Video Premiere: The Ballroom Thieves – “Droves”

Local trio The Ballroom Thieves has taken a different shape in recent months, but it has only helped the band’s live sound evolve even further. With roots in a more conservative folk sound, the outfit has since stretched its limbs, progressively pulling in soul and jazz influences and creating a more modern, danceable feel.

This is perhaps most evident on “Droves,” a track from the band’s latest, “The Ballroom Thieves EP.” With a verse structure that tethers it to folk in the purest sense, the fullness of the cello paired with its everything-but-the-kitchen-sink percussion style, creates a trampoline to propel harmonies and fueled-up choruses. It’s a dynamic that has pulled the band away from standard neo-folk comparisons and now mentioned in the same breath as acts fellow genre-benders like Dispatch and Railroad Earth (both of whom The Ballroom Thieves has shared the stage with).

Today, we’re happy to share the band’s new video for “Droves,” which puts greater concept behind the tune’s lyrics. The black and white display also gives light to the minimal setup in which the band performs, providing a good taste of just how big a sound its three components achieve. The band is in the studio this month, recording its debut full-length before hitting the road in July for a US tour. In addition to a June 12 show at Lizard Lounge with local pals Tall Heights and Darlingside, The Ballroom Thieves will play the following shows: