Shovels and rope might be basic tools, but for husband-and-wife duo Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, it’s the name of their band.
The duo began solo careers prior to joining together and forming Shovels & Rope. The band name stuck after releasing their first album together in 2008, titled Shovels & Rope.
“We didn’t start performing under that name until around two years ago,” Trent said of the title.
The decision to use Shovels & Rope as their moniker “just happened,” Hearst added.
“I will say that upon having to justify it frequently, it does have symbolism,” she said. “Michael and I are minimalists, and we get by on resources that we have at our disposal.”
The band performed at the 8th annual Nelsonville Music Festival in May and will be returning to Nelsonville to play at Stuart’s Opera House, 52 Public Square, on Saturday night.
After performing a couple shows in Nelsonville, Hearst, who resides in Charleston, S.C., said she and Trent have enjoyed coming to Ohio and are glad to be back.
“We have a nice relationship with the people of Nelsonville, specifically from the Nelsonville festival,” she said. “It’s like coming home but to a home base in Ohio.”
The concert was originally a backstage concert but was moved to the theater due to popularity, said Brian Koscho, marketing and promotions coordinator for Stuart’s Opera House.
“Backstage concerts are much smaller shows where 90 people sit on stage with the artists,” Koscho said. “We went through that pretty quickly, so we decided to move them to the theater where a sold-out show can fit 465.”
As of Thursday morning, more than 200 tickets were sold.
Their debut album O’ Be Joyful was released July 31. Songs from the newly-released album will be played at the concert.
Inspiration for the album came from a broad range of subjects, Trent said.
“Sometimes we write songs about personal things that have happened and some are character-based where we make up a story,” he said.
Hearst added that mundane activities can also be a source of inspiration.
“I just got inspiration yesterday jogging on the damn treadmill,” she said. “It didn’t amount to anything, but it occurred to me that inspiration comes from the strangest of places.”
ao007510@ohiou.edu
