It is with a heavy heart that we exclusively bring you a piece of sad local music news: beloved Nashville indie popsters Vinyl Thief, who we’ve covered from their (and our) earliest days, have decided to disband, with their performance next Friday, Aug. 26 at Mercy Lounge serving as their final show. In a statement from the group’s publicist, we’re told that everything is amicable, and “members are pursing other projects on very friendly terms.”
Made up of Grayson Proctor, Logan Purdom, Sam English and Andrew Broadway, Vinyl Thief came together during their high school years in nearby Columbia, Tenn., honing their sound while using an abandoned church as their adopted practice space. The group made waves in Music City with their debut EP, Rebel Hill, in 2012, and captured a broader national audience with 2014 full-length Fathoms, in support of which they toured the nation. Throughout their buzzworthy run, the band received praise from the likes of Consequence of Sound, The AV Club, Paste, Noisey, and NYLON, and were frequently counted among the most promising up and coming acts amidst Nashville’s thriving indie pop scene, a movement in which they undoubtedly led the charge.
Vinyl Thief released what will be their final EP, Touch, earlier this year, marking a shift from their rock-centric roots towards more synth and bass heavy lush and layered production, minimalist instrumentation, r&b-tinged falsetto, and more personal and reflective lyricism. A fitting bow for one of our favorite local acts, Touch feels like the culmination of a band who’ve spent many years and many shared experiences growing together and navigating the waters of the music world, all the while honing their live show to become one of the best performing acts to emerge from Nashville in recent memory.
I, personally, met the Vinyl Thief guys at an East Nashville Underground pre-party in late 2012, just months after first moving to Nashville. They were one of the first local bands I got to know, and one I’ve known to be some of the nicest, most talented, and hardworking musicians around. I sincerely wish they had found even more success during their run, which they surely deserved, but I’m proud of everything they accomplished, and thrilled I got to witness it. I have no doubt that their future endeavors will be every bit as exciting and successful, and the whole No Country crew wishes everyone in Vinyl Thief the best!
Enter for a chance to win tickets to the group’s final show, or buy them here to ensure your spot. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to say goodbye.