By DAN ARMONAITIS
Sarah Shook has a reputation as a bit of a badass, and it’s a label that the North Carolina-based singer-songwriter warmly embraces.
“By my estimation, nothing is more badass than having compassion for others,” Shook said. “And assuming that assessment is true, then, yes, I got badass in spades.”
Shook, who will perform with her backing unit The Disarmers on Friday, March 13 at The Radio Room in Greenville, burst onto the alt-country scene in early 2017 when the group’s debut album, “Sidelong,” from two years earlier, was re-released by Bloodshot Records to rave reviews.
Combining twangy cowpunk instrumentation with lyrics full of brutal honesty and sly wit, Shook and The Disarmers followed their debut album with another stellar effort, “Years,” in 2018. And the band recently spent 12 days in Los Angeles tracking several new songs, which, as Shook put it, “Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise,” will result in a new album out later this year.
The Disarmers feature Eric Peterson on guitar, Phil Sullivan on pedal steel and Aaron Olivia on bass, along with newest member, Kyle Duppstadt, on drums.
“These dudes make my songs come to life … like total magic,” Shook said.
As for her lyrics, which are often scathing but also clever and hysterically funny, Shook said, “I think you’re either born a smartass or you ain’t, somehow I got the gene.”
Shook, who was born in Rochester, N.Y. and moved around a lot as a child, started writing songs when she was 9 years old and began playing shows when she was 21.
“Started my first band at 25, always worked days jobs, never had any interest whatsoever in music being my job,” Shook said of her career trajectory. “Music was fun. Practices and shows were ways to blow off steam and drink with friends. I didn’t want that to change.
“And then my longtime guitarist, Eric Peterson, said he wanted more than what we were doing — (that he) wanted to actually try to make something of our band. So we put out a record, made some merch, got a couple music vids circulating and, next thing we know, we’re signed to Bloodshot, putting out a second record and touring internationally 150 days a year.”
With accolades continuing to roll in and numerous sold-out club dates under her belt, Shook has begun to get used to the idea of being somewhat of a star.
“We’re playing venues I never dreamed of, and here I am introverted (and) sort of watching it like an out-of-body experience,” Shook said. “I still don’t know if it’s something I want to pursue professionally; it just sort of happened and now it’s my job.”
Being associated with Bloodshot Records, a Chicago-based label that’s had an impressive roster over the past quarter-century, is something Shook takes in stride.
“I’m not big into the industry sort of who’s-who-who-do-you-know celebrity crap. I ain’t starstruck,” Shook said. “To me, what’s important is that when (Bloodshot) started courting us, they told us they were a small label and very much like a family. And that’s true, they’re family. And that I love.”
Unlike many female artists who draw particular inspiration from other women musicians, Shook considers herself fairly gender-neutral when it comes to her influences. That said, there are at least a handful of female-driven contemporary artists she admires.
“I always appreciate the chance to tell people to listen to Mariel Buckley, She Returns From War, Kelsey Waldon, Nanami Ozone and True Widow,” Shook said.
One of the many places Shook lived while growing up was North Carolina. She returned to the Tar Heel State 15 years ago and has called it home ever since.
“Chatham County, North Carolina, was the first place I got to choose to live and choose to put down roots,” she said. “This area is currently being developed at an insane rate, but if I have my way I’ll be tucked away in some house in the woods of Chatham for years to come.”
For now, she’s just looking forward to the show on Friday, March 13 at The Radio Room, which also includes Bloodshot labelmates The Yawpers as the opening act.
“You don’t gotta be a country music fan or a rock ‘n’ roll fan,” Shook said. “If you’re a fan of good music and good people, you’re gonna have a good time this Friday night with us.”
The show isn’t the first time Shook has played The Radio Room. In promotion of a gig at the venue in Aug. 2018, she and her band also gave an in-store performance at Horizon Records in Greenville.
“Playing in-stores as a five piece band is usually its own set of challenges,” Shook said. “Barely any room to move on stage, no stage lighting or ambience to soften whatever is squawking out of a patched together P.A. and speakers, almost never any monitors, i.e. ability to hear ourselves and each other as we play. But it’s effing important so we do it.
“The in-store at Horizon was my favorite we’ve ever done, best in-store audience we’ve ever had, just the best all around. We only played a handful of songs but I felt like everybody in the room was holding their breath together, the Disarmers included. True magic.”