Mavis Guitar’s Travis Talbert is a big believer in openers.
“The first song of any given endeavor—be it a record, a live set, a new lineup or just a new frame of mind—is a real treatise on what will follow,” says the Kentucky-based guitarist.
When he isn’t touring and recording with Jeremy Pinnell, Arlo McKinley, Maura Weaver and other artists, Talbert is a longtime member of Frontier Folk Nebraska (“not from Nebraska, not a folk group”). More recently, he’s also taken up with Wussy, Chuck Cleaver’s acclaimed post-Ass Ponys project with Lisa Walker. Initially conceived a decade ago as a tribute to Talbert’s beloved Boston terrier, Mavis Guitar has since evolved into an enduring vehicle for instrumental music shaped by an array of influences. These days, Talbert has been sticking exclusively to pedal steel, augmented by his brother, Wil, on drums and lifelong friend Nick Vogelpohl (Electric Citizen, Wolfmother) on bass.
“First Pitch Strikes” was the first piece of music Talbert wrote for his newly minted power trio.
“We’re building with all of us in mind,” he says. “The end goal is to bliss out for a bit. Hopefully this grabs your attention.”
We’re proud to premiere Mavis Guitar’s “First Pitch Strikes.” Look for the new Pedal Steel Trio LP in April.
—Hobart Rowland
