Faraway You

Great article about longtime Xmastime friends Marah:

Live shows were and still are where Marah truly take a chunk out you and leave their mark, though. The brothers Bielanko and their ever-rotating supporting cast are nothing short of incendiary on the right night. The Hold Steady has often been called "The best bar band in America." As someone who has seen both bands at their relative peaks, Marah had them beat for a few years. Bootleg recordings of their shows from the late '90s and the early aughts still stand-up to scrutiny. When they toured in 2004 with Jon Wurster on drums and Mike Slo-mo Brenner on playing slide guitar, they shook buildings off their foundations. Wurster described his experience as one of the most maddening years he ever spent playing music.