1 of 2
The Features
The Features
2 of 2
The Features - "Whatever Gets You Buy/Drawing Board"
So many monumental events have occurred in Chattanooga this year—from new venues and surprise concert announcements to good times with amazing friends—that it’s hard to say farewell. But even if all good things must come to an end, you can still send off 2011 right by checking out one of the year’s hottest live acts, The Features, who are set to rock the roof off The Honest Pint on New Year’s Eve.
The Nashville-based Features—featuring Matthew Pelham, Roger Dabbs, Mark Bond and Rollum Haas—are originally from Sparta and began playing music together in middle school. What began as a fun project between friends has evolved into something much larger. During their high school days, the band upgraded to playing shows around Murfreesboro and Nashville, bringing the them increased attention.
College split the members between Murfreesboro and Cookeville, but they came together to play shows and soon became a staple on the Nashville indie scene. The Features eventually locked down a record deal with Spongebath Records in 1998. Spongebath was host to many notable acts in the Nashville area at that time, including Self, Fluid Ounces, Count Bass D and The Katies.
Although this was a high point in The Features’ budding career, real success didn’t come until 2004 when Universal helped them release their first album, Exhibit A. The album gained the band a larger following, particularly in the U.K., and won over critics on both sides of the pond. Following the band’s 2009 Bonnaroo performance, praise came from all over.
The Features have opened for bands such as Kings of Leon and Manchester Orchestra. In 2009, the Kings launched their own label, Serpents and Snakes, and signed the band, describing them as “the best undiscovered band around.” To date, The Features have released two albums on the imprint, 2009’s Some Kind of Salvation, and its latest release, Wilderness. The band also contributed an outtake from the Wilderness sessions, “From Now On,” to the soundtrack of Twilight: Breaking Dawn.
Wilderness has received glowing reviews from the likes of Spin and Paste. In its review, the Nashville Scene said the band had offered up an album “that will at best finally prove to be their long-awaited and much deserved international, top-tier breakthrough. At worst it’s just one of the best damn rock ‘n’ roll albums you’ll hear all year.”
With that kind of endorsement, I recommend you check it out before the show—and don’t miss The Features as they rock in New Year’s Eve with local favorites, The Bohannons, at The Pint. It’s a great event to close out a very good year and a welcome sign of good things to come in 2012.
The Features with The Bohannons
$10 • 11 p.m. Dec. 31
The Honest Pint 35 Patten Pkwy.
(423) 468-4192 thehonestpint.com