Roo & The Howl

They are a funny thing, Roos. Some would say like buses. Why? Because I somehow managed to go 26 years without knowing about a single one (except the one from Winnie The Pooh, who is disqualified for being a drawing) and now two have come along in the space of as many weeks. Firstly, we had the folk-pop of singer/model (yes, it’s a thing) Roo Panes, who releases his breathtaking new EP in early December. Secondly, let us introduce to you Roo & The Howl.

Not technically a Roo from birth – it is the project of Colorado singer Bekah Wagner – the latter Roo have just unveiled the video for their gorgeous new single, ‘To The River’. The track, which is Roo & The Howl’s debut single, is a dark yet floaty slice of tender folk-pop that possesses some wonderfully subtle melodic hooks and inch-perfect instrumentation.

Needless to say, we’re sold. There isn’t much more to share at the moment unfortunately, so for now just press play and forget about things for a few minutes.

Watch ‘To The River’ below, and give Roo & The Howl some love over here. - When The Gramophone Rings

Roo & The Howl, fronted by Colorado artist Bekah Wagner, released their first EP in 2012 that led to extensive touring and even a solid Daytrotter session. Now they're working on their debut full length release that will be out early this year.
They recently covered a Jim James song in a takeaway-style video shot in an old piano warehouse. - Colorado Public Radio OpenAir

Colorado-based singer Bekah Wagner makes music under the name Roo & the Howl, a moniker composed of opposites that the first few songs from Wagner seem to support. Roo is an ancient English word for quiet, and contrasting the loud and soft ends of the spectrum works well for the singer who merges the deafening frustrations of the past with a quiet fortitude. Wagner is working on her debut album, which will be released sometime in early 2014 and just finished a stint of shows, and even opened for local Seattle indie act Ivan and Alyosha when they came through Denver. - Pigeons and Planes

The Colorado music at SXSW train keeps a rollin’! Download a track from Roo & The Howl, who will be playing the official SXSW showcase as well as the Colorado Music Party.

When Roo & The Howl singer-songwriter Bekah Wagner was but a wee tike, her family would call her Bekah Roo, which she has resurrected for her band name. But the band bio is quick to point out that “roo” is also Old English for “quiet,” striking a contrast with “howl” that is telling of the tensions in Roo & The Howl music. As in, the music is a quiet howl.

This tension, however, is only one aspect of the contrasts at work in Roo & The Howl’s music. For one, sometimes being quiet is a lot more intense than being loud. For instance, think of moments in movies where the antagonist whispers into the protagonists ear. That triggers a different, yet no less vivid and powerful, emotional response than screaming. Bekah Wagner’s voice on the band’s debut EP is often just above a whisper, and the intimacy combined with depth of emotions is much more intense than if she belted it out.

The other obvious contrast in the music is the stark beauty of Wagner’s voice. It’s lush and vulnerable without being precious. And she uses this loveliness to convey sorrow. Not boo-hoo, poor me in a sad bastardy kind of way, but a kind of sadness where you want to dwell in it. It’s the kind of melancholy that inspired Kurt Cobain to sing “I miss the comfort in being sad.”

All this quiet intensity and beautiful sorrow is rounded out with folk-inspired Americana rock band that avoids novelty while breathing new life into a well-tread sound. Download the band’s single “To the River” below, but also check out a killer cover of Father John Misty’s “Fun Times in Babylon.”

Roo & The Howl are playing five shows in Austin for SXSW, including the Colorado Music Party at 1:25pm on March 14. - Hey Reverb

Also heading down to SXSW 2014 are Denver’s Little Fyodor, Primitive Man and Roo & the Howl. These Colorado acts will join Phantogram, Action Bronson, Small Black, Angel Olsen and more. - Reverb

Musician Bekah Wagner is probably soon to be better known as the eponymous “Roo” of Colorado act Roo and the Howl. Per the band’s press kit: “The word ‘roo’ derives itself from the Old English word for ‘quiet.’” It’s an apt description, as the band’s music has a softly haunting aspect to it. Yet, “howl” is equally as applicable. On their most recent cut, “Love Lost,” you can hear a quiet power behind the sweetly-sung melodies.

Roo and the Howl is currently on their first big tour, and they play the Record Bar in Kansas City this Thursday, August 29, opening for Akkiles and La Guerre. Wagner was kind enough to answer some questions via e-mail about the band’s tour, as well as their upcoming LP.

