instructions to write the music and record the songs I have been working on…I am just following his instruction,” Bullard said.
Bullard and his Major Murphy crew are excited to return to Barefoots.
“Last time we had Thai food which was awesome, but mostly [we are] excited to play for a receptive audience,” he said.
Major Murphy makes his own homemade pickles and enjoys them for midnight snacking. Elsinore, on the other hand, said barbecue and tacos are the snacks that fuel their careers.
The free show starts at 8 p.m. Sept. 18. Check out both bands on Facebook to discover more of their music.
