Volk

with The Racing Pulses

Doors 7:00PM / Show 8:00PM

$12 ADV / $15 DOS

Thrash-and-twang duo VOLK set expectations on fire with their explosive brand of cowpunk and glam rock. Small in size yet big in sound, VOLK is Chris Lowe (electric guitar, vocals) and Eleot Reich (drums, lead vocals). Together they kick out the jams with a high-octane show combining politics, poetry, and pageantry. Their upcoming album, Cashville, is their first full-length release and the first to capture the full range of their cinematic style. 

VOLK has come a long way since Reich and Lowe met in Berlin, Germany circa 2013 at a brothel-turned-bar called Madame Claude’s. Lowe taught at an international school; Reich was completing her theater degree; both turned to songwriting as a refuge for creativity. They ran across each other one fateful Sunday at Madame Claude’s open mic night where both were trying out their original songs, Lowe on the slide guitar, Reich belting out the blues. Their initial folksy acoustic collaboration eventually needed more—the songs were calling out for it. They added a drummer for a month, but when he split town, leaving behind a drum set in their apartment, Lowe asked Reich to give the abandoned drums a try in a moment of inspiration. 

They’ve been doing the reverse White Stripes set up ever since. 

While Berlin gave them the freedom to openly experiment and dive into music without pressure in true punk rock fashion, VOLK ultimately realized the city’s EDM/anti-folk music scene no longer felt like home. In 2016 they headed back to the U.S., landed in Nashville, and promptly hit the road. Touring the States gave them the opportunity to soak up every dive bar’s grit and stories along the way. Reich tells of a pivotal moment: “I ran into a Goodwill during one tour, in Augusta, Georgia—the hometown of James Brown—and bought this short blue sequin dress. The moment I put it on and sat down behind the drums that night, it’s like something clicked. From then on we’ve been crystalizing our look, our feel. VOLK wouldn’t have become a band without Berlin. Likewise it needed that next layer of American soil to pump blood into what was until then a partially realized dream

The Racing Pulses

Recognized by fans worldwide and media authorities such as Alternative Press, Paste Music & Daytrotter, and AllMusic, The Racing Pulses have been filling festival grounds and venues since 2012 with their catchy and intelligent rock music. A well-received EP in 2014 and news of electrifying performances rapidly lead to interest from prominent venues and festivals across the United States, including Maxwell’s in New Jersey and Summerfest, the largest music festival in the world. In 2017, The Racing Pulses released their debut album, Nothing to Write Home About, to popular and critical acclaim. It made an impact across North America, peaking at #15 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart, #43 on the Independent albums chart, and #1 on the East North Central chart. Sirius XM’s Underground Garage took notice, with legendary musician and radio host Genya Ravan including the album’s opening track "King or Pawn?” on her program.