River Shook of Mightmare joined Aaron on Live & Local, with their debut album “Cruel Liars” due out Friday and a show next week at Cats Cradle.

River Shook is already a major figure in the local music scene, fronting the alt-country band Sarah Shook & the Disarmers; they made a splash earlier this year with their latest album “Nightroamer.” But during the pandemic, faced with a stack of songs that didn’t quite fit the Disarmers vibe, River decided to launch a second project – and Mightmare was born. (If you’re wondering: the name comes from a typo in someone’s attempt to transcribe the lyrics of a Creedence Clearwater Revival song.)

Learn more about the band at Mightmare.net.

Inspired by indie artists like Elliott Smith, Interpol, and Belle & Sebastian, “Cruel Liars” is almost entirely a solo effort. For on-stage performances, though, Shook recruited Blake Tallent, Ash Lopez, and Ethan Standard; their album release show is Tuesday, October 18, at Cats Cradle Back Room, with the band Shelles opening.

River Shook stopped by 97.9 The Hill on Thursday to chat with Aaron on Live & Local. Listen to their conversation, including the very local inspiration behind one of their songs – plus three tracks off the new album, “Saturn Turns,” “Red,” and “Enemy.”


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