Shovels And Rope: Country Rock Duo With Local Ties On Letterman Tonight

January 30, 2013

A husband and wife country rock duo with local ties is scheduled to appear tonight on the Late Show With David Letterman on CBS. Shovels and Rope is Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst, based in Charleston, S.C.

Hearst is the daughter of Michael Hearst of Canoe, AL — a small community on the Alabama/Florida line just east of Atmore.

Formed in 2010, Michael Trent and Cary Ann Hearst sing harmony driven folk, rock and country songs using two old guitars, a kick drum, a snare, a few tambourines, harmonicas, and and maybe a little keyboard sometimes.  They tour constantly as a two piece, making as much noise as they can.

“I dare to match them (Shovels and Dirt) with the couple that set the standard for country duets, Johnny Cash and June Carter. Both couples share Southern roots and that music-from-the-back porch country sound, and all involved had solo careers first and showed their affection for each other onstage,” Val Haller wrote in the January 8 edition of the New York Times.

As for the name Shovels and Rope, the group’s website says: “The name Shovels & Rope comes from the title of a record by Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent called Shovels & Rope. It’s a pretty good record featuring several murder ballads where some characters were hanging and others were doing the burying, so the title seemed apt. It now serves as the official moniker of the band.”

Comments

8 Responses to “Shovels And Rope: Country Rock Duo With Local Ties On Letterman Tonight”

  1. Laura Mortensen on January 31st, 2013 8:04 am

    I first read of these two in a Garden and Gun issue and immediately bought their CD then I immediately fell in love with them. No tour dates that I can see in Seattle where I live but am going to see them at The Doug Fir Lounge in Portland, Oregon but not soon enough!!

  2. Tammy on January 30th, 2013 10:25 pm

    @Melody this is Jodi Searcy Hearst step daughter and son in law. I think. they are going to be in Mobile soon.

  3. Jodi Searcy Hearst on January 30th, 2013 6:24 pm

    This is my talented stepdaughter & her husband…We are very proud of them!!

  4. Melody Bruley Godwin on January 30th, 2013 11:19 am

    about 2 months ago I heard a song by Shovels and Ropes on 92.1 FM and fell in love with their sound and style. I had no idea they had ties so close! so exciting! I saw recently they are going to be at the House of Blues in New Orleans in February. I hope to be there

  5. Jo Miller on January 30th, 2013 10:59 am

    You can see more of there videos on YouTube.

  6. bigR on January 30th, 2013 9:12 am

    I know this girls father Michael hearst and step mom jodi they are very proud of these two and i hope they go all the way to the top

  7. Tina on January 30th, 2013 8:26 am

    wow they are really good

  8. Armymajorswife on January 30th, 2013 7:16 am

    How interesting! I will definitely have to support this local band.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Archive