The Suitcase Junket

The Suitcase Junket sounds like the ghost of a bluesman living inside a hardware store. It is music built from the literal and figurative scrap heap, centered around Matt Lorenz's ingenious rig of a suitcase bass drum, washboard, and gas-can percussion. The sound is thick with the grit of the American Northeast, blending the stomp of garage rock with the soul of traditional folk. It feels handmade, tactile, and deeply rooted in the earth.

What truly separates this from the standard one-man-band fare is Lorenz's use of overtone throat singing. He manages to produce two notes at once, creating a shimmering, eerie whistle that floats above his gravelly baritone and distorted guitar. This technique adds a layer of mystical, almost psychedelic texture to songs that would otherwise feel like straightforward Americana. It is a brilliant contrast between the heavy, mechanical thud of his feet and the ethereal lightness of his voice.

Start with the album 'Dying Star' to hear the project at its most polished yet primal. It captures the balance between his songwriting craft and the raw, clattering energy of his live performance. If you want something a bit more experimental and atmospheric, 'The End Is New' showcases his evolution into broader sonic territories while keeping the junk-shop heart beating loud and clear.