The Psalters are a
Christian band which began in
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, largest city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the List of United States cities by population, sixth-largest city i ...
,
in 1997.
Their music is sometimes described as
folk punk.
Notable not only for their music, but also for their radical lifestyle, the group is semi-nomadic (at one point living on the road for five years),
and functions as an
intentional Christian community. The group have labeled themselves as anarchists several times.
Their lineup, which usually features about eight to ten musicians, is constantly changing, though a smaller group of core players have remained consistent long-term members.
Over 100 different people have been part of the group at some point.
Most members go by unusual pseudonyms, such as Captain Napkins or Friar Flute Flakes.
Style
Their musical style is based around the consistent use of acoustic instruments. Their compositions are heavily influenced by
punk rock, traditional near-eastern music,
as well as by other folk traditions such as
bluegrass, and
klezmer.
While they make frequent use of instruments uncommon in American music, such as the
bouzouki
The bouzouki (, also ; el, μπουζούκι ; alt. pl. ''bouzoukia'', from Greek ), also spelled buzuki or buzuci, is a musical instrument popular in Greece. It is a member of the long-necked lute family, with a round body with a flat top and ...
and
kemenche
Kemenche ( tr, kemençe) or Lyra is a name used for various types of stringed bowed musical instruments originating in the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly in Armenia, Greece, Iran, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. and regions adjacent to the Black S ...
, other, more common instruments, such as the
banjo or
accordion, are used as well.
Their lyrical themes are generally centered on either the
worship of God, or the implications of living out the
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message (" the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words a ...
today. These themes reflect singer Scott Krueger's view that "our Christian walk is supposed to affect every aspect of our lives. So as artists, we want to have that shape our art."
Songs about living out the gospel are often political, anti-patriotic,
anti-violence,
and pro-justice.
Their lyrics frequently reference verses from the Bible.
Discography
*''Prayers to Be'' (1998)
*''Sya a Ku'' (2000)
*''Inside an Evil Axis'' (2002)
*''us vs us'' (2004)
*''Patrin IV: Live at Joe's'' (2005)
*''Divine Liturgy of the Wretched Exiles'' (2006)
*''Carry the Bones'' (2011)
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Psalters
American Christian musical groups
Folk punk groups
Christian punk groups
Musical groups established in 1997