Arrows

"Appropriately dusty and well travelled."
- The Listener

"...you can smell the whiskey and dust on every song... true to the spirits of Bob Dylan, Springsteen, Patti Smith & Townes Van Zandt."
- Sunday Star Times

"The Eastern are possessed of a sound which is heartfelt, authentic and infinitely listenable... riddled with what seems to be a mixture of equal parts whimsical old school charm and open-ended sonic expansiveness."
- NZ Musician Magazine

The core of The Eastern is Adam McGrath and Jess Shanks, currently residing in Lyttelton. 'Arrows' is their second full-length album, following their self-titled 2009 debut and a clutch of EPs. The Eastern bring backpacks full of road songs, battered acoustics, banjo, fiddle, foot stomps and heartbreak. They throw down like they mean it, like it's all they know how to do - 'cause they do and it is. Averaging over 200 shows a year, The Eastern can hold it down in all settings for all comers.

Whether swinging the high lonesome sound as a two piece or roaring through the night with their big bad string band, The Eastern care about the show and the people they meet. It don't matter how, but every handclap over every lost chord, they try to fill with hope and guts and sing with their feet firmly kickin' the ground and their voices raised high.

Constantly on tour, The Eastern have played all over NZ and parts beyond: from Gore to Nashville, Shirley to Sydney, they've held it down and treat any opportunity as a chance to plug in a play. They've toured with Steve Earle and The Old Crow Medicine Show as well as opening for Fleetwood Mac, The Jayhawks, Jimmy Barnes and plenty more besides!

Tight on the heel's of a year which would see most bands wilt at the workload, The Eastern are inspired, excited and ready to hit the road with a concise, rockin' record sure to match the expectations of their growing, loyal and supportive audience.

Rolling like a band with nothing to lose and a lifetime of kicks and sadness behind them, Arrows sees the band passionate and ready to put it down on stage after stage after stage for as long as the road may rise...