You started out performing as a solo artist. What do you find playing as a band, under a name other than your own, given one, offers?

Well, it’s kind of fun to have a different name. It allows you to push your music in new directions and explore new themes without it being tied so heavily to a single person. With that said, to me, ‘Roo’ is just as much my name as my real name. And I enjoy the team effort.

Do you find there’s less up-front judgment than if you were perceived as a singer-songwriter (ridiculous and vague as that term is)?

I have been on the road with just me and my guitar, it’s a totally different experience and expectation. In some ways I love the simplicity of that. People hide behind instrumentation and when you sing with just a guitar, the songs either stand or they don’t. It can be brutal though. There’s nothing more humbling than playing in a coffee shop and realizing you’re just the background noise for the evening. It’s probably a good thing for every artist to experience as it makes it so much sweeter when you have even a handful people truly listening to your music and engaging with you.

I’m not familiar with your work as Bekah Wagner, but it seems that many acts change their name from the such-and-such band to something more proper in order to reflect what the rest of the band brings to the table. Is that the case with the Howl?

I played with musicians in the past, but the music we are playing now is much different. The fact that I’ve moved to playing electric in a few songs is a big shift and really changes the sound. I wanted the name to reflect me … to be personal. But it does reflect the style we are playing and the fellas that are in this with me.

Your latest song, the demo of “Love Lost,” features some lovely guitar work — it sounds almost Soweto. It’s a bit different from the other songs of yours, in that it’s more upbeat and less wistful, too. Is there anything behind that?

Well I just had to google Soweto, so I’m not sure if it sounds similar or not. It is a slight venture, we like lots of different sounds and have many influences that then spill out in our playing.

Is this the group’s first major tour? If so, what do you expect from it?

Yes, yes. We are having a grand time. We love playing our tunes and meeting good people. Lots more touring on the horizon. I’m sure each member of the band has different expectations, but for me it’s a chance to meld as a band and really develop our sound. There’s something about playing night after night after night that grows a band into something more than the sum of its parts.

Do you consider this a chance to test out material you’re considering for your next album, or is that already in the can?

Most of the stuff people hear this tour will be on the album. But a lot of what we will record I am saving for the record, before we play it out. Gotta have some surprises right?

What’s in store for that debut full-length?

Ohhhhh, good things. We are recording it all live as a band. It’s a good challenge for us. I love simplicity and spontaneity. It’ll be out in the spring.

Is there anything you’d suggest people who’ve not heard of Roo and the Howl know about you or the band?

If you want to know anything about us, listen to our music … come to a show, I think that tells the story.

You can find more information about Roo and the Howl at the band’s website.
- Nut House Punks

The voice you hear is from Bekah Wagner. "Roo" finds its origins from the Old English word for quiet; "howl," well, is anything but. Put 'em together, and you have a force from Colorado led by Wagner. - Speakers in Code

At the end of August, Roo & The Howl took the Midwest by storm with a two week tour, including a date with Kopecky Family Band (who we caught up with earlier this year), a Daytrotter Session in Rock Island, Illinois, and a Vinyl Me, Please-sponsored show at the Elbo Room here in Chicago. We grabbed a beer with Bekah before the gig to chat about her creative process and the meaning behind the band name. - A Beer With The Band

Just going to give you some advance warning before you push play below on Roo & The Howl’s ‘To The River’: you’re about to fall in love with the smokey, sweet voice of Bekah Wagner. And then you’re going to immediately grow impatient for the debut album that’s due out in early 2014. Sorry for doing that to you. - Songs For the Day

While Tillman’s take includes plenty of backing organ, plinking piano and even choral harmonies, Roo & the Howl strip the song down to just vocals and quietly strummed guitar. There’s no building drums or rhythm, just Wagner’s quiet alto. She scrapes the top of her range to hit the high notes, and that plaintive effort just adds to the song’s fragility. Roo & the Howl’s version turns the track into a dainty dirge and it floats along like smoke on the wind. - Pigeons and Planes

I’m an absolute sucker for folk. I listen to almost anything folky sent my way. So when I heard Roo & The Howl’s To The River, I knew I was in for a folkin’ awesome treat. Take a listen, and go give them some love on Twitter, they’re pretty awesome! - IndieXMusic