Prize Wolf
A soundtrack for drunken laments, Prize Wolf’s aesthetic of down tempo acoustic guitar based broken folk with keyboard embellishments. Every song is for the post-break-up spree of binge drinking and subsequent hangovers: full of heartache and vocal harmonies. And though the lonely man crying out may voice these tunes, each song is a group collaboration between Michael Cane, Zach Biri, Brandon Robertson, and Logan Epps often layering three voices to amplify the Prize Wolf’s howl.
Depending on how much liquor is in the boys’ systems, performances can range from low-key subdued acoustic shows to high energy sets that arrest the attention of anyone within a 100 foot radius. A full ensemble show features Chicago transplant Michael Cane on guitar and vocals, with both Zach Biri and Brandon Robertson alternating between guitar and keyboard but both providing vocals as well, all accented by Logan Epps rhythms.
The quartet formed after the dissolution of another band all four had played in at one time or another in 2007. Initially, it was just a project between Robertson and Cane but later Biri joined and brought Epps on as a drummer. Due to the plethora of “wolf” bands in existence the band briefly switched to Palisades, before eventually changing it back to Prize Wolf because of the wealth of bands named Palisades.
Someone once said their band “mixes in some Lips-like warped samples and subtle organ work to separate it from flat, hippie, folk music. This material surprises me the most with its mix of warbly folk and alt-country that actually sounds fresh.” (via Living In Misery)
Prize Wolf’s sound reflects the complexities of human interactions and difficulties of existence from the voice of a restless soul crying out from the bottom of your empty bottle.
The band is working (slowly, as bands separated by so many miles must) on their debut album Status Post, but many recordings can be found at band member Zach Biri’s audio archives, as well as on the Yards & Gods Compilations.