Folklore Starts Fresh

An veteran of the Athens scene brings his music up north.

by Katherine Silkaitis

Since moving to Philadelphia a couple months ago, fate has been on Jimmy Hughes’ side. Leaving his old bands Elf Power and Folklore behind in Athens, Ga., Hughes decided he wanted to pursue the latter in Philly­—even if that meant recruiting a whole new band.

“I somehow managed to form a giant band before I even found a job,” Hughes says with a laugh.

Coming in at 11 members, Folklore is is an amalgam of instruments and experiences. Members of local bands like Hermit Thrushes, Ape School and Snow Caps are featured, and play everything from bass clarinet to viola.

As the Philly incarnation of Folklore gears up for its inaugural show on Sunday, the band is also promoting its latest album, Carpenter’s Falls, which Hughes says didn’t have a proper release because he was moving and touring while the album came out.

It’s a lush, epic album with storylines, plots and climaxes. With pronounced experimental and folk influences, the aptly-named band is more akin to the dense psychedelia of Olivia Tremor Control than the indie pop of Elf Power.

“I started the band to write songs, but also to write fiction. The songs would be this collection of stories that go together, rather than just a bunch of random songs on an album,” Hughes explains.

Like the Kinks’ Village Green, Folklore make concept albums. “When I write an album, I know before we even record what the order of the songs will be—it matters based on the story. Maybe doing nothing but concept albums is not the greatest idea, but I don’t really care because that’s what I want to do,” Hughes says with a laugh. “That’s what I’m inspired to write. I’d rather write that than a bunch of songs about ex- girlfriends.”